Great result after a difficult year

Hebden Bridge Brass Band triumphed at the Butlins Brass Band Championships at Skegness last Saturday - and are now looking forward to the major regional championships in early March.
Hebden Bridge Brass Band's musical director Alan Hobbins,  and his wife Laura, who also plays cornet with the band, celebrate the first section win at the national Butlin's competition at SkegnessHebden Bridge Brass Band's musical director Alan Hobbins,  and his wife Laura, who also plays cornet with the band, celebrate the first section win at the national Butlin's competition at Skegness
Hebden Bridge Brass Band's musical director Alan Hobbins, and his wife Laura, who also plays cornet with the band, celebrate the first section win at the national Butlin's competition at Skegness

Butlins is one of the biggest competitions of the year with about 80 bands, the first section seeing 20 bands doing battle.

Hebden came out on top, edging out county rivals Drighlington, Skelmanthorpe and Knottingley Silver, and so look forward to the Yorkshire Championships on March 5 and 6 at St George’s Hall, Bradford.

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Band chairman Steve Gardner said it marked a good start to the year after a difficult 2015:

“This is a significant achievement and a fitting reward for the hard work put in particularly over the last few months.

“The band had been depleted in numbers leaving just 12 players five months ago.

“The re-appointment of Alan Hobbins as Musical Director and hard work of the remaining players ensured that the band continued to perform in concerts around the region, attracted more players and, whilst we are still not a full band, enabled us to improve.

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“The prize money will also help the financial difficulties of the band, but we are well aware of the problems locally after the floods and intend donating some of the prize money to the flood funds.

“The band were not directly affected but their usual concert venue, the Church of the Good Shepherd and local pub, The Shoulder of Mutton, in Mytholmroyd were badly damaged.

“Many of the band were out helping wherever possible over the Christmas period,” added Steve.

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