STANTON HILLS SILVER PRIZE BAND 1929
Blidworth Welfare Band is a brass band with mining heritage. We started out in the late 19th century as the Stanton Hill Temperance Band based in Sutton in Ashfield, the band later changed their name to the Stanton Hill Silver Prize Band until the coal industry paid an interest in brass banding in general. An alliance with the Teversal, Silver Hill and Sutton Collieries saw a name change for the band and it became the Teversal Collieries Band until the demise of those mines in the late 70’s which forced the band to relocate to Blidworth in 1980 and a name change to The Blidworth Welfare Band.
Over the years we have been supported by various companies, B J Mining, Homefires, local businessman George Aitken, Hopkins Solicitors and we now have an ongoing partnership with A W Lymn Funeral Services, we are extremely grateful for their help and commitment to the band and hope that it may continue.
Blidworth Welfare Band has established itself over the years to be an extremely successful contesting and concert band performing all over the country. Since 2009 the band, in National Competitions has been placed in the top 6 no less than 22 times. In that time the band has also progressed from 2nd section returning to the Championship Section in 2017 competing against some of the top brass bands in the country such as Black Dyke, Grimethorpe Colliery, Brighouse & Rastrick, Fodens, Carlton Main Frickley to name but a few.
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In 2018 the band cemented its position as a recognised Championship section band as a result of its position at the Midlands Regional Brass Band Championships and through many high class concert performances culminating at the end of the year appearances on both BBC television and BBC Radio.
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2019 saw Blidworth take to the stage in a production of 'Brassed Off' in conjunction with Argent Theatre of Newark, paying tribute to the mining community of Blidworth whose own colliery closed in 1989.
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During the COVID period brass banding came to a halt, however the band returned ready to go and have since completed multiple competitions and concerts in the local area. The band continue to solidify their championship section standard and position in the Midlands Area.
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In 2023 we welcomed our new Musical Director, Gary Perrin and have since worked exceptionally hard to rebuild and recruit new players, and the band have gone from strength to strength.
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Blidworth Welfare Band can be seen delivering many high class concert performances throughout the region and welcomes interest from concert promoters throughout the UK.
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