Just a little bit of the history of Thurcroft Welfare Band:-

The band was formed by the Thurcroft Colliery Welfare committee for the benefit of the mineworkers at Thurcroft Colliery. It was a very typical organisation of that time. We believe the first band was formed in the late 1940`s early 1950`s. Very little is known about the contesting history of the band, indeed, it is not until 1988 that the bands name appears in the Yorkshire Regional contest under the baton of Keith Croft. It would be true to say that the band was not very successfull!

The band has regularly attended the regional contest since 1988 under many and varied conductors. These are some of them:- K.Croft; D.Johnstone; G.McKilvenna; D.Neil; D.Holling; M.Battersby; P.Chapman; P.Dickens; O.Wedgewood and A.White. The band also competed at the Mineworkers Competition under the following:- O.Wedgewood; K.Vernon and A.White. 

Derek Johnstone also took the band to Belle Vue in 1969 and 1970.

It has not been easy keeping the band going at Thurcroft but recent events have made a huge difference to the band. A major event occurred when the Band finally got a bandroom to call it`s own. This is a marvellous asset and many bands would love to have a bandroom as good as the one at Thurcroft.

In January 2008 the band will start a training band for learner brass players. It is not intended to be primarily for young learners but is for any player of any age who would like to play a brass instrument.

These two things have given the band and will continue to give the band the stability that is so necessary to build for the future. Thanks to the continuing support of the Welfare Club the future does look very positive for the Thurcroft Welfare Band.

If you read this and can add anything to this history page please leave your information on the Guest Book. Thanks. 

Many thanks to Malc Taylor for the following :- George Sykes took the Thurcroft Band to the C.I.S.W.O. contest in the 1950s at Sheffield City Hall.  Julie Holling also took the band to the 1994 area contest at Bradford.