Last updated at 13:21, Friday, 25 January 2013

Workington could have a brass band again – more than 20 years after the original town group disbanded.

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A committee has been set up by town councillors Joan Wright, Marjorie Rae, Alan Barry, Margaret Jones, Elsie Johnsen, Carole Armstrong, Hilary Harrington and Gerald Humes to investigate putting together a band.

They have worked for over a year on the project, and last week became the trustees of the former band room on Bolton Street.

A fund-raising drive has been launched as the committee needs to raise £5,000 for the band to gain charitable status. It also requires £10,000 to fix the roof of the Bolton Street building.

The committee are appealing for people who would like to join the band to come forward and would also like a music teacher to become involved.

Coun Humes said: “We think it’s important to have a town band.

“The band disintegrated some time ago and we want to start a new Workington band and hope to include the youth.”

Coun Wright said: “It would be lovely to have our own band to play at all the events we have in the town, including Remembrance Sunday.”

The committee has around 20 instruments to launch the band.

It is believed the old band was started in the 1940s and disbanded in the late 1980s or 1990s.

In its heyday it played at music festivals, miners’ galas and regional competitions.

The band room, which was built in the 1800s and was formerly a church, was most recently used for dancing classes.

The committee hopes to attract other community groups to use the hall as well as the band.

Anyone interested in playing in the band or donating money can call Coun Wright on 01900 61176 or Coun Harrington on 01946 833158.

First published at 13:19, Friday, 25 January 2013
Published by http://www.timesandstar.co.uk