History
On October 19th 1971 Mr. Brian Hayden Robinson began a long association with Hebden Bridge. Together with a group of friends he formed Hebden Bridge Junior Band. He is still the Musical Director and conductor today. The first band consisted of eight musicians, and gave their first concert in Hebden Bridge in December 1971. From these humble beginnings the band has gone from strength to strength. It is like a family with players and parents working together. Over the years about five hundred musicians have been guided by Mr. Robinson with many of them following a career in music.
In the words of Mrs. B. Collinge (the first president of the band) when she accepted the post;
"I feel like the captain of a ship setting out on an unknown journey, but with a good crew I feel we shall make a safe trip and overcome any hazards we shall meet".
Her words were true the and are true now 27 years later.
Brief History
Over the years local people have been invited to become patrons of Junior Band. Amongst the more famous were Lord Savile, Lord Houghton and Sir Harry Mortimer.
The band plays at many festivals and church anniversaries in Calderdale and some of these are a standing engagement each year. The band appeared on television on a number of occasions over the years. One occasion was the launch of Sir Bernard Ingham's book " All bumf and Bunkum"
In 1977 the band played at the opening of the newly renovated Mytholmroyd Community Centre when the guest of honour was the Duke of Gloucester. To keep the "titled audience" theme going they have also played before the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire at Bolton Abby. This occasion so pleased the Duke and Duchess that they invited the band to play at their stately home, Chatsworth House the following year.
The band has traveled to various parts of the world, playing in such places as St. Pol (France), Switzerland, Germany, USA, Denmark, Austria playing several concerts in each country. For all these trips all the money is raised by the band members and their parents, with the backing of the local community. The band also played joint concerts with the Band of Her Majesty's Royal Marines, and visited the school of music at Deal.
Exchange trips are arranged with bands from overseas, this gives a chance for members to share ideas and develop their musical skills. Performing in joint concerts is always a challenge, but the band members seem to enjoy this. Last year Junior Band gave a joint concert at Todmorden Town Hall with Sagvag Musikklag (a championship Brass Band from Norway) who traveled all the way from a contest in London for the performance.
Each year on the Sunday before Christmas the band plays at Mytholmroyd Working Men's Club. Ex band members from all over the country try and attend this concert. The highlight of the evening is when the junior members give way to the older players and let them have a go. It is amazing how the older players seem to fit into the slots which they occupied in Junior Band in some cases not having played for a year.
The band also takes part in the Calderdale festival of brass when they are invited to play on the terrace of the House of Commons by the local member of Parliament. This brings together all the brass bands from Calderdale to promote the area. It is hard work, with an early start but it is good fun. London doesn't know what has hit them that weekend.
More recently, Brian Robinson has retired from the position of Musical Director with the band, to be replaced by Thomas Hylgaard. We wish Brian a happy and long retirement, and Thomas best of luck with the band.