History of
Grange Moor Brass Band

The heating for the band room came from a 'nice brisk march'. Each year during WWII the band played carols at the home of Mr Stanley Elliott, Lepton. At Christmas 1944 Mr Elliott said 'play me a nice brisk march and I will pay you 200 pounds'. The band, eager to please, bought a piece of music for 2s 3d and, true to his word, Mr Elliott gave the band 200 pounds.


Left - Clarence Boyles
Right - Ken Cockfield

"It gets in your blood".

Founded in 1854, the band has a proud heritage.
Great indepence and non-reliance on charity or grants were a feature of the band's early days. The idea of a Coal Industries Social Welfare Organisation grant was met with scorn.

The band room in Liley Lane was built in 1937 at a cost of 400 pounds. Added to this were a set of new uniforms at a cost of 100 pounds. Even so the debt took (only) three years to clear!






Mr Atkins Band conductor 1959



Families have always featured strongly in the line-up and for many years the band was dominated by just two: the Johnsons and the Westerbys.
John Henry Johnson was a member for 48 years and conductor for 36. His brothers Arthur (euphonium) and Charles (baritone) also played in the band.

Back row (L to R): Charlie Johnson; George Roberts; Unknown; Charlie Westbury; John Ernest Jessop; Unknown; George Johnson; Unknown; Unknown
Middle row: George Sheard; Jack Westerby; Unknown; Unknown; John Arthur Oakes (President); Unknown; Gilbert Oakes; Fred Messenger; Unknown
Front row: Tommy Wolfenden; Jimmy McCann?; Arthur Sykes; Arthur Johnson; Unknown; John Henry Johnson; Unknown; Unknown; Unknown; Charles Jessop; Oliver Clarkson

Their father George had played in the band before them and was also conductor for many years. To complete the Johnson family line-up were two nephews: Brian (euphonium) and Trevor (cornet).

The Westerby brothers were also a band in themselves. Joseph conducted the band before John Henry. Arthur and Charles played trombone, Alfred (euphonium) and Herman (flugel). There were also Edwin, Ernest and Willie (who eventually played for Brighouse and Rastrick).

Grange Moor also prided itself on not poaching fully trained players from other bands, but training youngsters themselves. This is still the practice today with some very promising young talent amongst our members.



Back row: Brian Johnson, Sam Beaumont, Melvyn Bennett, Trevor Johnson, Stanley Dyson, Clarence Boyles
2nd row: John Andrews, Brian Smith, Lawrence Whitely, Neil Lister, Geoffrey Cockfield, Kenneth Cockfield, Alan Walshaw
3rd row: Harry Atkins [Conductor], Unknown, Jack Nuns, Artur Walshaw, Sat: Jeff Mountain
Knelt at the front: Alwyn Beaumont, Unknown, Kenneth Boyles
(Photograph and information kindly supplied by Kenneth Cockfield)



The following picture was taken in 1979. The band had just won the 4th section CISWO regional contest (Sheffield), plus a couple of wins at Huddersfield and Ossett.



Back row from Left: 4th Geoff Smith cornet next to him his son

Middle row from Left: Lynne Longbottom (nee Berry) percussion/ Andrew Rothery solo horn/Far right Bill Berry percussion
Front row from left: 3rd Jack Vollens 2nd euph/ Gary Berrisford MD/Chairman/ far right Brian Speight Bb bass
(Photograph and information kindly supplied by Andrew Rothery)