Charles Church Brass Band march through Saddleworth

Last week, Charles Church Camberley Band began the celebrations at the beginning of their 50th year with a visit to the Whit Friday marches in the Saddleworth and Oldham region, near Manchester.

Around 130 brass bands gather to take part in the annual Whit Friday marches, from local youth bands to the top bands in the UK including Black Dyke and Brighouse & Rastrick. Each band visits a number of villages, marching down the street before playing a march to a professional adjudicator who ranks them in relation to the other competing bands, based on their musicality.

CCCB enjoyed the beautiful weather for their very first visit to these contests which started at Stalybridge Celtic football club at around 4pm and finished at the iconic Delph (made famous in the hit film Brassed Off) at around 10pm, as well as visiting Friezland, Uppermill, Diggle, Dobcross and Carrbrook during the evening.

Robert Cherry, the band’s musical director said ‘This was a fantastic opportunity for Charles Church Camberley Band to get out on the road and experience playing to thousands of people. The band has made great progress over the last few months and we really enjoyed the fantastic crowds, electric atmosphere and the chance to meet up with old friends in the brass banding community.’

The good news is that you don’t have to travel all the way to Manchester to hear CCCB perform – they’ll be playing at Fleet Hospital Fete on 12th June and at Newbury bandstand on 27th June.  Please see the website for further details: www.camberleyband.co.uk