With the 2017 British Open brass band championship having seen only the third band from overseas to be crowned champions. It will be interesting to just reflect on the first one that won this prestigious prize the coveted British Open title. 

   Looking back to those pre-First World War halcyon days of the annual excursions to what many affectionately knew as ‘…the show ground of the world …’, otherwise known as the Belle Vue Zoological Gardens. The very mention of this magical place will instantly conjure up images of Bank Holidays treats, Sunday School outings and the hustle and bustle of packed railway platforms. The smell of impatiently waiting steam engines bellowing out their thick grey clouds of smoke, the sound of children laughing and shouting in anticipation of the expectant splendour that awaited them at Belle Vue.  

Concert programme for the Gomersal Mills Band of Gomersal appearing at Brighouse 12 July 1964

‘National Brass Band Championships  Final - Daily Herald’ Adjudicators Remarks – 1959