The 20th Century  march was written by James Ord Hume to welcome in the new century and was the 1st prize winner in the Champion Journal's 'Five Guinea March Competition'. The newly formed Geelong Town Band of Australia gave the premiere in 1900. This turned out to be one of his most popular marches. During World War II the printing plates and original proofs were destroyed in the blitz. This has resulted in the march not being published since that bombing.  

Today representatives of banding bodies in the four UK nations met with Caroline Dinenage MP to discuss the impact of post-Brexit travel restrictions on musicians and bands.

Today, I received a telephone call that James Scott had sadly passed away, aged 95. It would be difficult to say in a few words about his brass band career.  In 2003 I spent some time talking to James about his life time in the world of brass bands. 

Here is the story I wrote, I appreciate that the end of the story would now have to be updated but I wanted to share it with you as I wrote it. Our overseas listeners may not be familiar with him but this story will illustrate what he meant to and what he has done for the brass banding world particularly here in the UK.

Chris Helme has been involved with the brass-band world for more than fifty years, and this collection draws upon that experience to present a fascinating insight into some of the foremost figures in both their own banding area and the national scene. 

What Brass Bands Did For Me is filled with archive photographs, and with contributions from the bandsmen and women themselves, as well as their families, friends and banding colleagues, this book celebrates the triumph and sadness, local life and band life, community success and even national recognition..... £10 + £3 p/p  - Published 2009. PLEASE NOTE OVERSEAS POSTAGE WILL VARY PLEASE ASK BEFORE PURCHASE.