Talk Subjects
Chris Helme
Yorkshire Imperial Band, also known as Yorkshire Imperial Urquhart Travel Band (from sponsors David Urquhart Travel), and the Yorkshire Imps, is a brass band from West Yorkshire. Other names used have included Yorkshire Imperial Metals Band, IMI Yorkshire Imperial Band and DUT Yorkshire Imperial Band.
Formed in the 1930s as the Yorkshire Copper Works Band based at Yorkshire Copper Works in Leeds, and renamed when Yorkshire Imperial Metals was created in 1958 (Yorkshire Copper Works and ICI Metals Division).
Rothwell Temperance Band (est 1881), when drinkers and non-drinkers at Rothwell Model Band, (est 1841) split into two bands the other being the Rothwell Old Band.
In 1999 as Wallace Arnold (Rothwell) Band, reflecting sponsorship by a local coach operator. The then "B" band retained the name Rothwell Temperance Band and still exists.
2000 Wallace Arnold (Rothwell) Band merged with the Yorkshire Imperial Band and for some time the Yorkshire Imperial DUT (Rothwell) Band.
The band is featured on this week's show with a solo Vale Brilliante from the principal cornet player in 1970 Graham Walker. This illustrates just on of his many top class performances.
The fifth issue of the magazine is now widely available.
Starting ther magazine with what was a wishful thinking 'I will give it a go' kind of a project the number of sales on each issue have increased on the four quarterly issues published so far. Already readers are asking about the possibility of a binder for them. This is something I am working on at the moment but it will depend how many readers are interested in purchasing one.
The magazine has now settled into 28 pages which have been welcomed by readers
If any business would like to advertise in the magazine I am setting just one page aside for this purpose. Whilst this aspect is slow at this early stage, I know it will gather momentum. If you would like to advertise in the magazine please email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or contact the editor on 07854755756.
Some may ask: Can such a magazine be sustained each month without repetition? I have been researching our local history and nostalgia for over 45 years and taught adult education local history classes for 30 years. On that basis the pool of material I have available will not dry up. Guest writers are now involved - the future looks good.
There is no such word as can't !.... It is better to at least try and fail, than not try at all because as time goes by it will be too late to even try.
Dr. Keith M. Wilkinson moved to the United States with his wife, Audrey, and daughters, Debbie and Katie, in 1996. He has been delighted to play an integral part in the development of Brass Band of The Western Reserve from its origins to the high standards it displays now.
Prior to his move Keith enjoyed long and successful periods as music director of leading championship bands in England, the GUS Band and William Davis Band. He was also in demand to travel, around Europe as well as in Britain, as a guest conductor and adjudicator. Among these appearances he was principal guest conductor of Newtongrange Silver Band (Scotland) and Brass Band Fribourg (Switzerland).
Since arriving in USA, he has been delighted to appear as a guest with several bands in USA and Canada and was, for a while, principal guest conductor of St Louis Brass Band, being crowned champions of the Honours Division of the North American Brass Band Championships in 2001.
Keith has been an adjudicator at the North American Brass Band Championships in both 2017 and 2018. The last couple of years have also seen him traveling across the Atlantic to conduct Helston Town Band (Cornwall), Newtongrange Silver Band (Scotland) and the William Davis Band for a special charity performance. Regarding his appearances with Newtongrange one commentator wrote “a welcome return to the UK of a conductor of proven 24 carat class “. (Iwan Fox, www.4barsrest.com.) Keith was also privileged to be featured in a full-length article in the international magazine, The Brass Herald, in October 2017.
In March 2008, Keith was presented the God and Country Music Award by The Salvation Army and Brass Band of Columbus for “his outstanding contributions to brass banding in USA, Britain and Europe”.
Keith tried his hand at brass band orchestration while still in high school and this aspect of banding has continued to hold his attention. He has more than 100 published arrangements with publishers in Britain, Switzerland and USA. Some of his arrangements have been used as test pieces at major championships. In order to make his arrangements available more rapidly he has formed his own publishing company, Alum Creek Music (www.alumcreekmusic.com)
Dr. Wilkinson is featured on this week's show both as a conductor and and an arranger with a performance in 1983.
(Courtesy of Dr. Wilkinson's website)
It was May 22, 1907, 112 years today, when Princess Louise visited Brighouse having been invited to open the new Smith Art Gallery. Not the most memorable of visits for the first member of the royal family to come to Brighouse.
Filippo Cangiamila was born in Palermo in 1980.
A multifaceted musician. He studied the first and second level diplomas in trombone, both with the highest grades. Simultaneously with the study and instrumental improvement he graduated in band instrumentation, conducting and, still with the highest grades, in composition.
In his past as an instrumentalist he has won numerous competitions and auditions and has collaborated with important theatres and orchestras.
From 2002 to 2007 he was second and first trombone of the Rome Symphony Orchestra with which he supported five musical seasons in the capital and nine foreign tours.
In November 2008 he won second prize at the international competition for solo trombone. Still as a soloist, he is also interested in contemporary music.
As a composer he has distinguished himself in five national and international competitions including, of particular relevance.
He is the MD of the Italian Brass Band
Here is a small selection of photographs taken of just some of the thousands of students who have attended Lightcliffe Church of England School. This first one is in the Coach Road litter picking Lightcliffe C of E School children 3 April 1995.
Today, I attended a special service at St Matthew's Church, Wakefield Road, Lightcliffe. This was to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Lightcliffe Church of England School. With almost 100 people in attendance it was nice to have the opportunity of seeing people I personally had not seen for many years - it was almost a mini school reunion.
The photograph was taken on March 18, 2003 and shows a major development on the edge of the town centre. I am sure you can guess what it will be .... Tescos new supermarket.
Another piece of local history was demolished this week in Bailiff Bridge. Most people may have never really noticed the old red brick building on Bradford Road which was next to the flats and almost opposite Ceramix the tiling company.
Even local people in the area will be surprised to hear about the history of the building which started as the Brighouse Motor Agency and was selling petrol in cans and supplied and fitted solid tyres. Here was a small business that over a period of years grew into a substantial one.
Looking round the town centre today, 54 years since our illustration was created, it does show a lot of changes. With many of the small streets and yards having disappeared and some of the streets having been renamed. Then there is the bypass, this was completed in the early 1970s and carved its way through the centre wiping out out many of those streets that had been in the centre for over a century.
Did you live in one of the streets that was destined to be demolished and resulted in you and your family being housed in a new community? If you were we would like to hear from you and if you possibly have a photograph we could use your story in our quarterly magazine and share your memories of over 50 years ago with our growing number of readers.
Please contact me on 07854755756 or by email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Thank you...
Talks Available
All the presentations are timed to last up to an hour except where shown - questions are gladly taken after the presentation. All have been presented to male, female and mixed audiences of varying age groups.
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A Postcard from the Past
The Sunny Vale Pleasure Gardens, Halifax - Yorkshire’s Alton Towers of the…
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All in a Days Work
Reminiscences from 30 years in the Police Service – (humorous lecture presentation)…
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Legends from the world of Brass Bands
(Info-tainment – digital slides & music) – 1 hour presentation.
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A Week in May
A story based on the Murder of Lord Frederick Cavendish (of the…
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Memories of Christmas Past
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The Road to Publication
In 1979 I was asked to assist in presenting a series of…
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Holiday Memories from the Past
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How we used to live
We have all seen and experienced changes in our lives. Bring back…
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Other Folks Rubbish (Not suited to a Zoom presentation)
With a local history theme… – (thought provoking humorous lecture presentation) –…
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So you want to be a Pirate ? - The life of a Pirate was not all that it seemed
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Superstitions, New Year Resolutions and the Origins of St Valentine's Day
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Brighouse at Work
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Sorry but I am not able to accept any more face to face talk bookings at the present time ONLY ZOOM TALKS
