Talk Subjects
Chris Helme
John Clifford Heed (1862–1908) was an American composer and musician. Born during the American Civil War, in Hackettstown, New Jersey, Heed was a skilled cornetist, pianist, violinist and bandmaster who began his musical career in his hometown band, the Hackettstown Cornet Band. He soon became the leader of this band and quickly learned the intricacies of harmony and counterpoint.
After the Hackettstown Cornet Band he joined Voss's First Regiment Band of the National Guard, in Newark, New Jersey and eventually joined John Philip Sousa's band as a soloist and arranger. Known as the "March Wizard," Heed composed more than 60 marches.
His best-known marches are "Regimental Pride", "Metronome Prize", "Clipper", "The Rouser", and "General Miles", but it is perhaps "In Storm and Sunshine" that still remains his most popular, a favourite performed regularly by military bands worldwide. In addition, he also composed numerous orchestral works such as polkas and waltzes, plus several solo works for cornet and piano.
"In Storm and Sunshine" was one of his earliest works and is written in the style of a vibrant circus march. According to local legend in his New Jersey hometown, it is claimed that Heed actually wrote "The Stars and Stripes Forever" for Sousa. This slightly dubious anecdote is corroborated in the J. Harold Nunn's book entitled "The Story of Hackettstown, New Jersey from 1754 to 1955" in a section of the book entitled "Hackettstown's Early Musicians."
We are featuring "In Storm and Sunshine" march on this week's show played by the Leyland Band. Please note that on the CD there is a typo error where the name is shown as Head when in fact it should be John Clifford Heed.
This photograph is looking down Bridge Road c1990s. This road continues all the way to what was The Anchor pub and then for some reason the name was changed to The Bridge. In the distance is the canal running from left to right and there are plans to create another bypass which will through this road across a new bridge which will go through the car park on the opposite side and then on to Halifax Road and out of town towarrds Hipperholme. Just when this might happen remains to be be seen but bearing in mind it was discussed and on the cards to be done during the late 1960s early 1970s and it did not happen - wait and see.
Wow, this is just about 30 years ago - 26 July 1994... The Calderdale Inheritance Project operated in Brighouse for a quite a few years and was involved in a number of projects. On this photograph from the left is Colin Watson, Bill Terry who worked for the project and was based mostly in Brighouse, Steve Pratt and Colin Knowles. Bill is making a presentation from the project to the local scout leaders.
Monorail Sherwood Road, Artmytage Industrrial Estate, Brighouse.and of Wren Works, Chadderton, Oldham. (1958)
Maker of automatic transfer and overhead handling equipment under licence from the American MonoRail Company of Cleveland, USA
The company was one of the first to construct new premises on the then new Armytage Road Indusytrial Estate.
In 1999, apart from the German Salvation Army band in Solingen, Germany could only boast three authentic brass bands. On of them is Brass Band Oberschwaben-Allgau (BBOA) established in 1992 by music-school teachers, students and committed brass players with the aim of following the original English line-up of 25 brass players and three percussionists to create a German ensemble with a character of its own. Expressed in the various styles deliberately imported by individual members of the band.
Since 1995, the band has been broadcasting recordings from the band's annual programme of the BBOA, it has also competed regularly and has always excelled in the national competitions.
We are featuring the band on this week's show with a popular contest piece 'Dimensions' written by Peter Graham...Enjoy
Now I wonder if any of these young tennis hopefuls are still playing? This photograph was taken at the Rastrick Tennis Club and these players are members of the Junior 'A' Team, on September 8, 1995, so they certainly had some promise.
From the left, Adam Bowater, Henrietta Briscoe, John Turner, Abigail Mason, Catherine Mason and Mark Kirton.
Here are a few photographs taken inside the Park Street indoor market. Sadly it did not last that long, another indoor market was tried in the old Davison's coach garage where Kwik Fit tyre and exhaust company is.but that did not last long either.
Here is the junction of Commercial Street with Market Street and I am sure like me most of our readers will remember going into Kelly's for the always reliable fresh fruit and veg. But what happened to them whendid theyy close does anyone know?
This photograph was taken before the arrival of Sainsbury's new supermarket during the mid-1990. The building with the signage was Rice Jones and Smith Solicitors offices. Interestingly the passage way next to the office doorway led through to Baines Row. But before you walked into the passage way on the lintel it had the iniitals SB and the year 1852. SB was the 19th century entrepreneur Samuel Baines who was to own everything through the passage way which was known as the Victoria Mills square. Baines Row was a street with very old and poorly maintained terraced housing.The solicitors offices, Baines Row and the whole of Victoria Mills and other adjoining property was demolished and the new Sainsbury's was built on the site and opened in November 1998.
Welcome to my weekly two-hour brass band radio show Sunday Bandstand. The show was started in December 2007 and has played on a number of radio community radio stations in the UK and overseas ever since. The number of stations has been as high as 15 and then sadly as radio stations close down or are taken over and brass band music is not on the new owners schedule, the number of stations has fluctuated. The show is also sent out on a Mixcloud link to 180 enthusiasts around the world. It is on my website https://www.chrishelme-brighouse.org.uk/index.php/sunday-bandstand -on the link you will find shows dating back to 2014 and there is a search facility at the bottom of the archive page. The show is also on www.4barsrest.com and to be a link on the British Bandsman publication.
If you have a request or question about the world of brass bands you can always email, me on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and I would be very pleased to hear from you.
Enjoy the show
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
