Description

Although there was a colliery band inEshWinning before the 2nd World War, the present band was formedin1950 by eight men who each initially contributed £8 to startaninstrument fund.
The next two years were spent raising money so that, with thehelpof the National Coal Board, they were able to purchase a setofsecond-hand instruments and thus form the Esh WinningCollieryWelfare Band. At this time the Cornsay Colliery Bandfolded, thisenabled the newly formed band to fill thevacantinstrumentation.
Immediately the band started the trail to success, whichculminatedin 1956 in an appearance in the finals of the DailyHerald NationalBrass Band Championships 4th Section held in London.To the immensesurprise and jubilation they gained 1st place in thisprestigiouscompetition at their first attempt. Now promoted the 3rdSectionthey gained 1st place in the Coal Industry SocialWelfareOrganisation (CISWO) area contest in 1957 and two yearslaterreturned London take 1st place in Section 3 oftheChampionship.
By this time the second-hand instruments were sufferingfrom“old-age” and in 1961 the Coal Board provided the band with anewset of instruments. During the 60’s the band continued towinsuccess after success in the North-East competitions and toplaythe Esh Winning Colliery Banner into Durham on Durham MinersGalaDay. During the whole of this time the Band was ably supportedbyCISWO and the local miners lodge.
In 1968 disaster struck with the closure of Esh WinningColliery,losing both financial support and the rehearsal hall inWestTerrace. The band decided to “go it alone”, they foundrehearsalpremises in a small backroom in the Stags Head Hotel inEshWinning, and increased their concert work load to raise moneytocover running costs. After awhile they were allowed a concessionbythe Coal Board to return to the rehearsal hall in WestTerrace,where they still remain today. In 1984 the band purchasedthe OldChapel in West Terrace, Esh Winning. In order to survivemucheffort was placed on concerts to raise money, along withvariousother functions such as dances, sales of work and fayre’s,leavingless time to work for success in contests.
Despite this, the band reached Belle Vue Manchester twice –winning4th place and then 1st place in the 4th Section bringinghome theDaily Mail Challenge trophy in 1975, they also qualifiedandattended the National Finals in London on 2 occasions but failedtowin a prize on either occasion.
In the 1970’s the band began to change its image. On the 17thMay1970 the band changed its name to Esh Colliery Band andearlierthat year the old maroon uniform was replaced by themoreserviceable black and grey combination you can still see today.InAugust 1971 the band commissioned a set of stand drapes, whicharestill in use today. Throughout all this period many people,toonumerous to mention, supported the band in its questforsuccess.