Cricket

Sport to the rescue

For so many people their love of sport/music/arts started in the many organisations in the mining and other industrial villages in the North East; so it is perhaps not surprising that when The Newcastle Brown Ale Brass Band lost their sponsor and their bandroom, they went to Durham County Cricket Club (DCCC) to help them. Immediately the County Cricket Club offered them rehearsal facilities – which was the first major problem overcome.

The band, formed in 1878 in Pelton Fell, Chester-le-Street, and for so many years the Pelton Fell Colliery Band, now rehearse twice weekly at the lovely DCCC Riverside International Test Match Ground and play under the name of Tavistock Chester-le-Street Riverside Band (Tavistock Leisure being their financial sponsor). As a championship section brass band they play at the very highest level and represent our region with great distinction; in 2005 appearing at The Royal Albert Hall as one of the UK’s top brass bands.

This is a wonderful example of a sporting body helping a musical one; an example of the kind of “helping hand” that was always so freely given in the villages around the North East when difficulties arose. Is it too philosophical to hope that we never get too big, and professional, to hold out the helping hand to organisations who are really such an important part of our history, culture and heritage?

A Date for Your Diary

Why not come along to the One Day National Trophy Match on Sunday 10th June at Riverside to see Durham at home to Nottingham – The Riverside Junior Brass Academy play at 10-00am before the 10-45am start, and the senior band (above) play in the interval – which should be around 2-30pm

If you want more details on the band please go to our website www.riversideband.co.uk

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