Hawes Silver Band

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Photo: Betsy Everett

About

Hawes Silver Band, which was formed about 1865, fulfils engagements in Wensleydale every year, including the Semerwater lakeside ecumenical service, and community events. The annual Christmas Charity concert supports national, regional and local charity organisations.

The band members travel from places as far afield as Sedbergh and Leyburn to rehearse on Sunday evenings in the Market House in Hawes. It is a typical brass band welcoming friendly players of all ages. The music is very varied and the emphasis is always on everyone enjoying making music.

The Semerwater Ecumenical Service

Simon Chorley
Photo: Betsy Everett

A unique event each year on August Bank Holiday Sunday is a service on the shores of Semerwater, Wensleydale's only lake, when Hawes Silver Band plays to accompany the hymns. Inevitably, conditions vary, and one year the vicar conducted the service knee-deep in a flooded lake but the picture shows a more enjoyable occasion!

Conductor:

Stanley Roocroft MBE, LTCL, ACP, CERT Ed.

Hawes Silver Band’s distinguished conductor, Stan Roocroft, was a choral scholar of Blackburn Cathedral and a chorister at the late Queen’s Coronation. After education and teacher training, his first appointment was as Head of Music at the Cathedral School in Wakefield. Many achievements in this period of Stan’s career included conducting the annual Schools Music Festival, founding Wakefield Youth Band and conducting the Yorkshire Youth Band. He was also involved in choral and operatic music and was appointed Head of Music Services for the City of Sheffield Education department.

Stan was conductor of the Wensleydale Philharmonic Orchestra for many years. He has been an adjudicator at music and band festivals for over 45 years within the British and International Federation of Festivals and has adjudicated and tutored for the National Chamber Music Competition for Schools Trust.

Stan Roocroft was awarded the MBE in 2005 for service to the community in North Yorkshire. He lives in Gayle, near Hawes, with his wife Barbara who, together with several of their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, has been involved in the musical life of Wensleydale.

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Photo: Betsy Everett

Meet the Band.

The instrumentalists with Hawes Silver Band are:-

Principal cornet. Brian Woof.

Solo cornet. Alan Woof.

Solo cornet. Richard Downs.

Second cornet. Martin Wright.

Third cornet. Joy Baggaley.

Flugel horn. Sue Woof.

Principal tenor horn. Julie Greenslade.

Second tenor horn. Anne Johnson.

Third tenor horn. Gail Nelson.

Principal tenor trombone. Ian Nelson.

First baritone horn. John Ransom.

Second baritone horn. Rebecca Dutton.

Principal euphonium. Roger Iveson.

First euphonium. Jack Dewhirst.

First Eb bass. Abbie Rhodes.

Second Eb bass Gerald Hodgson.

Bb bass. Ron Snaith.

Percussion. Simon Greenslade.

Tuned Percussion. Barbara Greenslade.


Links

Dales Music

Contact Us

The band always welcome anyone to attend rehearsals, particularly if visitors come along with their band instruments to join in a rehearsal. The band has spare instruments for all sections. If you played a brass instrument before and wish to take it up again, or if you are a complete beginner of any age, we will be pleased to assist.

To find out more about the band, or to come and join us, please contact the secretary

  • Mrs. Sue Woof

  • Ghyll House, Syle Killington, Sedburgh, Cumbria. LA10 5EH