“We are a band family, we all look after each other" - Wendy Lindsay, Thorpe Hesley Brass Band

The late Bessie Mary Penlington kindly left £50,000 to VAR in her Will, with no stipulations as to how it should be spent. Our Board decided to run a Community Grants Programme with the funds, particularly targeting Rotherham VCSE groups with a turnover of £25,000 or less. This collection of blog posts share the stories of some of the recipients of that funding.

When you think about the culture of South Yorkshire, the sound of brass bands might accompany any images of rolling hills, old mills, pie and peas and village greens that come to mind. I had the pleasure of sitting down with Wendy, Secretary of Thorpe Hesley Brass Band, to talk about the history of the group, their recent fundraising successes and how funding from the Miss Penlington Community Chest funding has boosted their cause.

Thorpe Hesley have been established since 1986, the band was founded in the local junior by the head teacher, the late Mr Brian Copley who, as Wendy tells me was simply “mad about brass”. Unlike many other brass bands that flourished from the colliers, this collective was a youth band, made up of students from the school. 

Unfortunately, what this meant was that when the young people left the school, they left the band behind as well. However, this all changed with Wendy’s daughter and her two friends, who simply didn’t want to let it go. From this point it all changed; they became “a band for everybody.”

And this inclusive and open spirit still lives on today. The band is made up of people of all different ages and with different abilities. Wendy tells me the youngest is her 12-year granddaughter; the eldest is in their 60s. They are a small set up and don’t compete, but simply “play because they want to play”. The band has tremendous benefits to the members’ wellbeing, building confidence and giving them a sense of purpose. And they play a range of music – not just traditional songs – but pop classics from Lady Gaga, to Top Gun and The Final Countdown.  

As we have our conversation, we listen to the band on Youtube, a performance to raise funds for Alzheimer’s Society. The concert was live streamed for Paul Lindsay (Wendy’s nephew) who was completing a fundraising walk from Lands End to John o’ Groats. It was live streamed so Paul could watch it on his venture, a journey which took him 54 days and raised a whopping £20,000 for Alzheimer’s!

The grant provision provided through the Miss Penlington Fund meant they could replace their well-used Christmas sheet music – what they call “the red book”- and purchase a new Tam Tam gong which Wendy tells me “makes a big difference to the sound.” They were also able to buy a new case for their bass drum, which has really helped when the band have been transporting their instruments to do different venues.

The word “camaraderie” isn’t used that much today, but perhaps would be the be one of the best words to describe the mining communities of old. It’s also a word that also comes to mind when we talk about brass bands, coming together to connect with each other as a team, and connect with their audience as well. Or as Wendy neatly summaries: “We are a band family, we all look after each other.”

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If you play a brass instrument and would like to join the band, Thorpe Hesley are always looking for new members. They also have a number of events coming up over the next few months…

• Saturday 10th May | Swinton Community Hall,  RBL  VE day event, the band will play 2 spots between 10.30 and 1pm

• Saturday 31st May | Holy Trinity Church, Thorpe Hesley - WI coffee morning in aid of Weston Park | 10.30 – 12noon

• 28th June | ARTWORKs  Brook Hill, Thorpe Hesley,  Summer Fair - THBB times between 11-2pm

• 6th July  | Wentworth Village Day | 10.30-1pm 

• 30th August | 1930's garden party in the gardens of Wentworth Woodhouse (this will be ticketed) times TBC

• 21st September  |  Elsecar band stand in Elsecar Park | 2-4pm

• 28th September | Music in the gardens | Wentworth Woodhouse  | 10.30 to 1pm

Keep up with them on their website and on their Facebook page.