2008 News Archive
10th October 2008 - Inagural 100 Club Draw Winner
Catherine Roberts has won the first ever draw of the Rothwell Temperance Band 100 Club. We now have over fifty members but are still looking for more. If you would like to take part, it will cost you £5 a month and you could win up to £200. Email for more details and an application form.
7th October 2008 - Yorkshire Philharmonic Choir Concert Review
The band has received an excellent review on the joint concert with Yorkshire Philharmonic Choir that was held in Wakefield Cathedral early in the summer. It is available on the website here.
24th September 2008 - Band Strengthen Cornet Section
The band are pleased to welcome Emily Dodsworth to the cornet section. Emily has been playing assistant principal at Wingates Band and played in the cornet section of the National Youth Band of Great Britain that our conductor, Dave Roberts, led. David said "Emily has come on leaps and bounds recently and was recommended to us by her tutor Richard Marshall."
19th September 2008 - Band Launch 100 Club
The Rothwell Temperance Band have recently launched a new 100 Club to raise funds to help them continue to produce entertaining concerts at exciting venues. The RTB 100 club is a monthly prize draw which gives back half of its income in prize money every month. We welcome all band members, family and friends to join, and the more participants we recruit, the bigger the prize money and the bigger the donation.
Participants in the scheme pay £5 a month by standing order. Half of this money goes into the prize pot and half goes to the band. Of the prize pot, £2 is used for the monthly draw and 50p is kept back for a larger prize at Christmas.
For more details, and to join, please email
16th September 2008 - Issue Two Of The Patrons Newsletter
Issue two of the quarterly newsletter for patrons has now been mailed out and you should all have received your copies. This issue includes details of the band's history from 1984, an article about what happens behind the scenes on contest days, and this edition's "Meet The Band" features Richard Glascodine.
If you would like to join the scheme and receive regular newsletters about the band then please click on the Patrons link to the left for more details.
14th September 2008 - Band Placed Last At British Open
Yesterday the band competed in the British Open contest in Birmingham Symphony Hall, competing against the best bands in the UK and playing the new commission Rococo Variations by Edward Gregson. Off a terrible number two draw, the band were eventually judged to be in last place.
This means that we are probably demoted back to the grand shield, because the band has been placed in the bottom two based on the last two years results. Last year the band were placed ninth after drawing number one, and in a case of very bad luck number two this year has proved to be another bad draw leading to an unexpected and disappointing placing.
The band have taken the result on the chin and, if it is confirmed that we have been demoted, will go to the Grand Shield next year looking for a swift return back to the open. We have been inundated with messages saying that the result was incredibly harsh and the band were pleased with the wonderful response of the audience after our performance.
9th September 2008 - Rothwell Sign Baritone Legend
Rothwell Temperance Band have signed Bob Blackburn from Grimethorpe, but not on baritone. Bob has decided it's time for a new challenge and has joined his old Black Dyke friends Dave Roberts, Andy Padgett, Les McCormack and David Hale at Rothwell on Eb Bass.
Bob said, "Dave has won the Swiss Open, Pontins, The Senior Cup, qualified for the Open and Nationals and finished in the prizes at both, and won the Masters, all in a few years in the Championship Section. It's a fantastic achievement. This is one of the most progressive young ands in the country and I want to be part of what looks an exciting future with a very happy band and with my old friends."
Dave Roberts said, "I've been telling Bob to join us for years because I know he will enjoy it here. He has won 15 majors and his experience will be invaluable."
27th July 2008 - Race Night Raises £555
The band are pleased to announce that their recent race night raised £555, which will all go to help pay for the band's impending trip down to the Royal Albert Hall. If anyone would still like to help with the cost of the trip, please join the Patron's Scheme.
13th July 2008 - Band Wow Bishops
On Saturday evening the Band took part in a joint concert with Yorkshire Philharmonic Choir at Wakefield Cathedral. This was the second year that we had done this, and the concert again featured the new composition that we premiered last year. Ben Oliver once again attended the concert to hear his work Do Not Go Gentle/Death Is Nothing At All performed by the choir and band.
The concert was attended by various dignitaries including the Lord Lieutenant of Yorkshire and seven Bishops from around the world on their way to the Lambeth Conference. The audience left thoroughly entertained by the band and choir and there was some excellent feedback from the special guests at the reception afterwards.
28th June 2008 - Band Placed Seventh At English Nationals
Today, the band took part in the third English Nationals contest and were placed seventh. The contest features the top fifteen bands in England, and bands from Yorkshire showed their class featuring in five of the top seven places. The contest was won by Grimethorpe with Black Dyke a close second.
24th June 2008 - Death Of Former Treasurer, Bob Carrington
It is with sadness that the band announce the death of a former stalwart and treasurer of the band, Bob Carrington. Bob joined the band as a boy in 1941 alongside Gordon Roberts, the present conductor's father. He stayed with the band for many years progressing to play bass and was still an active member in 1981 when he wrote a Centenary Chronicle covering the band's first 100 years. At the centenary celebrations he was presented with an inscribed clock in recognition of 40 years service to the band. He retired from active playing in the early eighties but still continued on as treasurer for some years. The funeral service will take place on Thursday, June 26 at Christ Church, Lofthouse at 1.45pm followed by cremation at Wakefield Crematorium.
9th June 2008 - Concert With Skelmanthorpe Male Voice Choir
Yesterday, the band performed at a charity concert in Morley Town Hall in aid of Wakefield Hospice, alongside the Skelmanthorpe Male Voice Choir. The concert was a resounding success, with the audience going home with the sound of the band and choir ringing in their ears. The band started and ended each half, with the choir singing in between. Highlights of the band pieces included Sian Carradus' emotional performance of Concerto de Aranjuez, the band's warm sounds on I'll Walk With God, and Ed Hodkin bringing the house (and the trombone's music) down with Teddy Bear's picnic - a solo which even reprised some of the choir's music from the first half.
7th June 2008 - Race Night A Success
Last night, the band held a race night to raise funds for their trip to the finals at the Royal Albert Hall in London. The night featured ten races, mostly involving the use of wooden horses, and string. The Grand National was held outside, at night, in the rain, illuminated by car headlights featured several members of the band in inflatable horse costumes.
Some photos are available in the gallery
The band would like to thank Andy Marsh, Dr N. Childs, David Knaggs, Irwin Mitchell Solicitors, Mr & Mrs T. Boon, Andy Padgett, the Brunyee Family and pancredit systems ltd. for sponsoring races. Thanks also go to Doug Fairclough for sponsoring the Grand National on the night, and all those people who bought horses and supported the event.
26th May 2008 - Band Placed Seventh At International Masters Contest
Yesterday, the band took part in the All England International Masters contest at Cambridge Corn Exchange. In a field encompassing bands from France, Switzerland and Holland, along with some of the best bands in the UK, Rothwell were placed seventh. The band drew second, making this the third time they have done so at this contest. Whilst second is often considered the worst possible draw to have, last year the band were placed third from this draw and in 2005 were placed seventh. The band were slightly disappointed to be placed outside the top six this year, but were happy with their performance.
We now look forward to taking part in the English Nationals contest at Preston at the end of June.
18th May 2008 - See The Winning Performance At Delph
Some kind soul took a video of the band's winning performance at Delph on Friday, and put it up on YouTube. See it at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-6TIEsuy7M
Thanks to John Whitmore for taking the time to film us.
17th May 2008 - Success At Whit Friday Contests
The band were out and about in Saddleworth last night, taking part in the Whit Friday concerts. Despite a severe hold-up on the Motorway on the way across the Pennines the band managed to compete in seven contests. With a stunning win at Delph in a field of 78 bands, a win at Uppermill, a second place at Dobcross, a second place at Greenacres and a second at Lydgate, the band have had an excellent evening. They were also placed third at Grotton.
Some pictures of the band's evening are available in the Gallery
11th May 2008 - Band Launch Patrons' Scheme
The band have launched a new service for their supporters. The Patrons' Scheme involves making an annual donation to help pay for the band's expenses such as instrument repairs, new music, bandroom rent and transport to contests. In return, Patrons will receive a quarterly newsletter containing information about recent happenings at the band and details of future events. There is no minimum donation, but if you donate £50 or over you will receive two complimentary tickets for one of the band's selected concerts. Donations of £100 or more will receive the tickets as above and an acknowledgement of your support in the Christmas Concert programme.
If you wish to join the scheme, then please fill in the Patrons' Scheme Application Form (1Mb PDF document) and return it to the address provided. If you want to ask any questions, the please get in touch via . Thank you.
20th April 2008 - Concert At Lidgett Park
The band last night played a concert at Lidgett Park Methodist Church in North Leeds. The concert featured something for everyone and was well received by the enthralled audience.
Some photos from the event are available in the Gallery
27th March 2008 - Congratulations To Paul And Lucy
The band would like to congratulate our soprano cornet Paul Arygle, on his marriage to Lucy Gilvarry last weekend. Paul is a long serving member of the band and we wish the happy couple all the best for the future. A group of 11 players from the band, currently on holiday in Malta, watched the ceremony live via a web cam. The rest of the band entertained the wedding guests during the reception in the evening, and were joined by Paul on soprano and trumpet.
16th March 2008 - Rotary Club Concert At Blackburn Hall
Yesterday the band played a concert for the Rothwell Rotary Club in the Blackburn Hall. In a similar event to last year, the band again played a full concert of music from the shows featuring extracts from shows including Barnum, Chicago, Cats and Oklahoma finishing up with music from Les Miserables. The event was a resounding success with the band on good form and the event left the audience going home having experienced an excellent evening of music making.
13th March 2008 - Andy White Back For The Open
Former solo trombone Andrew White, who is now at the Royal College in London, will be back playing with the band at the British Open. Nick Walker, the band's current solo trombone is attending his brother's wedding on the day of the contest. Andy said he "can't wait" and is really looking forward to seeing everyone again.
3rd March 2008 - Band Qualify For Albert Hall
Yesterday, the band took part in the Yorkshire Area contest at St George's Hall in Bradford. Playing Festival Music, by Eric Ball, the band were placed fourth in what is always a strong field. This means that the band will receive an invitation to take part in the National Finals at the Royal Albert Hall in London in October. This was an excellent result for the band and they will all be working hard during the year to raise the money required for the trip.
24th February 2008 - Band Sign New Flugel
Sian Carradus will be joining the band after the Yorkshire Area competition. The former Sellers flugel is playing for Timperley at the Lancashire Area on March 9th and will take over from John Ward on March 10th.
John is leaving the band after six years to conduct the Milnrow Band. We wish him well in his new career. John wants to leave his card with the band and thanked everyone for a 'wonderful' six years which included winning the Senior Cup and All England International Masters.
27th January 2008 - Concert With West Riding Opera A Success!
Yesterday, the band played a concert with the West Riding Opera in a new hall in Wakefield. The hall used to be part of the old Stanley Royd Hospital, and with the demolishing of the hospital it is now in use as a church. The building contains one of only two Victorian stages still remaining in England, and is listed because of it.
1st January 2008 - Happy New Year
The band would like to wish all their supporters a very Happy New Year. Contests this year include the Yorkshire Area Contest in March, the All England Masters in Cambridge in May, the English Nationals in Preston in June and the British Open in Birmingham in September. There are also many concerts lined up, including one with West Riding Opera and another concert with Yorkshire Philharmonic Choir. We look forward to seeing our supporters throughout the year.
