But whilst banding was seen by many as a “man’s world”, that never stopped the sisters of the Trinity Girls Brass Band from doing it for themselves. And to this day they are the only all-female brass band in the country.
This year marks the golden anniversary of the band based at Garswood and Ashton, which still draws on the musical talents of some of its founder members.
“When we first started, there were very few women players in brass bands. It took a long time for the top bands to accept women – even frowning on players having their wives travel with them on the coach to competitions,” said Denise Grundy, who joined 48 years ago aged just five.
The band’s original musical director, 95-year-old John Newbigging, recalled: “The bandmasters told me I was wasting my time teaching girls. But I enjoyed showing them the ropes because the girls often took it in better than some of the lads. And by 1966 we were regularly beating the fellows in competitions. It was a magical time.”
The band was originally formed by a mid-wife, Nurse Margaret Stokes, leader of the local Girls Guildry – a group similar to today’s Girls Guides. The story goes that during a church walk, she heard the local Boys Brigade playing and decided her girls could do better.
As part of their Golden Anniversary celebrations, the band has featured on BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour, toured Ireland and played for the Queen when she visited Wigan this year.
A calendar will be launched at the Christmas Concert on Friday 4th December at Birchley St Marys in Billinge and the band’s 3rd CD will be available at the beginning of next year.
Anyone interested in joining can find our more at Trinity Girls Brass Band (external link)
