Roy Lambeth.
A little bit of background information.
While serving with the Royal Air Force at Akrotiri in Cyprus (1975 to77) I used to attend the practices of The Akrotiri Volunteer Brass Band where I would operate the bar. One day I asked if I could learn to play, and I was taught to play the double B flat Bass.
When I returned home I was posted to RAF Kinloss where I continued playing with The Kinloss Volunteer Band.
While on holiday from Cyprus in 1976 I attended the Durham Miners Gala where I met an old family friend George Bramfitt, then the Secretary of The Langley Park Colliery Brass Band, who invited me to practice with the band while on holiday, which I did. When I arrived at the band room I asked if I could borrow an instrument and go somewhere to practice scales and the then Conductor Thompson Minnis told me NO! but I could join the practice and play what I could. This started a long association with the band.
On my return to UK in November 1977 I went back to Langley Park where I was made most welcome and on my visits to my home area (Durham City) I continued to practice at Langley Park although I must admit to have practiced also with The Lumley Bethel Band, The Earls House Band and the Bearpark & Esh Band.
In 1980 I purchased from The Langley Park Brass Band a narrow bore Bflat Bass which was the last remaining instrument of the first set given to the band in 1921. After having it overhauled and re-pitched at Kitchings in Leeds, I have had many hours of pleasure from it.
All this led to my realising an ambition to play into the Durham Miner's Gala. The year was 1983 - The Centenary Gala and Langley Park Colliery Brass Band was contracted to take The East Hetton (Kelloe) Lodge Banner to the Gala. The banner just happened to be a banner aquired in 1977 from the then closed Langley Park Lodge.
The photos are copyright of The Durham County Advertiser Series and appeared on the front of the following Friday's Durham County Advertiser. They show me with a Langley Park Band Bflat Bass which I was playing that day, Me (noted as having travelled 300 miles to be there) and next to me the youngest member of the band, and a shot with me on the march in the band in Coxhoe.
The day started at Langley Park at 6a.m. for a lift off at Kelloe at 6.45a.m. where we assembled outside The Greyhound Pub. Having played Gresford at the memorial there we marched with the banner to the Kelloe Miner's Welfare (where we had been the previous evening playing a concert). Once inside we found the bar had been open all night and was still well attended. We gave a half hour concert playing requests (mainly Ballerina, The Floral Dance and Instant Concert) after which it was time for 2 pints of Federation Special. Outside again we formed up and marched to The Aged Miners Homes where we played Abide With Me and Gresford and then continued the march to The Davy Lamp Pub. Onto the coach and off to Quarrington Hill.
Here we started at the East End of the village and marched to the club. Once inside it was upstairs to the concert hall, another half-hour concert, another 2 pints of Fed Special and outside again. On the other side of the road are the Aged Miners Homes where we played some more hymns plus Gresford and then marched to the west end of the village. On to the coach and off to Cassop cum Quarrington.
Here we started again at the east end of the village and marched to the village hall where the miner's wives had laid on breakfast for us - bacon rolls, soup with tea or coffee. After about 40 mins (it was now after 10a.m.) we were back outside where we marched to the west end of the village, on to the coach and off to Coxhoe.
At Coxhoe we formed up at the junction of the Cassop and Kelloe roads and marched down the hill to the crossroads at the village centre where we turned right onto the then A177 and marched the full length of Coxhoe main street to the railway level crossing at the bottom. It was then onto the coach and off to Durham arriving at Mount Joy Roundabout about 11a.m.
Here we set off down Hallgarth Street and New Elvet to the queue of bands and banners by The Three Tuns Hotel waiting for their turn to play in front of The Royal County Hotel balcony with the dignitaries and guests on it in Old Elvet. After our turn we marched up Old Elvet and onto the Racecourse arriving about 12.15p.m. having marched and played about 4 miles. Here we were paid (£5 a head) and told "Lift-off 3.30p.m." We were the first band to start playing that morning (6.45a.m.at Kelloe) and the last band and banner to arrive on the racecourse. We were also among the first to lift off to go home.
While on the racecourse I photgraphed some of the older banners which were brought out specially for The Centenary Gala then proceeded to Durham City Rugby Club for a liquid lunch.
Soon after 3.30p.m. we left the Racecourse and proceeded down Old Elvet, up New Elvet into Hallgarth Street where we disbanded, tired, worn but happy it was over. We had been blessed by good weather, the afternoon being hot and sunny replacing the dull overcast morning.
I am still the owner of the 1921 vintage Bflat Bass but it is in the cupboard now and has not been played for 10years.
Happy Memories!
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