IN the mid-19th century, there were 1,000 leadminers living in Reeth. Music was an important part of life as much then as it is today. It is thought that there was a brass band in Reeth right back to that time.
Evidence to support this has been discovered in a newspaper report from 1935, kindly provided by Jennifer Kendall, of Reeth.
The headline to the report shows “the ups and downs of Reeth Brass Band”.
This article indicates that the band was reformed for Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations on June 22, 1897, after a break of eight years.
The newspaper also states: “The date of origin must be far back in antiquity; certainly it was in being upwards of a hundred years ago.” This would indicate that the band existed at the height of leadmining activity in the area during the mid-1800s.
Further information has now come to light from the archives of the Teesdale Mercury, relating to performances by Reeth Brass Band from 1865 to 1874.
On June 14, 1865, a Temperance Gala was held at Raby.
The Mercury reported: “In Raby Park the sight was very grand. There was Reeth Brass Band, kindly lent by Mr Robinson, present.”
On April 16, 1873, the anniversary of Reeth Wesleyan Sunday School was marked and the band played several tunes on green.
On May 28, 1873, in Gainford, the Templars and Foresters annual demonstration took place. Various lodges marched in procession from the railway station to the gala-field, headed by the “celebrated” Reeth Brass Band.
The band afterwards performed selections of music.
The Good Templars ofBarnard Castle held their first anniversary on Whit-Thursday a month later.
The Mercury recorded: “At one o’clock the procession started from the ‘Hope of Teesdale’ Lodge room, in Hall Street, in the following order – The Reeth Brass Band; the officers and members of the Hope of Teesdale Lodge, with red, white and blue banner; the Band of Hope with banner; the members of the John Wycliffe Lodge with banner.
“On reaching the park at Startforth, a concert was given by 200 juvenile singers. The Reeth Brass Band then again took up the music, and played a series of popular airs in excellent style.”
