Rothwell Temperance Band (RTB) are a Championship Section brass band in Yorkshire. Although they do not rehearse in Rothwell itself, they have strong connections with the town and hold many concerts for the local community.

The band were crowned Yorkshire Region Champions at St George's Hall in Bradford on 8 March 2009.[1] In March 2012, they qualified for the National Championships at London's Royal Albert Hall for the 5th consecutive year.

Early history

Formation

In the mid-19th century a band called the Rothwell Model Band existed in the town. Later, a dispute arose between the alcohol drinkers and the teetotallers in the band. As a result, the Rothwell Temperance Band was founded in 1881. When the Temperance Hall was built in 1904 one of the four cornerstones was inscribed with the following:

Laid by Thomas Blackburn in the name of the Rothwell Temperance Band. Established 1881.

The Rothwell Model Band then became known as the Rothwell Old Band.

Early years

After the 1939-45 war

Changing names

In 1999 the band was renamed the Wallace Arnold (Rothwell) Band,[2] reflecting sponsorship by coach tour operator Wallace Arnold. The then "B" band retained the name Rothwell Temperance Band[3] and is the current band.

In 2000 the Wallace Arnold (Rothwell) Band merged with the Yorkshire Imperial Band, which for some time became the Yorkshire Imperial DUT (Rothwell) Band.[4]

Recent history

Major contest successes

In true brass band style only top six placings are listed. For these and other contest results see the Results Archive section on 4barsrest.com.

Date Placing Contest Location Notes
9 May 20091stGrand ShieldBlackpoolPromoted back to British Open
8 Mar 20091stYorkshire Region (Championship Section)BradfordQualified for National Finals
11 Oct 20086thNational Finals (Championship Section)Royal Albert Hall, LondonMybandsite.co.uk
2 Mar 20084thYorkshire Region (Championship Section)BradfordQualified for National Finals
26 May 20073rdAll England Masters InternationalCambridge
28 May 20061stAll England Masters InternationalCambridge[5]
5 Mar 20064thYorkshire Region (Championship Section)BradfordQualified for National Finals
18 Sep 20055thBritish OpenBirmingham
8 May 20042ndGrand ShieldBlackpoolPromoted to British Open
7 Mar 20046thYorkshire Region (Championship Section)Bradford
3 May 20031stSenior CupBlackpoolPromoted to Grand Shield
2 Mar 20034thYorkshire Region (Championship Section)Bradford
29 Oct 20001stPontins (Championship Section)Prestatyn
30 Sep 20001stSwiss OpenLucerne, SwitzerlandThey were only the second English band to take the title[6]
16 Oct 19996thNational Finals (Championship Section)Royal Albert Hall, London
28 Feb 19993rdYorkshire Region (Championship Section)BradfordQualified for National Finals

Notable members

  • Richard Marshall played cornet with the band in the early 1990s and is now principal cornet player with the Black Dyke Band.
  • Tom Hutchinson played Principal Cornet with the band for over 4 years before joining Black Dyke Band in 2005. He is now Principal Cornet of the top ranked Cory Band in Wales
  • Michael Howley grew up playing euphonium with the band and has held the principal euphonium seat at several top bands including The Fairey Band, YBS and Brighouse and Rastrick.
  • David Roberts (conductor) was principal cornet player with the band in his youth before playing with Yorkshire Imps and Black Dyke Band. He then returned to Rothwell to concentrate on conducting.
  • Lucy Beeson is a regular percussionist with the band. She competed in the final of the BBC Young Musician of the Year in 2004, having won the percussion class.
  • Labour Politician, James Normington, played cornet in the band for 7 years.

Tours and performances

The band have featured several times on BBC Radio 2's Listen To The Band programme, using tracks from the band's CDs and having recorded sessions especially for broadcast.

In the late 1990s the Band toured Norway, visiting Bergen and the surrounding area

References

  1. 4barsrest.com, Contest Archive
  2. "Wallace Arnold (Rothwell) Band". Brass Band Results. Retrieved 30 July 2011.
  3. "Short History". Rothwell Temperance Band. Retrieved 30 July 2011.
  4. "Yorkshire Imperial David Urquhart Travel Band". Brass Band Results. Retrieved 28 July 2011.
  5. 4barsrest.com, articles 2006= All England Masters International - Retrospective]
  6. Rothwell and District Record, November 2000
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