Holme Silver Band History

Writing by admin on Saturday, 24 of January , 2009 at 4:12 pm

The small village of Holme lies just outside the busy town of Holmfirth, on the edge of the Peak District National Park and right in the heart of ‘Summer Wine’ country. It is surrounded by beautiful countryside, hills, woodland and reservoirs.

Holme Valley

Holme Silver Band was officially founded in the village in 1865 by Samuel Broadhead, though records suggest there had been a Band in the village from around 1830.

In it’s early years the Band rehearsed in the row of cottages that now make up the Bridge Tavern, just down the road in Holmbridge. However, in 1924 members and supporters gave their time voluntarily to construct a purpose-built bandroom at Holme Bank, which remains the Band’s home to this day.

The Band has enjoyed a long association with the BBC Television series Last of the Summer Wine and has appeared in a number of episodes, as well as taking part in recordings and other projects. Following the death of Bill Owen, who played Compo in the series, the Band were honoured to be asked to perform at memorial services for him, both locally and at Broadcasting House in London.

Way back in 1981 the Band recorded a single with Bill Owen entitled Compo’s Gone and Lost His Wellies. It didn’t quite have the chart success of Brighouse & Rastrick’s Floral Dance but was our little claim to fame!

In more recent years the Band has achieved contest success.  In 1999, the Band was crowned 2nd section National Brass Band Champions and again in 2009 it achieved promotion to the first section by winning the Yorkshire Area Championships and going on to the National Finals in Harrogate.

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Holme Silver Band was officially founded in the village of Holme outside the busy town of Holmfirth in 1865 by Samuel Broadhead, though records suggest there had been a Band in the village from around 1830. In it’s early years the Band rehearsed in the row of cottages that now make up the Bridge Tavern, just down the road in Holmbridge. However, in 1924 members and supporters gave their time voluntarily to construct a purpose-built bandroom at Holme Bank, which remains the Band’s home to this day. We have enjoyed a long association with the BBC Television series Last of the Summer Wine and have appeared in a number of episodes, as well as taking part in recordings and other projects.