A POPULAR upper dale silver band has found a new base in Woodland’s iconic tin church.
Middleton-in-Teesdale and District Silver Band decided to move home because of an increase in members from the upper Gaunless Valley thanks to a successful junior training programme last year.
Conductor Paul Krywyszym carried out sessions at primary schools in Woodland, Butterknowle and Hamsterley where talented children signed up to join a training band.
He said: “It was fantastic. We had at least 20 children go through [the programme] and about ten have joined the band. Our main band now is really last year’s training band.”
Mr Krywyszym, who spent ten years with the military band of the 14/20th King’s Hussars, said the aim is to continue to expand because many of the children from the primary schools are now going to secondary schools.
He said: “What we are trying to do is spread our wings Staindrop way because there must be people going to Staindrop Academy that play brass instruments but are not in a brass band.”
One of those who went through the programme at Woodland School and moved on to Staindrop Academy was young member Charlotte. She said: “I really enjoyed doing it, it was really good.”
The conductor added: “Charlotte started a year ago last September and she has taken her grade I, so we have people taking exams as well.
“This year we have three taking the grade I associated board exam. We have two members, twins from Hamsterley, who have just passed their level five instrumental.”
The band has a busy summer ahead and among others people can look forward to seeing them perform at Staindrop Carnival, Ingleton Church Fair and Langdon Beck Sheep Show.
Band secretary Lynn Hawdon, who has been a member for 30 years, said the move from the Masonic Hall in Middleton-in-Teesdale to St Mary’s Church in Woodland was necessary because it is more central and convenient for most band members, some of whom travel from as far as Wolsingham to take part in practices.
She said: “Alan Thompson, from the Masonic Hall really looked after us very well.”
Of the new base she added: “It is toasty warm and welcoming. We were made to feel very welcome [by the church officers].”
People interested in joining the band or having their children joining the junior training programme can email the secretary at lynn.hawdon@gmail.com.
