I’ve had a blistering article mailed in from reader and friend of the Brownhills Blog, Stuart Cowley. Stuart, you’ll recall, has written and supplied some great material on the subject of Chasewater, and his pictures and recollections of the cafe there have been very popular.
Stuart has a great interest in, and memories of, marching jazz bands in not just our area, but in general from participating as a band member in competitions and a wealth of personal experience.
Cinefilm image of unknown band marching in Brownhills, thought to be from the interwar period. Image from the Midlands Media Archive.
This, I know, will be of interest to all readers and particularly the artist formerly known as Bev Lloyd, who recently asked me to promote a site concerning this history, for which I’ve lost the post. Please, Bev, if you’re reading, drop me the link and I’ll edit it in.
This has been a mammoth post to edit and has taken hours to do the links, but it’s so well written that it’s been more than worth the effort. I thank Stuart for his wonderful piece, and for shining a light into a bit of local culture that I have absolutely no knowledge of.
As ever, comments and email welcome: BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot com. Cheers!
[Edited 11:00pm, Sunday 3rd February 2013]
The artist formerly known as Bev Lloyd let me know that there’s currently a marching band operating in Burntwood: Burntwood Adfatonions. We’ve lost their Facebook page, but Clare Cole runs the show.
Bev also pointed out that there’s a nostalgia page for the Brownhills Tartans Jazz Band also on Facebook.
Cheers to Bev for that, and my apologies to Bev for being a klutz and losing the original mail.
Marching Jazz Bands
I thought it might be worth putting together some information on the children’s marching jazz bands that were popular back in the 70s, I was in the drum section of one from Burntwood 1970-77, the Bluebirds. At one point nearly every town in our area had one, each with about 30 members they would compete at carnivals up and down the country during the summer months so the chances are that they touched the lives of some of the readers of your blog at some point.
My condensed version:
Jazz bands go back to around the 1920s and 30s where they were originally found in the North East and across the Welsh pit villages as a social activity for the local miners and their family members, becoming increasingly popular as a way to pass time during the strikes associated with this period.
Back in the day the instruments were tin kazoos and drums, they performed to a crowd in local carnivals and festivals in the area, often competing between villages.
The Walsall Wood Red Caps were a familiar sight in the 1930s at carnivals and parades, along with several other bands from the area. Image from ‘Memories of Old Walsall Wood’ by Bill Mayo and John Sale.
As the years went on the number of bands started to grow and started up in new areas such as the Midlands and Yorkshire, which are still popular havens today to some degree.
1973 saw the first England Vs. Wales competition which brought bands from both sides of the country together, this was followed the next year by the first World Championships held at Alexandra Palace in London.
The late 60s and early 70s saw the largest growth of bands in the Cannock, Brownhills, and Tamworth region with virtually every town and village having at least one, although it is recorded that some bands existed in the Norton Canes and Brownhills West area as far back as the early 1930’s, my mother was a member of one of them as an eight year old.
Back in the 70’s it wasn’t common for every family to own a car or take regular holidays so venturing out to a carnival on a band coach anywhere in the country every weekend throughout the summer season generated many happy memories for the children, parents and supporters that would stay with them for the rest of their lives.
Valuable life skills were learned in terms of teamwork, discipline and confidence building that would put them in good stead for later life. All credit should be given to the trainers and committee members involved who through dedication and some personal sacrifice were able to get together, raise funds for band coaches, uniforms and instruments and provide the ongoing motivation needed to put some 30 or more children per band proudly out on to the streets in local parades, marching in unison, not for financial gain but purely for the love and joy of doing it.
The Chase Royals were a big local band. Does anyone know if they’re still going? Image from Bandworld3.
At some carnivals in the 70s it wasn’t unusual to see some 30 of these bands in a street parade each separated by a decorated wagon, providing a colourful display drawing in people to the main carnival events where the bands would later compete against each other for prize money. Some local bands were fortunate enough to be able to go abroad but whether abroad or at somewhere closer to home these children acted as fine ambassadors for their hometowns. A typical week would be training on a Tuesday and Thursday night, up early on the Saturday to catch the band coach to a carnival anywhere in the country, getting back late, sometimes near midnight, to get up on the Sunday and do it all over again. As lads we used to get some stick from time to time from mates who didn’t understand what we were up to but at the end of the day the girls outnumbered the lads about 20-1 so it was inevitable that long term relationships formed, I met my wife of 30 years through the bands as did many other couples.
It’s very sad that they are no longer so popular and a pity that local communities no longer seem to organise the carnivals and street parades that used to be prevalent throughout the summer, local traders and councils are missing a trick there I think. After all, what could be better than attracting about a thousand kids plus supporters and members of the public to an event where they are likely to be spending money within the town at an event that generates community spirit?
These may be of interest and bring back a few memories
I’ve put together a list of sites that I’ve come across on you tube of Midlands bands going back to the 70’s and tried to name them where I can, you’ll also see some of the usual scout bands and some dance troupes, not connected with the jazz bands but who also regularly used to participate:
Polesworth carnival (Tamworth) 1970s
- Norton Canes (Cannock) Millittaires (yellow and purple)
- Red and blue band – unknown
- Tamworth B Tones (black hats red capes)
- Tamworth Trinity Georgians (blue with white marine style hats)
- Mainly purple- unknown-possibly Fazely Scimitar (Tamworth)
- Rawnsley Rubettes-(Cannock) Black and white
Polesworth carnival (2)(Tamworth) mid 1970s
- First band – unknown, possibly Polesworth Coronets? – blue
- Littleton Startones (Cannock) – red and black
- Tamworth Trinity Georgians – (blue with white marine style hats)
- Blue and red – unknown
- Mainly purple – unknown, but possibly Fazely Scimitar (Tamworth)
- Rawnsley Rubettes (Cannock) – black and white
- Tamworth Castle Marines – tartan and white
- Orange – Unknown
- Tamworth Trinity Georgians (blue with white marine style hats)
Rushall carnival early 1970s
The sharp eyed will note this video is from our very own Stymaster.
- Norton Canes Millittaires – yellow and purple
- Burntwood Bluebirds (uniform would date this at 1971 approx) -red white and blue
Bilston carnival 1964
- Bands here are unknown
Coseley carnival 1964
- Bands here are unknown (possibly old tableaux style bands, Crown Premier, Wayfarers , High Peak ?)
Useful links
- Heath Hayes History – check out the Jazz Band section
- Remember when – the Jazz Age – This gives an insight to experiences in the North East
- Bandworld – a great general memory site. Bandworld has some historic info relating to the first world championships held at Alexandra palace 1974, winners were the Tamworth Castle Marines This competition went on well past midnight due to the amount of bands involved, street parade was past the houses of parliament earlier on in the day.
- The Castle Marines were sponsored by the Castle Hotel Tamworth and trained at Whittington Barracks.
- Bluebirds in a film clip from Cliff Richard’s film ‘Take me high‘, his last feature film and it’s not hard to see why… Filming was in the city of Birmingham from 6 in the morning until 6 at night just for this clip. [Bob’s note: I covered this peculiar film before, I think, but can’t find the link. I believe he goes into a 70s Gas Street and buys a narrowboat. There’s also an odd passage where the pixie-faced one pilots a hovercraft under Spaghetti Junction on the canal]
- There’s even a website showing some of the buses that were purchased by the bands for anyone interested…
Something I can’t find any further info on – a band called Ynysowen youth band from South Wales, they were formed after the Aberfan disaster from some of the monies received from round the world at the time. Some of the members had been in the school at the time of the disaster, they would never attend a Sunday competition as they wished to attend church in an act of remembrance. I can remember having some interesting conversations with a couple of the members at the time.
Does anyone have any further information, please?
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My Dad was in the GayTones (I’m not joking) which I believe was Norton Canes based and was wondering if there was any information on this marching band.
John,
If you look at the cine film that Wendy Jones is currently putting on you tube, look for a band in orange and white and that will be your dad’s band.
there was some pictures on norton canes page i was also in the band with yr dad we were school mates
Great Article, thanks to Stuart and Bob.
Looked in the archives for the Gay Tones without success, but how times change. In 1950 there seems to have been the Gay Nineties Club in Tamworth, and I confess to going in the 70’s to the Gay Tower in Edgebaston.
The Palace Theatre in Tamwort advertises a matinee called the Gay Ranchero in 1950, and in 1944 the gay singing sensation of Deanna Durbin.
But in 1926 they advertised Richard Dix in the Rollicking Romance “Too Many Kisses”…the story of a young blood who just could not make his lips behave….
Should read “a gay young blood”!
Great Article, thanks to Stuart and Bob.
What a joy to read this post and to offer thanks to Stuart and Bob for such a presentation.
As a youngster in Walsall Wood in the ’30’s my first allegiance was to the Red Caps. but all the
‘jazz bands’ fascinated me, and I would follow them for miles, when marching.
The band seemed to come under the control of a Mr Scott, and he would carry the mace in front of the band, when marching. The band trained on Bowker’s field in Holly Lane, and in the summer time, during the evening practice, the sound of the bazooka’s and drums would drift across the common, (No Castlefort Estate, then) into Salters Road and into the open windows of the kid’s bedroom. Yes, we called them ‘bazooka’s’ in those days, ‘kazoos only came about in the 1960’s
renaissance of the bands.
I loved the band contests. Many were held on the Walsall Wood F.C. football ground at Oak Park. One in particular sticks in my memory – after competing in the playing and marching competition, the finale of the contest was for each band to offer an original tableau. The form of the tableau was a closely guarded secret, and bands went to extreme lengths to preserve the secret from other bands, while practising assiduously to get things right for the contest.
Came the moment. The Red Caps formed into a group, and all was silent, then two members of the band emerged, quickly wrapping a very long white sheet around the band, at the same time ,
wooden masts and sails were hoisted from within the band and, hey presto ! the band had transformed itself into a sailboat ! While the strains of “Red sails in the sunset” drifted from the
bazooka”s and drums.. Yes, the Red Caps won the contest, Who could follow that ???
Yes, happy innocent days ! I saw an earlier reference to a Norton Canes band of the ’30’s,
That would most certainly be The Norton Dandies. Don’t be put off by the name ! They were tough cookies when it came to competition.
I believe the Mr Scott you are talking about could have been my Great Uncle, his name was Charlie, he went on in 1965 to train, and lead with a baton in front of the leader Paul Kendall the Norton Canes Militaires Jazz Band.
Hi David,
Tamworth Herald Saturday 7th August 1937…
JAZZ BAND SUCCESS
The Bolehall Imperial Jazz Band at the Lichfield Carnival on Monday were awarded first prize and challenge cup. They became the Midland Champion Jazz Band, defeating seven bands, including the holders of the cup, Norton Canes Dandies. On Tuesday, at Stockingford, in a jazz band contest, Imperial gained first prize of £10, Norton Canes Dandies and Warwick Charity Jazz Band being second and third.
Derby Daily Telegraph 22 June 1936…Uttoxeter Carnival…Silver Challenge Cup for best jazz band, the Dandies from Norton Canes…
TH 19 Sep 1936…Tamworth Hospital Carnival 1st prize ND’s
Hi Pedro,
Thanks for your research. Norton Dandies certainly were a power in the world
of Midland Jazz Band competitions at the time, that why I was so chuffed when The Red
Caps won this one. Don’t remember the full result, but I expect The Norton Dandies would
not be far behind.
I think the Red Caps changed their names to The Red Coronets, shortly afterwards.
There was a local jazz band named The Black Aces,around at the time, but I cannot remember the village they represented. Be nice if you could stumble across them in your
research.
The Archives, at the moment, only has the local Tamworth Herald during this period that would just touch on the area. However more pages of papers are constantly being added, and in the about the last 14 months the number of pages has gone from 3.5 to 6.5 million! I will keep a look out.
I see a New Aces swing band at the Mile Oak in 1941, and Black Eagles performing around the same time at Fazeley.
Regards Pedro
Hi Pedro.
Thanks for your efforts. I agree, The Tamworth Herald would be somewhat peripheral to our area, except for events on their own turf. Walsall Observer, the now defunct Walsall Times, the Cannock Advertiser. & E & S. would be a little nearer home. On the other hand, if the Black Aces won very little they would create little publicity for themselves.
Regards David.
Also some recently found video from the 1980 World Championships at South Shields, originally a Tyne Tees Documentary running for about 50 minutes in 5 ten minute sections on you tube.
Documentary was called “some people don’t call it music” it gives a good insight as to what it all entailed. Hopefully the link below will take you there.
Happy viewing
Stuart
Loved the article, its so nice a history has been collected on these bands, I was in the Lichfield Three Spires (around about 1976) and were nearly always in the prizes our main competition back then was the Blue Birds. I loved every second of it, especially competitions. Lichfield Three Spires colours are bright blue, Orange and White.
Hi Stuart
Remember me, Wendy Harper,?
I have over four hours of old cine film of jazz bands my Dad had put onto video tape, I have transferred them onto a DVD, I need to make another copy (if I can remember how).
I was watching some of it last night, there is the Chase Wakes showing the old grandstand, old swimming baths etc. blessing of the drums in 1970, taken in the Brentwood Suite, some old footage taken at the filming of Take Me High, in Birmingham, Heath Hayes and Norton Canes showing the old pit spills in the back ground (now housing), the exchange of the French troop both in Burntwood and France (where there is a clip of you) St Matthews hospital grounds, the old first orange and blue uniform, mention a few, some of the film is very poor quality, however, most of the early days of the Blue Birds and other jazz bands have been recorded.
Cine films where in 3 minute clips so Dad must of been dead keen
Do you remember the films shows he used to show?, we were all so excited to see ourselves on screen, how technology has advanced.
The films will be a super mammoth task to put into some sort of order
I also found old scrap books of jazz bands I complied when I was a teenager in the 1970’s, they have been in my loft for nearly 30 years, they are in the shed now, I will sort them out, they confirm dates
Regards Wendy
Morning Wendy, Yes, I remember you, I’ve always wondered what happened to your dads films, it would be good to see them, I’d love a copy of the DVD. It would be good to see the making of the film and Paris shots. In talking to people around Cannock way on there seems to be little in the way of memorabilia on Cannock bands and also one or two have mentioned the documentary “50 years of jazz band history” that was televised in 1976, I’m not sure if your dad filmed that. Stuart
________________________________
Stuart I have sent Wendy your email address. I’m hoping you two can cook up some great history stuff between you. Brilliant.
Cheers
Bob
No worries chap, I know her dad had a wealth of stuff, only problem is it may turn in to a bit of a Bluebird thing, there were about 30 bands in just the Cannock area alone , it would be good to see some stuff from them but there seems to be very little about.
________________________________
Hi Stuart
I have emailed you but I might have got the address wrong. (I’m not to clever at this attaching thing) I have put a few clips of the jazz bands on youtube, however, its extremely time consuming, I don’t know if you have managed to see any of them. There are some good clips of the Chase Wakes in 1973, when the French majorettes came to England and the jazz bands paraded each with their own banners with their name on them, I still the film to collect the names, talk soon hopefully
Will try and do a couple more clips today
Regards Wendy
hi Bob, Its Jill who was a member of the TGs Jazz band.
I’ve spoken to Stuart and said to ask you for his email address if thats ok.
Thank you
Hi Jill
You should have Stuarts address by now – I sent a round robin on the 28th December with yours, Wendy’s and Stuart’s address. Did you not receive it?
Cheers
Bob
I have just emailed you, I also have a few old newspaper clipings of other bands, and there is loads of different bands on DVD, old cine film taking in the early 1970’s, also of the French troop we exchanged during 1974, film of Paris with the Blue Bird performing, there is a clip of you walking across the screen, I’m sure you will enjoy watching it.
hi stuart
hope you and your family are well. You may not remember me but I was a member of the Trinity Georgians band and I recently came across lots of photos of different bands in the 70s which I would like to show you but dont know where to start. Any ideas?
Morning Jill, nice to hear from you. I’m not too good on the technical side of things about putting stuff on to websites etc but if you make contact with Wendy Jones through this blog she seems to be more up to speed than me and has put a lot of cine film on You Tube including some of the Georgians, good luck.
Stuart
Thanks for replying back Stuart, will get in touch with Wendy.
Hope you and your family have a lovely New Year.
Jill
Jill,
If all else fails I work with a lady who was also in the TGs she may be interested , ask Bob for my e mail address and I’ll forward detail on. You and yours have a good one too,
Stuart
Hi Jill,
Apologies for the reply to your message several years later, but my Father-in-law, John Bate, recently passed away and i believe he was a member of the Trinity Georgians before going on to train the Polesworth Coronets. I wondered if he was in the same time period as you and if you remembered him. If there are any old photos of him or film of him, it would be gratefully received. i believe he was the base drummer.
John met his wife through the bands so they hold a special place for the family.
I hope this reaches you.
Conor,are you on facebook?
Hi Stuart, yes, I am on Facebook.
I’ve had a look there are one or two with the same name but the TG’s have a facebook page if you’ve not already looked and anything I’ve seen of them tends to be on that page so that may be of use.
Hi Conor, just received your email. I was in the Georgians when John was Bass Drummer, that is so sad that he has passed away. My condolences to you and your family.
I have one photo of john, which I will try and send to you tomorrow, Do I send it to your email? Its the same photo that’s on the jazz band site where I put loads of 70s photo’s that I had..
Hope to hear from you.
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Was wondering if anyone has pictures of Tamworth trinity Georgians my mom was lead kazoo n lost pictures over the years if any one has any or knows where I can go to get some would make my mom a very happy lady as the band was her life for over 20 years
Only mention of the band I can find in the Newspaper Archives is for August 1971 when they were described as a Jazz Band and playing at Wilnecote Parish Hall. (many years are missing from the archives)
If you Google you can see the site below…
http://bandworld.webs.com/1974world.htm
where they were entered in, what is called, the first World Championship in 1974.
Best wishes Pedro
Evening, Not sure if this link will work but thought you may be interested if you’ve not picked up on it already there’s another article on this blog called the long march and it contains links to a film on you tube called 50 years of jazz band history, it was first on tv back in 76 and a lady by the name of Lisa Ashby has added film and photos to a sound recording I had, the Georgians crop up half way through for anyone interested going back to1974.It’s film that is already on you tube of them but slowed down so you may be able to pick more folk out, I’ll leave it to you to spread the word Tamworth way on.
If anyone has any pictures or videos of Tamworth band trinity Georgians could you pass me a link or email them to me at delimoore@hotmail.co.uk as my mom was a marching member lead kazoo and would love to see them
The Trinity Georgians are on the old cine films, the hours of work to go through them is very daunting, I will get them out tomorrow
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I was a Blue Bird in the 1970’s (I could see myself in the old film) and I kept a scrap book of all the events which I still have, also there is about 5 hours footage of old cine film of events all over the UK and Wales, there is a lot of footage of local events. Dad used to give film shows in the old Burntwood baths. I also have a fair amount of old Blue Bird photographs taken in the 1970’s. I can remember most of my fellow marchers names.
Hi Wendy
I was a member of the Trinity Georgians in the 70s and came across loads of photos of the bands we all competed against, it would be nice if I could show these to bring back memories for all jazz band members but not sure how to go about it, spoke to Stuart and he said to contact you. Hope you can help.
Jill
Happy New Year to you.
Hi Jill
I also have loads of old photographs of jazz bands, although mostly Blue Birds with a few other jazz bands. Also I have more old cine film of bands taken in the 1970’s that I still have to download. Also old scrap books with newspaper cuttings and old programmes
I am able to scan photographs and download films, but I still have to master how to start my own web page, a task for 2014
I would be willing to scan any old photographs and put them onto disc for you
Happy New Year to you
Wendy
Hi Wendy
Still have your Cliff stuff to go up, not forgotten, promise 😉
You should have each other’s email addresses now – I did a round robin last night. Please let me know ifyyou haven’t.
If you want help setting up a blog or site of your own, please shout up, only too happy to help
Happy new year
Bob
Morning all,
It is looking like it needs a dedicated website rather than deluge a site such as this with stuff and that’s where I get lost in the technicalities of it all.
Stuart
Hi Bob
The last couple of months seem to have dissolved into thin air. My main interest has been the old shops in the Burntwood and surrounding areas. I call it “One hundred years of shopping in Burntwood”. I have been collating it into book form and have gathered a fair amount of information and old advertisements and photographs, I have well over 100 hundred pages of information of shop keepers and items they sold to the public. It has escalated from writing about shopping with my mother when I was a young girl and I used to walk past the shops to school.
I also worked in Lindon Road, Brownhills for 13 years after I left school in the early 1970’s and most days would walk the length of Brownhills High Street with my friend over the old railway bridge, its amazing what daily events we so easily forget (I have been looking at your old photographs of Brownhills which brought back so many memories), I not going to adventure with Brownhills shops yet
Jazz bands were a part of my life for 10 years, however, not all my life
Its mainly the setting up of a web page and attaching links that I am not to sure about
You always work so hard and give hours of your time
Wishing you a very Happy New Year
Wendy
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Thanks Stuart for contacting me onFriends Reunited. I was in the Longford Troupers in the early seventies and reading all the comments has bought back fond memories of rehearsing our routines ready for the weekends competitions. Every child in our street had a broom handle with some kind of weight on the end to march up and down twirling them and launching them into the air. I still get the urge to do it occasionally on the rare occasions I find a broom in my hands.
Just spotted a brilliant piece of film on this same site, to my knowledge contains some of the oldest film of such bands going back to 1934/35, the link is here, thanks again Bob:
http://brownhillsbob.com/2013/07/12/film-footage-of-brownhills-carnival-1934/
I was in ynysowen jazz band in the 70s came across this site by accident and stirred up a mindful of happy memories so vivid you wouldn’t think it was 35 to 40 years ago it was also good to see our village band was remembered thanks
Thank you for leaving a message Carol, I hope my memories of your band were accurate, whenever me and my wife are in South Wales we try and pay our respects at Aberfan, probably difficult for people down there to understand the impact the disaster had on my age group up in the Midlands, a lot of us were living in mining communities ourselves and we were of a similar age at the time. For happier memories though if you want to see more band stuff track down Jill and Wendy who have also left comments on this topic via Facebook, Jill has loads of old photos and Wendy has put 44 clips of film from the 70’s on youtube, search for Wendy Jones chase wakes.Thanks again
hi stuart its a long shot but im not sure if I have the right stuart or if this site is still in use hope it is x
Yes, how odd is that, I was trying to make contact with you this week but ended up speaking with a confused woman in a residential home. I’m not allowed to go on Facebook fully with my job but I do go on for local history sites and also some of the marching sites and I’d picked up that there was a reunion in September. I’d picked out your surname because it was unusual and was trying to go through the bt phone directory to make contact. I was just trying to get a message to someone regarding clips on this site (street carnivals and the link to the documentary in the comments) and also a Wendy Jones under the heading Chase Wakes has clips of a lot of the Welsh bands on youtube but you have to wade through about 40 clips, they are from about 1974.So I’m glad you’ve made contact for me to explain, hope the clips are of use.
hi stuart thank you for trying to contact me. through the vague message I had and remembering your name from a reply I sent you before about ynysowen band and wendy jones help here we are again. sorry about the mother in law but she confuses us quite often im surprised she remembered your name. looked at the clips of the chase wakes theyre fab lost count of how many times I watched them haven’t found our band but im sure we can use some of these clips if possible at the reunion, what a talking point as theres quite a few welsh bands there and we are hoping some of those band members will come to the reunion we have a few of our band from the 70s so hopefully it will be a good night. Thanks again stuart for this information and I will let you know how it goes.
these clips are fab
hi stuart been trying to send you a reply if this posts ill reply again
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Chase Royals Are still going strong. And still taking part in competitions around the uk.
Still in an effort to keep whatever I find on the bands in one place I came across something interesting the other day. The early formation of the bands is often linked to the great strikes of the 1920s but you rarely find anything on that, by a fluke I saw on TV some old film of the Jarrow march and noticed one group of men marching with kazoos so I decided to try and search for that film, didn’t find it but came across two interesting articles, links to follow. One on a piece of text relating back to the early years in Wales and the North East and the other some old photos from the same region but in the 70s , may or may not be of interest but at least it’s logged here now for anyone wishing to view:
http://www.pennilesspress.co.uk/prose/jazz_on_the_march.htm
http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/lifestyle/nostalgia/remember-when-golden-age-north-7368395
My father and his three brothers were in the Skewen Paraders,
Thanks for that Philip, I’m not 100% sure but if you go on you tube search for wendy jones chase wakes there may be some footage of skewen paraders from about 1974, it will mean you trawling through about 40 clips though
loved the jazz bands my daughter was in the rugeley rosettes
Hi Ann, Did you know Marianne Uden who was in the Rosettes in the 80’s.
I want in a film with her back in 85 called ‘Knightsb& Emeralds
Hi everyone. I was a member of the Lichfield Crown Premier Jazz Band for many years. I remember we used to practice in the old scout hut and we use to practice at the Willows school hall next to them. There was always rivalry but that made it very interesting to us kids. Shame it all came to an end really. The comps were great!
Sorry. Three Spires used to practise at the scout hall and us in Willows
to David Oakley re the Walsall Wood red caps What a picture my mother as this same picture.My grandparents are in this band George and Violet Bowker nee Birch so the field that they practised on was my great grand fathers.My grandad played the drum and my gran told me that it was always a close run race between themselves and the Norton dandies with the dandies getting the lions share of the victories there are other members of the family in the picture but I dont know who they are.But would just like to say a big thankyou for a true reminder of my grandparents in there heyday
Violet Bowker was my moms sister. Have fond memories of Uncle George and Auntie Vi. We lived in CastlexRoad. My moms name was Edna and my dads Edgar Whordley. You are my cousin so we must have met up.liads of times at Auntie Vi’s house at her wonderful Christmas parties.
THE RUGELEY ROSETTES
I was an actor in the film ‘Knights & Emeralds’ released in 1986. A film about a teen romance and marching bands. One of the bands in the film was THE RUGELEY ROSETTES’ I am trying to trace a friend from the Rosettes who was also in the film. Her name was Marianne Uden. If anyone has any information on The Rosettes please let me know. My email is steviepage@hotmail.com 07968521514 My name Stephen Page.
I played the role of ‘Basket’ in the film
Heres the link to the movie trailer for Knights & Emeralds
Just worth noting this link that has recently appeared on You tube, a compilation of clips of the Bluebirds when they were in the Cliff film in Birmingham back in 73 (released 74)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cY_Db-_jZ14
This has been put together by a Brownhills lass by the name of Lisa Ashby who, I understand, has had nothing to do with the bands over the years but took it on herself to put this together, so on behalf of everyone associated with the Bluebirds at the time I’d just like to say a big thank you.
Just for interest, my memories of the time were:
Audition at Birmingham on a Thursday in August 1973, following Saturday filming from 6 in the morning. All those associated with the filming were gathered in the Victoria square area by the town hall. We did 6 runs of the street parade so that they could take various shots and if anyone is wondering what it was all about, we were part of a promotion for the opening of a new restaurant in the city according to the storyline. We attended the premiere at the ABC Bristol street Birmingham and the film was released early 1974. I think in the States it was known as “Hot property” over here it was “Take me high” I’m on the very last row of drummers, kerbside so got about 2 seconds of fame.
Below are links that Wendy Jones has put on You tube, these are behind the scene shots that her dad took at the time:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uf36UcCfTcw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MkZbBqrWPm4
Thank you again to all involved for the memories.
I’m due to post it up at the weekend – Lisa recently did the Black Country video I featured here, too.
Cheers
Bob
https://brownhillsbob.com/2016/07/30/some-late-vows/
Cheers
Bob
Ok chap, I’m always bowled over when people put themselves out like that, makes a change in this world we live in. Same with all the work you do on this blog. Keep up the good work I’ll get back to my fraud cases.
No problem, was more pointing out Lisa’s previous work which is excellent. The more people are told about it the better! Thanks for a great, insightful comment as always…
Fraud cases? Now that’s piqued my interest…
Cheers
Bob
It’s my job (financial services, not committing it I might add), that’s why…..frustratingly….I won’t go fully on to facebook it bothers me that dubious individuals could get back to family and friends so all I’m able to do is observe.
Understood, and you’re always welcome here!
I shall pass your compliments on to Lisa
Best wishes,
Bob
Good Morning to you all,
Can I put you right on a wee bit of information regarding the Castle Marines? We were not sponsored by anyone only the parents of the members and of course the members themselves with endless money making schemes from selling home made cushions, tea cosies and loads of other things I can even remember.
We, along with all the other bands in the early 70’s had a fantastic time out most weekends and practise sessions for about two – three evenings a week; which for us paid off as we won the first World Championship down at Alexander Palace; boy what a weekend that was!!!
After the band finished my dad started up his own judging panel MJBA which we had a few fantastic years judging and seeing new bands rise. Wow looking back I don’t think I have had a bad life. lol
Hope you keep these pages going as it is good to remember, even though it makes me feel my age.
Keep going lads.
Sue Beecham (Newby – Doug and Vera’s daughter)
Evening Sue, remember you and your family well, thank you for your contribution and sorry about the sponsorship issue. It was rumoured that the Bluebirds were sponsored by the toffee people, all we had was a couple of stickers for the coach just shows how Chinese whispers work.
Yes , thanks to Bob there is a good record of the early bands here, he’s put a lot of work in I’m hoping that you’ve managed to see all of it. Wendy Jones has put a lot on about the Bluebirds and also on you tube if you search her name followed by “Chase Wakes” you’ll see a lot of her father’s cine film from the early 70s which include other bands .I try and keep things generic, so in the links in the comments here there is the hour long documentary from the 1980 World champs, also if you search on this blog for “”the long march,50 years of jazz band history” you’ll see a 30 min documentary from a sound recording of a documentary first broadcast in 76, a lady by the name of Lisa Ashby did some smashing work on that. Bluebirds have a site on facebook and I think your dad pops up on a few of the photos there along with his famous hat. I think somewhere in these replies there is a link to some film from the 1930s showing bands which is a bit weird because my mom was probably in one of them.
So happy viewing, I’ve not been able to find a lot on the Marines so you’ll have to do some digging in your scrap books.
All the best
Stuart
Just come across another piece of film so I’ll stick it on here before the link gets lost.
Both my parents Edna Birch and Edgar Whordley were in the Red Caps Walsall Wood. I have some photos of them in the Red Caps uniform taken sometime before they were married. They were married in 1942.
Cheers Christine,Dig the photos out I’m sure Bob will find a home for them somewhere.
yes please….
cheers
David
Hi Stuart My grandparents were in the redcaps too George and Violet Bowker nee Birch and yes Violet and Edna were sisters.They used to practice on my Great Grandfathers field in Holly lane and the story I was told that my Great Gran Mary Bowker helped to make the costumes how right this is I dont know,and My Mother has that same photo.I think another member of the troop was Esme not to sure of the surname but I think it may have been Brothurst her nephew,Trevor lives in Brook Lane.Lets see if we can put a name to all members now that would be something
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Hi I was in North Shields Grenadiers we won junior world at alexander palace 1974 and also at Wales porthcawl 1975
Evening Christine. Funny you should pop up with this. I was just remeniscing about the first Worl champs and how late in to the night they went. Now I know of a few clips that you may be interested in then, if not already seen. If interested, message back on here and I’ll put links on. It’s sound recording of your band in 74 and possible film 75
Hi i was in the rawnsley rubbetts mid 70s would you have any old photos as we won several competitions. But my late mother had all photos which can not be found please