On Saturday  23rd September 2006 , the Long Eaton Silver Prize Band won its first national title in 79 years, becoming the Third Section Brass Band Champions of Great Britain. Under the direction of Sharon Stansfield, a magnificent rendition of Gordon Langford’s Sinfonietta won the plaudits of both adjudicators and left the band clear winners ahead of sixteen other bands. Sharon, one of only four lady conductors of the 72 bands present at this year’s championships, also became the first woman to lead a band to the third section  National  Championship.

 

The Long Eaton Silver Prize Band was founded in 1906 and enjoyed much success in its early years: the highlight being its win at the prestigious Crystal Palace contests in 1927. However, by 1999, the band was in decline, with only 15 members and its future participation in brass band contesting in doubt. The return of Sharon Stansfield in 2000 was to provide the inspiration for a return to the band’s past glories. In six years, the band’s membership, including its reinstated training band, has risen to 81, and the band has qualified for the  National  Championships three times in five years and in its centenary year, now holds the Midland Area and National titles for the first time in its history. Sharon is also the first musical director to lead the band to placings at two national championships, following the band’s second place in the fourth section in 2003.

 

The day was extra special for Ted Bradley (70), the band’s former solo euphonium player, secretary, bandmaster, conductor and junior teacher who, with the late Sid Bland, taught our training band in the early 1970s. Of his former pupils, Sharon now leads the band; Carl Ramplin is the band’s solo euphonium, whilst Graham Jacklin conducted another East Midlands band, Leicestershire Cooperative Charnwood Snibston into fourth place.

 

The band’s civic centenary concert will be in St. Laurence’s Church, Long Eaton on 28^th October. All are welcome to this concert, where our trophies will be on display. Entry will be free, but there will be a collection in aid of band funds and for cancer research in memory of the band’s former flugel horn player  Elma Ramplin , who died earlier this year.