Rainford Band
Rainford Band was established from the former Rainford Boys' Brigade Silver Band in 1976. At that date former BB members held a public meeting in the village hall to see if it was feasible to form a new band. The take-up from prospective members was very encouraging and so the new band came into being.
It was the inspirational captain of the 1st Rainford Boys' Brigade, Alf Webster, who was behind the setting up of the original BB band, and it was his officers - Tony Brown, David Roughley and Ken Wesley who drove the Rainford Band project forward.
Some 34 years later the Band can look back on some considerable successes. From an early solid foundation, it spent some years as a non-contesting band before eventually entering its first contest at Oldham's Queen Elizabeth Hall in 1979 where it played the test piece 'A Winter's Tale'.
Some talented musicians led the band in its early days. William Lyon, then MD of Skelmersdale Prize Band, was the first tutor, starting in the BB days, followed by William Horrocks, Albert Atherton, Ken Heaps and Geraint Jones.
But it was Colin Moore from Pemberton who led the band to its first contesting successes during a 21-year stint as the band's MD. Most notable was a second place at the National Brass Band finals in London in 1993.
Following Colin's departure, Steve Pendlebury and Brian Harper took the band for short periods before Malcolm Brownbill took the helm and was instrumental in inaugurating the successful Summer Pops concerts at White House Farm, Rainford, which have been held there every year since. Malcolm also took the band to a national qualifying contest at the Winter Gardens, Blackpool.
Brass teacher Lynda Nicholson then took the band to some notable contest successes and established a solid base for future development.
The band then achieved notable contesting success under the baton of Neil Samuel (see results panel). Under Neil's guidance the Band qualified for the the highest echelon of banding in the North West, Championship Section.
It was under the baton of current Musical Director, Gareth Brindle, that Rainford made its Area debut in the Championship Section, placing 5th amongst some strong competition.
As of November 2013, the band was ranked 71st in the world - not a bad achievement for a village band, considering there are more than 500 brass bands in the North West of England alone!
As well as MDs the band can be thankful for some fantastic support from the community during the period of its existence. It raised thirty thousand pounds as its contribution towards the National Lottery - funded bandroom under the inspirational guidance of the then chairman Linda Mawdesley. This cash was mostly raised from the people of Rainford.
Past presidents, Eric Foster, David Wood and new president John Walker have all played a major role in the Band's continuing development and the band is now looking forward with confidence and enthusiasm to future successes.
