Tragic dad’s band contest honour

AN annual trophy is to be awarded at the Greenfield band contest in memory of a doting dad who died after being hit by a coach at the event.

Alan Chamberlain (57) and his eight-year-old son Zac were trapped under the vehicle in Chew Valley Road, on May 28, while the contest was in full swing.

Zac escaped with bruising and a broken tooth but his dad suffered serious injuries and died in hospital the next day. The fatality was the first accident in the history of the Greenfield competition.

His funeral was taking place at St John’s CE Church in Mossley this morning.

Alan leaves his wife, Tracey, and five sons: Stephen (33), Adam (31) and James (25), from his first marriage to Susan, and Zac, and Harry (2) with Tracey. He also had two step-children, Anthony (21) and Roxanne (18), and three grand-children.

Alan loved to watch and listen to the brass bands and his family — who described him as irreplaceable — say he spent his last day doing things that made him happy.

Instead of flowers, they have asked for donations to the Stroke Association or to the Greenfield Whit Friday band contest to buy a trophy.

Contest committee secretary Joe Buckley said: “At the family’s request it will be a trophy for the best youth band. The final details will be worked out with the family but it will be called something like the Alan Chamberlain Memorial Trophy.

“I think Alan’s memory will continue every Whit Friday whether we have a trophy or not. We will never forget the tragic incident that happened. But we feel very honoured that the family want to acknowledge his enjoyment of brass bands in this way.”

Alan worked as a driver until 2006 when he was forced to quit after suffering a stroke. A safety review of the 12 band contests, involving Oldham Council and the police, is taking place but organisers say there will be no knee-jerk reactions after the tragedy.

Mr Buckley added: “Everyone wants it to continue to be a successful, popular, family event but to do everything we can to make it safe.”