Battle to save Whit Friday band contests

NEW blood is needed to keep the Whit Friday Band Contests in Uppermill and Greenfield alive after the resignation of several key committee members.

A plea has been made by stalwart members from both Saddleworth villages urging the younger generation to get involved and prevent the grand old annual tradition from collapse.

Joe Buckley, a member on the Greenfield committee for a whopping 43 years, says a crunch meeting on Thursday, December 6, is make or break.

A meeting for Uppermill, the oldest and largest of the contests, is to be arranged for early next month — with outgoing chairman Terry Hopkinson describing the situation as “desperate”.

Amazing
Terry (71), who has left his post due to ill-health, like his fellow committee member and brother Roy (78) said: “It has been a tremendous privilege, but I have to step down.

“We need the next generation in soon to keep it going. We have had some amazing support over the last few years, which have been quite difficult, but we do need more to help in organising the event.”

Fifteen spaces are available to oversee the running and timing of the Greenfield event, which sees around 60 competing brass bands perform in the village.

Joe said: “Several members of the contest committee have resigned, myself being one of them.

“We need to make sure the Greenfield contest goes ahead. All the positions on the committee need to be filled.

“We need people to help out before the contest with things like travelling door-to-door to gather donations.”

The Greenfield meeting will be held at Greenfield Conservative Club (7.30pm).

Anyone who wishes to find out more or wants to donate a few hours of their time to the contest should contact Joe on 01457-874 794.

Uppermill helpers should call Terry on 01457-876 010 or secretary Pam Byrne on 01457-820 149.
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