Rothwell Temperance Band

Rothwell Temperance Band (RTB) are a Championship Section brass band in Yorkshire. Although they do not rehearse in Rothwell itself, they have strong connections with the town and hold many concerts for the local community.

The band became The All England Masters International Champions at a contest in Cambridge Corn Exchange on 28 May 2006.

Early history

Formation

In the mid-1800s a band called the Rothwell Model Band existed in the town. Later, a dispute arose between the alcohol drinkers and the teetotallers in the band. As a result the Rothwell Temperance Band was founded in 1881. When the Temperance Hall was built in 1904 one of the four corner stones was inscribed with the following:

Laid by Thomas Blackburn in the name of the Rothwell Temperance Band. Established 1881.

The Rothwell Model Band then became know as the Rothwell Old Band.

Early years

After the 1939-45 war

Changing names

Major contest successes

In true brass band style only top six placings are listed. For these and other contest results see the Results Archive section on 4barsrest.com.

Date

Placing

Contest

Location

Notes

28 May 2006

1st

All England Masters International

Cambridge

5 Mar 2006

4th

Yorkshire Region (Championship Section)

Bradford

Qualified for National Finals

18 Sep 2005

5th

British Open

Birmingham

8 May 2004

2nd

Grand Shield

Blackpool

Promoted to British Open

7 Mar 2004

6th

Yorkshire Region (Championship Section)

Bradford

3 May 2003

1st

Senior Cup

Blackpool

Promoted to Grand Shield

2 Mar 2003

4th

Yorkshire Region (Championship Section)

Bradford

29 Oct 2000

1st

Pontins (Championship Section)

Prestatyn

30 Sep 2000

1st

Swiss Open

Lucerne, Switzerland

They were only the second English band to take The Title

16 Oct 1999

6th

National Finals (Championship Section)

Royal Albert Hall, London

28 Feb 1999

3rd

Yorkshire Region (Championship Section)

Bradford

Qualified for National Finals

Notable members

  • Richard Marshall played cornet with the band in the early 1990s and is now principal cornet player with the Black Dyke Band.
  • Michael Howley grew up playing euphonium with the band and has held the principal euphonium seat at several top bands including The Fairey Band, YBS and Brighouse and Rastrick.
  • David Roberts (conductor) was principal cornet player with the band in his youth before playing with Yorkshire Imps and Black Dyke Band. He then returned to Rothwell to concentrate on conducting.
  • Lucy Beeson is a regular percussionist with the band. She competed in the final of the BBC Young Musician of the Year in 2004, having won the percussion class.

Tours and performances

The band have featured several times on BBC Radio 2's Listen To The Band programme, using tracks from the band's CDs and having recorded sessions especially for broadcast.