Wigan Album
LOWER INCE TEMPERANCE PRIZE BAND
17 Comments
Photo: Vince Turton
Item #: 23590
I was eighteen at the time and had been in the band for about six months.Under it's conductor Bill Wood it had had some contesting success, as can be seen from the cups and medals displayed. The medals were awarded to me for best soloist in contests.I still have them to this day.
The band used to practice in their own band room in Lower Ince.I can't remember the street but I remember it was just off the main road to Wigan.The nearest pub I think was the White Swan just round the corner on the main road and therefore the word Temperance should not be taken too literally, as most of us used to pile in there straight after practice was over.
I remember the names of most of the players. But if anybody could fill in the blanks or correct me, I would be grateful.
Also if anybody has any history of the band either before or after 1962 or any stories or anecdotes to share,again I would be grateful.
As I remember
Front Row left to right-
Vince Turton, Graham Worthington, Ronnie Jones, Tommy Dunn, Bill Wood, Donald ?.Tommy Jones, AN Other, Steve Murphy, Fred Atherton, Ike Lancaster???
Back Row. Left to Right
Edwin(Eddy) Hughes, Hughie Hayes, AN Other, Bill ???? Joe Goulding, An Other(young boy), Jack Grundy, Jimmy Marrow, AN Other (was Librarian), AN Other, John Abram, Alan Jones, Tommy Marsden, Ernie Hayes.
The young boy at the back I think was the son of Bill ? fourth from left, back row. The Jones's were all related, and the Hayes were brothers.
No doubt quite a lot of these men are now in the big band in the sky, but if anybody remembers me I would be delighted to hear from them or indeed any brass banders in the area.
Vince. Graham Worthington was a great friend of mine from our days at St Mary's School,Lower Ince, until he past away, about twelve months ago. He lived in Manley Street,opposite the street, where the bandroom was. I believe that street was named Knowle Street. He lived in Manley Street all of his life. If I got the name, Knowle Street correct, it had a butcher's shop on the corner, and it led into Winchester Grove.
Vince. Did your family have a business in the locality,or in Spring View?
Jimmy Marrow lived in Abram married to Kitty Brennan ,Francis Brennan Aunty who was in our class at Holy Family
Was there a Jonathan Blakeley in this band?
Thanks Albert,
I think it was Knowle Street but I don't remember the butcher's shop, but I think Alf Taylors drapery shop was round the corner by the bus stop.
I think Graham had lived in that house in Manley Street all his life. I think it was his parents' house, and I remember them too.
Graham was a lovely bloke.He had a great sense of humour and never had a bad word to say about anybody. Sorry to hear he has passed away.
I am not associated with any business in Spring View, but I was brought up in New Street,Platt Bridge.
Thanks for your comments
Vince
Hi Mark,
Very long time no see.How are you?
I used to go to Jimmy's house in Warrington Road. He had an allotment at the rear and kept chickens there. I remember that he used to put the eggs in the oven on his Lancashire Range to hatch them out.One day when I called he had forgotten to take them out!!Poor things.
I remember his wife very well and also Francis Brennan.How is he? What relation was he to Kitty?
Was your sister called Marie? My older sister Margaret remembers her as I think she was in her class at Holy Family.
I come over to Wigan once or twice a year and it would be great to meet up if you wish.
Vince
Hi stuartp,
That name rings a bell but I can't honestly say if he was in the band during my time there.
Perhaps if you could supply a bit more info on Jonathon It might help me to remember.
Thanks for your comment
Vince
Hi my dad was a in the lower ince temperance band in the 50s/60s. my name was Linda Rigby from laburnum ave ince.
I remember going to the band room and put all the music sheets away and cleaning up the room, i also remember going in wigan park to the band stand on sunday afternoon, not sure what his roll was in the band. There is a photo in albums under people in the name of jackson it is of my dad James Rigby and Earl gregory it might be of intrest to you
Linda
My grandad on my mothers side was Elisha Grove, he won a cornet at a contest held at Crystal palace in the 1920's.He played in the Lower Ince Temperence Prize band. Born in Wigan circ 1882. Played also in Yorkshire Main Colliery Band and St Johns Ambulance bands. Died as a result of injuries sustained at the Edlington venue of the Yorkshire Main Colliery Prize Band. Have pic of this band. My mothers nee name was Doris Grove, born in Wigan.
Jonathan was from Malvern crescent , worked on the buses
Amazing how a sudden thought can lead you to do a search for a long lost memory on the internet. Just that happened tonight. The Lower Ince band room was a place my grandad used to take me when I was between 5 and 7 (I think)which would have been between 1975 and 1978. Correct me if I am out with those years. I suddenly thought about the band room tonight and my grandad who was Steve Murphy - did a search online and this amazing picture came right up with my grandad sat bottom row, third in on the right. I recall very little of that time other than the band room being a wood building, possibly black and white paint on the outside. Memories.
The two AN Others I thing are Gordon Moss and Brian Moss who also played in Crook Miners Welfare when I played with them
Norman
Oh the power of the internet ! My auntie, Jean Benning, who has just died aged 94, used to work with Mr Murphy's daughter. When I started playing (a cornet - in 1958) he gave me a lesson every week (lived Darlington St way. He must have done SOME good because I've recently retired from the BBC Symphony Orchestra where I was Fourth Horn for 36 years. Bless him - he took me to my first ever contest (Darwen - 1959 ?) and bought me a Wright & Round tutor. Such memories
i work in a care home, and when i looked up the band i got this picture. i was doing some reminiscing with a resident who said she was from wigan, but knows ince very well. she saw the picture and remembered all the street names. she lived on Spring View and remebers the band very well. her eldest brother was a founding member of Wigan Little Theatre.
My cousin Marilyn Southwood ,a girl called June Bold and myself were I think the first girls to be in the band in 1968 so I remember most of the men in the picture.Much to my regret we didn't last very long being young teenagers and having other things to do.Although I have lived in Italy for over forty years i still love brass bands
To Vince Turton, Are you related to a Handel Turton or know of him ? A euphonium player of the 1920's era, whose career I am interested for research. If you can please assist in any way I would be most obliged, thank you. Bob.