St Marks Newtown, Boys Brigade Band. June 1969
Photo: Geoff(rey) Bentham

St Marks Newtown, (2nd Wigan) Boys Brigade Band, in Norfolk Street, Newtown waiting to be called into the Walking Day procession on Ormskirk Road, in June 1969. The Band of ’69 had recently won the Wigan Battalion, plus Lancashire & Cheshire District BB Bands competitions, and went on to repeat the same in 1970 thanks (in no small measure) to the ideas, enthusiasm and energy of Band Officer Derek Gibson. They are from left to right: Drum-Major - Geoffrey Bentham (of Bentham’s Chippy, Victoria Street) Band Officer – Derek Gibson Side Drummers – Syd Abbott, Kenneth Peat, David Holland, John Oliver Bass Drummer – Stephen Corless Buglers – John Don Duncan (won District solo Bugler), Stephen Cook and Ian Ashcroft,apologies to the lad behind the bass drummer and far right of picture my memory fades . . . Thanks to Michael Mason who has contributed numerous photos and comments about St Marks and Newtown, which spurred me into digging out this photo, with all the memories that come with it.