Black Dyke completed their Bandstand Tour with a whirlwind visit to the South of England to Boscombe and Bournemouth.

“When the Music Director normally introduces the band, he asks the audience to give them a warm welcome. In Bournemouth, it was taken to a new

level as the temperature was 31 degrees when the band were performing”, commented Richard Marshall, Principal Cornet, Black Dyke.

“It was a long 6 hour coach journey where the band had to sit socially distanced and chose to wear their masks for all of the journey, however the welcome they received at Boscombe, Fisherman’s Walk Bandstand was terrific.  With literally hundreds of people turning out to listen to Black Dyke and the Boscombe Salvation Army Bands.”   John O’Brien, Secretary, Black Dyke.

Boscombe bandmaster Howard Evans commented, “It was a pleasure to be part of the Black Dyke Bandstand tour, which gave the first opportunity for Boscombe to perform to an audience for over 16 months.  It was great that Nick Childs accepted the invitation to conduct Boscombe in James Anderson’s Pioneers, and it was a special moment when Deputy Bandmaster Kevin Whittingham conducted Black Dyke in the march, Redcliffe, in memory of his father, Ged, former flugel horn player of Boscombe and long time supporter of Black Dyke.”

“The tour represents a pathway to confidence, allowing people to hear live music for the first time in 16 months.   The band have carried out 11 performances the length and breadth of the country from Queensbury to Bournemouth, sharing and encouraging other bands to perform with Black Dyke. I would like to thank those performers individually, Clifton and Lightcliffe, Ripon City, Tewit Youth, Delph, Barnsley Music Centre and the Boscombe Salvation Army band.   With this confidence, hopefully, it is the start to a roadmap of performances.”   Trevor Caffull, Chair of Black Dyke Band Trustees.

The Black Dyke Bandstand tour was made possible with funds provided by Arts Council England and the Cultural Recovery Grant.