Arthur Oakes Pearce was one of twelve children and was born on the 16th of October 1871 at Lupset Park, Thornes, Alverthorpe, Wakefield and was the son of Peter and Caroline Pearce (nee Oakes). Whether it was Peter Pearce’s employment as a gardener that forced him and his family to move away from Wakefield to seek work elsewhere is a story that has long since been lost in the mists of time. However, it was shortly after Arthur had reached his twelfth birthday that the family had packed up and moved house out of the area.

Little did young Arthur or his family know or realise at the time of the move how it was going to change his life and ultimate destiny.

He came from a musical family with two of his brothers being horn players. It was following this move that his own introduction to the band world began a year later shortly after his thirteenth birthday when he took up playing an old side drum for the Bethel New Connexion Band at Ovenden in the Yorkshire mill town of Halifax, their new home.
Becoming quite proficient he left this band to join the Halifax Band of Hope Brass Band which in later years went on to become known as the Halifax Victoria Band.

Arthur O Pearce was one of Black Dyke Mills Bands’ longest serving conductors.

Further information can be found in an excellent article by Chris Helme on Arthur O Pearce.