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At the turn of the century
Langcliffe, Giggleswick and Settle had brass bands, here it was a group of men
largely from the Chapel community. We know that Bob West played the cornet, his
brother Fred the euphonium and that Alf Farrer came down from Stainforth when
they were short of players, likewise Tom Marsden, were members.
Jimmie Fox beat the drum, which when not in use was hung up on a nail in
the school. The rest of the instruments were kept in the loft above the stables
at the Hall (along with the bier).
The Band always played round the
Big Tree on Christmas morning, went home for dinner and then out again to go
round the big houses, so Langcliffe families did not see much of their menfolk
on Christmas Day. In the end
enthusiasm waned and some men left to join Giggleswick band although Alf Hocking
tried to keep Langcliffe going by recruiting youngsters. Dick Middleton was one
of these but on the second time he turned up it was announced that the band was
'disbanded'. This would be about 1938 as they played for the Jubilee and
Coronation celebrations.
However it is nice to think that
the memory of the Langcliffe Brass Band stays with us now as we carry on the
tradition, started by Emmanuel Hayes, of singing round the Big Tree on Christmas
morning.