Wardle Academy's brass band's triple win

Wardle Academy Youth and Junior Bands bring home three first place prizes

The Wardle Academy Youth and Junior Bands brought home three first place prizes after competing in the Butlins’ Mineworkers’ Brass Band Contest.

The bands made their way to Skegness on the Friday afternoon for the annual event at which they have competed for the past four years.

The band members were able to spend Saturday taking advantage of Butlins’ facilities, swimming, go carting and watching films, before they began their final rehearsal in the evening.

The Youth Section began on Sunday morning with the Junior Ensemble section in which Wardle Academy’s Junior Band, under the direction of Gwen Smith, were hoping to retain their first place title for the second year running. The band delivered a superb all action programme that included '1914 March', 'Eventide' and 'Bandstand Boogie'. The adjudicators were very impressed stating: “Wow, this is amazing, you are making a great sound.”

Next up was the Youth Band, directed by Lee Rigg, taking the stage first in the Youth Section with an outstanding performance of 'Prismatic Light', followed by 'Old Hundredth', Kenneth Alford's march, 'On the Quarter Deck, 'Sunset', including ‘The Last Post’, and closing with the atmospheric 'I'll Walk with God'. The programme left the audience and adjudicators clearly moved and impressed. John Doyle and Mark Walters described it as “a superbly directed and thought out programme” adding “this band improves every time I hear them, very impressive.”

After all the competing bands had performed the results were announced:

In the Junior Ensemble Section the Junior Band were awarded first prize.

The Youth Band took the honours in the Youth Section winning the Keith Wardle Trophy and £1,000 first prize thus ending Youth Brass 2000s six year Butlins’ reign.

Much to the delight of the young players and supporters, the band’s solo cornet player, Laura Conway, was awarded a well-deserved ‘Best Soloist’ trophy for her outstanding performance. 

Janet Emsley, Director of Performing Arts at Wardle Academy, said: “What a fantastic result. This is our fourth year at Butlins’ but the first time with a double win and Laura’s award as a bonus. It’s hard to put into words how proud I am of the young people.”