Eccleston
History
Eccleston Brass Band was originally formed as a drum and fife band in the 1850’s, in the small village of Eccleston, near Chorley in Lancashire. It was converted into a brass band in 1890.
The group was reorganised for a second time after WW1, and continued until WW2 brought the band to an end.
In 1969, after the manager of the TSB Bank in Eccleston discovered an old account in the name of Eccleston Band, it spurred a group of local players into re-starting the band. They collected the instruments from where they had been stored at the Rectory, and rehearsals started at Eccleston Institute.
Our current bandroom was erected in 1987 on the field at the bottom of Drapers Avenue, where we rehearse on a Tuesday and Friday.
1990 marked our first visit to the national finals under conductor Harry Bentham. We also reached the finals in 1991 achieving fourth place, and were promoted to the third section, qualifying twice for the finals under conductor Ian Bateson, with a top ten place both times.
In 2018 we reached the national finals for a fifth time under our current conductor John Wood, and in 2024, we qualified second at the North West Regional Finals, and this National Finals will be our sixth.
The band continues to go from strength to strength, we have a busy engagement schedule booked well beyond Xmas 2025!
Principal Players
Soprano: David Yerkess
Principal Cornet: Andrew Pullin
Flugel: Carole Bamber
Solo Horn: Janet Vernazza
Principal Euphonium: Peter Bromiley
Solo Baritone: Anne Bromiley
Solo Trombone: David Bamber
Eb Bass: John Bromiley
Bb Bass: Andrew Marsden