Under the spotlight: Bo'ness and Carriden
READY to take its turn under the spotlight is Bo'ness and Carriden Band. The first section band is preparing for the Band Supplies Scottish Challenge on November 28.
Bo'ness and Carriden has its roots in heavy industry, with members in its early days often workers in iron foundries, potteries and coal mines.
Time for the band to introduce itself...
Soprano cornet: Dianne Ironside
Principal cornet: Hugh Foster
Flugel: Tommy Harrower
Solo horn: Tom Eadie
Solo baritone: Fiona Rodger
Solo euphonium: Scott Cameron
Solo trombone: Geoff Turnbull
Solo Eb Bass: Toni Pacher
Solo Bb Bass: Billy Downs
Principal percussion: Chris Edwards
Founded in 1858 Bo'ness & Carriden Band is one of Scotland's oldest and most famous brass bands. The members of the founding band were mostly from the heavy industries prominent in the town of Bo'ness in the middle and late 19th century. Learning to make music on the cornets, horns and trombones of the brass family of instruments became an enjoyable pursuit from the dark and mundane labour of the coal mines, iron foundries and potteries which most of the early members of the band were employed in.
Finding local fame by playing at fetes, galas and social events these early enthusiasts began to employ professional conductors to advance their quest to improve, not only by playing marches and popular songs of the time but by being introduced to classical music and overtures by Meyerbeer, Wagner, Berlioz and arrangements by the great orchestral composers.
Brass band contests flourished and B & C were among the first Scottish bands to enter into them. The Scottish Amateur Brass Band Association was established in 1894 and B & C was one of the founding members. The first Scottish Championships held under proper registration rules drawn up by S.A.B.B.A. were held in the Waverley Market in Edinburgh in 1895 and B & C were awarded first place winning the 30 Guinea Challenge Cup £15 sterling and the title of Scottish Champions. It is reported 800 supporters travelled to cheer the band on to victory and trains were delayed at Waverley Station such were the celebrations by band and supporters before the return journey home!
So on into the 20th century the band continued its success at various contests becoming Scottish Champions again in 1903. As well as contesting it became firm favourites by playing at different events on both sides of the River Forth. The band, along with other organisations, had to put things on hold during the First World War, however after the hostilities ended the band returned to its normal ways with young lads learning to play in the junior band before progressing into the senior band, a process still in place to this day although nowadays the fairer sex have found their way into the ranks!
The band started to be featured on BBC Radio, the first transmission being on 5th September 1930. So the name of Bo'ness & Carriden started to become known throughout Great Britain and overseas. Again war came along in 1939 and it was back to the most senior members keeping things going, along with the young boys, having band practice to go along to must have been a bit of light relief during the dark days of 1939-45. As it recovered from the Second World War, B & C started to return to the contesting and concert success that had become the normal way of life for them before the war.
Tragedy came on 13th March 1956 when fire raged through the band's rehearsal facilities destroying instruments, music and all of the historical artifacts. Such was the passion and love for the band, within six weeks, thanks to the generosity of Bo'ness Town Council and the townspeople they were back playing with a set of brand new instruments at a cost of just over £3,000, a very large sum of money in those days.
The band rented alternative premises for the next 15 years and due to the generosity of the local building company of James Harrison who gifted materials, a plot of land was acquired and the players and friends of the band set about building a brand new band hall and moved into their new home in 1971. This seemed to set them on the way back and the next 40 + years have saw the band going from strength to strength becoming Scottish Champions again in 1977 and representing Scotland at the National Championships at London's Royal Albert Hall. They were placed 5th playing against the best brass bands in the world, names like Black Dyke, Grimethorpe Colliery, Brighouse & Rastrick and Foden's. The following year (1978) Bo'ness and Carriden was Scotland's representatives at the very first European Championships again at the Royal Albert Hall, conducted by the famous Scottish orchestral conductor, Bryden J Thomson. The band was placed fourth.
The 1980s and 1990s were fruitful times for the band becoming Scottish Champions again in 1995, 100 years exactly from its first win.
In 2008 the band celebrated its 150th anniversary and local author Valerie A McKay wrote her book about the history of B & C Band, entitled "Sons O'Brass".
