Bury Brass

Also/previously known as: Ainsworth Brass Band, Ainsworth Public Subscription Band, Ainsworth Public Subscription Bolton, Airtours, . Bury, Irwell Forge Band

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Notes

Formed in November 1891 by Wm Norman Rayson. He had started earlier local bands at Breightmet Bleachworks, his place of work, and in the village of Ainsworth but both were short lived. In 1891 he again gathered together some local musicians and Ainsworth Brass Band was formed. In the mid 1890's the band was engaged to play at Bolton ice rink at the bottom of Chorley Old Road. The bandsmen would walk to Bolton and then at the end of the evening walk back at one or two o'clock in the morning, back to Ainsworth village. Often they would pause on their way home through the fields and enjoy an informal concert. Their best soloists would play and sing and the whole band would thoroughly enjoy themselves. On one November 5th the band found a deserted bonfire still burning. They gathered round and played 'Hail smiling Morn', the band serenaded the neighbourhood for a while before marching off to a lively quick march!
They changed their name to Ainsworth Public Subscription Band in 1946 after having been disbanded during the war. In the 1950's the band took sponsorship from a local firm and changed its name to the Irwell Forge Band. They were sponsored by Airtours the travel company in 1986. Following difficult trading conditions the sponsorship deal ended in 1989. Due to its Bury roots, and the fact that Bury Silver Band were not playing at that time, the band was renamed as Bury Brass Band. They played on under that name until 1997 when the band eventually folded due to lack of a fixed affordable rehearsal space and being down to twelve members. Conductors have included C. H. Partington (1933-38), Harry Hodgson (1938-48) and Frank Kay (c. 1950).