Supporting local clubs, societies, services and facilities - Produced and distributed FREE of charge by volunteers Memories of Dobcross Brass: 行ってらっしゃい Past , Present… 2009 The Whit Friday Band contest this year will be remembered as one of the wettest ever. Although the morning was beautiful & sunny for a glorious parade to Uppermill, the rain began shortly before Diggle band started the contest off in great style. The persistent & torrential downpour didn’t stop thousands of people having a great time, though. There were 2009: Generally wet, but in Dobcross we keep smiling. plenty of smiles, whether you were Chief Superintendent Caroline Ball (bottom right) or if you had travelled 9,700 miles from Tokyo especially to play in Dobcross, like Kazuhiro Tsikimura & Koji Horita. They joined Asako Mochizuki (top left, in the middle) who now plays with Fulham Brass Band. 1983 Twenty-six years ago, Dobcross village & the Silver Band were featured in ‘THE BEAT OF BRASS’ - a documentary series presented by Roy Castle. Many readers will remember the filming & original broadcast. Now, thanks to the wonders of the internet, we can see the programme again. If you have the internet, put ‘Dobcross Roy Castle’ into and take a look. John Whitmore, who used to live in The Square (and now lives in Delph), used his technical wizardry to transfer the programme … and future onto YouTube from a mangled old video tape. Whether you are a Brass Band enthusiast or just interested in Dobcross, it makes fascinating viewing. HOG ROAST!!! BRASS ON THE GRASS Free Concert! Sunday 5th July 2009, 2pm 1983: Generally drier, but with slightly more dodgy hairdos. on Church Fields CAN YOU HELP US TO CREATE A DIGITAL VILLAGE BAND ARCHIVE? DObcross John has kindly offered to archive any old videos of the Band Silver Band onto DVD so they can be shared on YouTube. So, if you have this ‘Race Night’ programme in better condition or any other interesting tapes, contact John via the Dobcross Diary or email Saturday 18th July [email protected] It would be a shame to let these 7.30pm historical records disappear. In the meantime check out his at the Band Club extensive video collection on www.youtube.com/user/bannan61 All are welcome! This issue of the Dobcross Diary is sponsored by The Kilburn Family Di, Andrew, Rachel, Dan and Jamie DOBCROSS DIARY, Issue Number 109 July 2009 1 New arrival in Dobcross Age 6½ (days). Photograph by S. Sankey Eric Arrandale Gardener and Friend “On behalf of my mum Joyce and our family we would like to thank The Gardening Club who have kindly placed a bench at Dobcross Band Club in memory of my Dad Eric. My dad died on 18th June 2008. Also to Marilyn who kindly provided refreshments at her garden afterwards.” SUE BRADBURY UPDATE on Dobcross Band & Social Club The Band Club has been undergoing a major refurbishment which has produced a more welcoming environment and improved facilities. This Nature Note work has been possible with a loan from the host brewery, J.W. Lees, A piercingly loud song coming grants from Saddleworth Area Review Committee and contributions from the from a bush probably belongs to one Dobcross Village Community. We would like to thank them for their support. of our smallest birds, the wren. It is a We welcome new members who wish to learn to play a brass instrument, little plump brown bird with tiny wings play bowls, cribbage or darts or simply come in for a drink and a chat. We have and a short tail, usually cocked up at visiting Brass Bands concerts on Sunday evenings and other social functions. The right angles to the body. The bill is long facilities are available to anyone wishing to book parties, wedding receptions or and curved, so it can hunt for its insect any other function. Tel: 873741 for more information. John Dewhurst, (Secretary) food in the smallest crevices. Wrens are as happy to live Dobcross Bowling Green New bowlers among the rocks by a Pennine stream are always welcome to enjoy the facilities at the as in a garden or a wood; in fact they Band Club’s bowling green. Play as a guest or are one of the most widely distributed become a member of the Band Club (just £15 a of British birds. year). A male wren builds several The spectacular views from the green make this a domed nests in the spring, hoping to most beautiful place to while away a few hours on a attract a mate to move in! If a female sunny afternoon, but there’s year round fun to be finds one to her liking, she adds a had -from October to April there is indoor bowling soft lining before settling in on Tuesday afternoons and Thursday evenings. to lay her eggs. BOWLING COMPETITIONS Many birds which eat 28th June, 12.30pm - Atherton Malone larger insects are declining in 26th July, 12.30pm Steward’s Cup* (Members only) numbers, from the cuckoo to the 16th August, 12.30pm Merit Cup* (Members only) 6th September, 12.30pm Pairs Competition flycatchers. Blue tits have nested in my Dobcross Band Club Bowling Green: bat box again this year and unusually, Entry sheets are on the members’ room notice board. Where the cool cats hang out. the parents fed the young for almost For more information call at the Band Club or ring Marie Lever on 875167. five weeks before they were strong enough to fly. This may be another , DOBCROSS VILLAGE FÊTE On Saturday 4th July indication of a shortage of the insect Join in the WILD WEST PARADE from the Band Club food needed by the young ones. (meet at 3.30pm) through the village to Dobcross school. Open Garden Weekend Dobcross Youth Band will lead the way. Children & adults are invited to dress up in Wild West costumes. 11th & 12th July (10 am-4 pm) This year’s WILD WEST VILLAGE FÊTE will feature: You are invited to visit an Bucking Bronco, Wild West Games, Line Dancing, intimate cottage garden Go-karts, Bouncy Castle, Penalty Shoot Out, Face-Painting & various Stalls. with flowers fruit MUSIC will be provided by Dobcross Youth Band & the vegetables & herbs. School Choir. Refreshments - BBQ, bar, ice-cream… Plants for sale. Tea, coffee and home made cakes. FANTASTIC PRIZES!!! The Friends of Dobcross School (FODS) warmly All proceeds to Oshandi AIDS Trust in welcome everyone to enjoy a great afternoon. Your Namibia (OATIN) Garden Project. support will help to raise money for the school with a 3 Long Lane target of £10,000 for outdoor play equipment including an adventure trail. DOBCROSS DIARY, Issue Number 109 July 2009 2 17/18/19 July 2009 READY, STEADY, GO ... Just hand in your completed forms (along with the appropriate Saddleworth Folk Festival Long Weekend Olympic training for our village The 12th annual teams is already underway. registration fee) to Reception Saddleworth Folk Festival at Holy Trinity School or at at Uppermill -the friendliest Please check with your coaches folk festival in the country. to see if the sessions will the Olympic stall during the As ever there's something Village Fete on Saturday, 4th for everyone, with concerts, continue into the Summer ceilidhs, sing-arounds, holidays. If you still haven't July. workshops and sessions. The games start on Saturday, 5 Enjoy the top names registered, It's not too late! September at 9am with the grand New Rope String Band in folk music! You can pick up an information pack and registration form from Holy opening parade followed by the Trinity School or you can download Junior Athletics competition. You can one directly from the Dobcross tab on see the full schedule of all the events the Saddleworth Village Olympics on the games website (address £3,350 website: above). What a view! www.saddleworthvillageolympics.co.uk Hope to see you soon! Join in with the Balsam Bash events in Dobcross Following on from last month’s article about Balsam Bashing, many keen readers have contacted the editor to find out more. Groundwork Oldham & Rochdale are organising numerous events around Saddleworth to help eradicate the invasive Himalayan Balsam plant - a certified pest! Two dates are in Dobcross. Wednesday 1st July meet at the Brownhill Countryside Centre at 6.45pm to walk to the balsam site (7pm-8.30pm). Many thanks to the thousands of visitors to the Dobcross Open Garden Weekend Thursday 9th July meet at the top car park of the Newbank and of course to the gardeners, The Garden Centre to walk to the Woolpack playing fields (7pm-8.30pm). Friends of Holy Trinity Church and helpers For more information, contact Graham Gibbons at Groundwork on 0161 624 who so generously gave up their time 1444 or by email: [email protected]. www.gwor.org.uk helping to raise a fantastic amount of What the band contest means to me PCSO Monica Seville’s Dobcross Crime Report money over what was a lovely sunny Theft From Motor Vehicle x 1 - The Square weekend enjoyed by all. “I usually try to be as far away as possible for the weekend to escape the Robbery x 1 - Dobcross New Road, mobile phone crowds of drunken yobs who congregate stolen at Band Contest. Christian Aid Criminal Damage x 2 - Both incidents on night of in the village. On my return on Sunday I Band Contest. noticed the usual stones missing from the House - to - House Collection “Burglaries seem to be on the increase in wall and broken glass. Then saw that Thank you to everyone who gave the area again.