Newbiggin-by-the-Sea has always had a strong sense of community and there has been evidence of various musical groups in the village.
With a rich heritage and strong community based around fishing and mining, music has always played a major role in the village.
(Photo courtesy of Newbiggin Heritage Partnership)
Early evidence of a brass band in Newbiggin goes back to mid 1800’s with reports that a musical group played in the yard of the Newbiggin Central Club building. It was also reported in early 1900’s that a Mr Simpson of Meldon Terrace, a former member of the Newbiggin Silver Band won the annual march composition prize at Kneller Hall in London, home of the Army School of Music.
With the opening of the Newbiggin Colliery in 1908-1910, it was inevitable that families would move into the village and the band would grow into a strong musical outfit competing successfully at various levels of banding.
Newbiggin Colliery Band was formed in 1913, being made up from miners who worked at the colliery and funded by a penny a week from the workmen’s pay. In many cases employment at the colliery was found in order to attract notable players! Rehearsing in the Co-op hall and performing in the bandstand on the promenade and around the village, the band gained a loyal and supportive following being affectionately known as “Wor Band” (“wor” being the local dialect form of “our”)
The Bandmaster of their day was a well known figure in the community. Most people knew of him as “The Bandmaster” and would know where he lived as they would the local doctor, teacher, priest etc.
In 1960 Newbiggin Colliery Band merged with nearby Lynemouth Colliery Band to become Newbiggin and Lynemouth Colliery Band and, when the pit closed in 1967, simply Lynemouth Colliery Band. Newbiggin Welfare Band was formed in 1985 and in 1995 received sponsorship from successful local firm Greggs Bakery becoming the Greggs Bakery Band and achieving great success in the Championship section. After the band lost its sponsorship from Greggs in 2009 the band was reformed as Jayess Newbiggin Brass Band.
Many famous names have been associated with the band over the years. These include conductors such as Jack Atherton, John Carr, George Wright and the legendary Jim Shepherd (pictured here). Additionally, players who started their banding life in Newbiggin would often go onto play in other famous bands: Denis Wright, playing with CWS Manchester and Jim Shepherd as Principal Cornet with the world famous Black Dyke Mills Band.
The band has a fine tradition of being the catalyst for musicians joining military bands, with Tony Griffiths, Richard Fenwick, Darren Pattison, Sara James and Benny Coxon all joining the Band of the Royal Marines over the years.
(Photo of Benny Coxon, centre, with the Band of the Royal Marines)
Banding has always played a major part in local Schools and during the 1960’s/70’s Newbiggin secondary modern school with its inspirational music teacher Audrey Stimpson provided the majority of players for the local band, many of whom still play today. This continued with Gillian Irvine, (formally Charlton) MBE and others from the newly created high school. Band members are still active in local schools helping introduce the next generation to music and playing a brass musical instrument.
Families have and continue to also play a major role in local banding and indeed we have fourth and fifth generation players still playing today. This was apparent with cooperation within families, many of whom played in the Newbiggin Corps Salvation Army Band.
The photo shows young Oliver playing his first solo with the band December 2023, while grandad Tony conducts. His other grandfather, both parents, uncle and aunt and a cousin are also in the band!
Other memorable events during our history include Dennis Todd from Newbiggin (pictured here) sharing the stage with Jim Shepherd and The Northumberland Schools Brass Band in Newbiggin. This was when Arthur Butterworth’s, “Three Impressions for Brass” was premiered. The composer later said that this event was one of his most memorable.
In 2009 the band reformed as Jayess Newbiggin Brass Band, named “Jayess” from the initials of Jim Shepherd, with local lad Andrew Griffiths becoming Musical Director in 2012. Thanks to Andrew’s leadership the band has seen tremendous success in recent years, including twice becoming North of England Regional Champions in the 4th Section in 2016 and 2017, and North of England Regional Champions in the 3rd Section in 2022 and 2023. At the subsequent National Finals the band’s best result was coming 2nd in 2022.
2023 was a sad year for the band with the passing of our legendary President Jim Shepherd in June at the age of 86. This followed the equally sad death of our former principal cornet player Dennis Todd in July 2020.
From 2024 the band will be competing at the North of England Regional Contest in the 2nd Section.
Many memories and events from yesteryear with the band and its bandsmen and women are too numerous to be acknowledged; but if you have any stories or photographs please get in touch.