SATURDAY MARCH 29 1930

 

Should Auld Acquaintance be forgot and never brought to mind was the greeting contained  on the invitation to the second annual reunion of past playing members of Irwell Spring Band. Under the conductorship of Alderman Walter Nuttall (Mayor of Bacup 1928-1929 and 129.1930) which took place at Bacup on Saturday. A company of about 40 assembled from various parts to shake hands once more and renew acquaintances, and the happy spirit which prevailed enabled everyone to thoroughly enjoy themselves. The proceedings commenced with dinner at the Co-operative Cafe at 5'0clock a sumptuous and well served repast being provided.

This was followed by a most enjoyable convivial evening in the club room at the Waterloo Hotel, where Mr. J Pritchard of Whitworth chairman of the reunion committee, presided, supported by the Mayor of Bacup Alderman W Nuttall. Mr. Thomas Brighty of Blackpool, who played in the band 56 years ago, and Mr. David E. Law Hon Secretary.

 

The chairman expressed his pleasure seeing so many present. Their organization was unique. It arose out of a decision of the former bandsmen to show honour to their conductor, Mr. Walter Nuttall, when he was first elected Mayor of Bacup, by walking in the procession, and they had now become a public body and were determined to keep together and meet at a gathering like that every year, if humanly possible. They were imbued with the spirit of comradeship and goodwill towards each other, since they had met before they had lost one of their old friends Mr James Howarth, and he asked them to stand for a few seconds to show their sympathy and regret. The company then stood in brief silence for a brief period.

 

All the officers were re-elected en-bloc.

 

Secretary’s Report

Mr. David E Law Hon Secretary, said in presenting a short report they could all congratulate themselves on last years re-union. They had then with them comrades from Blackpool, Morecambe, Nelson, Oswaldtwistle, Rochdale, Rawtenstall, and, of course from Bacup, and those were the men who helped to make Irwell Springs famous. Their esteemed conductor Alderman Nuttall had completed one years service as Mayor of Bacup and he was sure they would all agree with him when he said he had done splendidly and they wished him and his wife

 

Health and strength to carry out the duties entrusted to them. They started out the previous year with no funds but he was pleased to inform them that after paying out all expenses they had a balance of £1 6s 11d. The committee wished to thank all subscribers for their donations and all the old comrades who took part in last year’s reunion.

 

On behalf of the committee he wished to thank the Bacup Times for their assistance and the splendid report they gave in the paper the following Saturday. The committee also thanked all those who took part in the Mayors procession and as they were now a public body, they intended to take part in the Mayoral Procession every year. Since their last reunion he was sorry to say they had lost one of their old comrades by death it was only a fortnight after and he was taken away very suddenly. They sent a letter of sympathy to the widow and also placed a wreath on the grave. In concluding he asked that they would help the committee all they could and try to make the reunion a great success.

 

Letters From Absent Friends

The secretary next read letters from absent friends one sent by airmail was from, Mr. J H Bolton Of Ratcliffe Alberta Canada who said he sent thanks for an invitation to be present at the reunion but it was such a big step between them that it was impossible for him to be present this time. He would however like to be able to come and spend one night with them sometime. They got the Bacup Times regularly and he dare say they felt as proud as anybody in Bacup to see their old conductor Walter Nuttall had been invited and accepted the biggest honour conducting the old band expected that the town could confer on him and he sincerely hoped he would be spared many more years for duty. He would like to see the old faces when they met.

 

Mr W Rimmer of 70 Belmont Street Southport wrote as follows- Dear Mr. Law, Many thanks for the kind invitation to attend the festive gathering on March 22^nd, and much as  I should like to be with you I am afraid I will have to forgo the pleasure of meeting my old and esteemed friends of the Springs Band  I congratulate you on the efforts  you are making to  Keep Alive The Memory Of Happy Days, now gone and I also on the fact that our old bandmaster is still deeply interested  despite his many duties as Mayor of Bacup.

 

 To him and to you all I send my sincere good wishes,

May you have a jolly evening.  Yours very Sincerely W Rimmer.

Letters were also read regretting inability to attend and sending good wishes from Messer’s, John Henry Mitchell, Oswaldtwistle, James Mitchell, Higher Scout Waterfoot, William Hey, Farnworth ,

E Kershaw, Mount Terrace, Rawtenstall and John Brennan Cromwell Street Bacup.

 

An enjoyable  Musical performance followed  Mr. T Seddon Tenor sang in acceptable style, “ Nirvana “ “ My Dreams” and “ Take a pair of sparkling eyes “  and was heartily applauded. Mr. W Hurst Baritone was also in fine form and gave “Bedouin Love Song”   “The Bandolier” and “The Windmill” with fine effect. Mr. G Crook of Castleton sang “Once again” with the necessary pathos and declamation and Mr. George Barnes of Boothfold Waterfoot, was a host in himself with his selection on the tin whistle, his rendering of “Flight of ages “and “Cavalliera Rusticano Intermezzo”  being received with loud applause. Mr. J H Smith gave the accompaniments in good style. During the evening the secretary read some original poetry by Mr. W Rimmer which aroused considerable merriment.

 

Connecting Link with The Founders Of The Band.

The Mayor of Bacup Alderman Walter Nuttall, who was given a rousing reception, said his primary duty was to move a vote of thanks to the committee and officials for the splendid manner in which they had carried on their work during the twelve months. Twelve months ago they had their first reunion, and they owed a debt of gratitude to those who had kept the good work going.  He said so much of a reminiscent character at their last reunion that he found it difficult to add to it. He was pleased to see Mr. Thomas  Brighty with them. The latter was a member of the band before he Alderman Nuttall started he was the connecting link from the originators right down to the present. There were all pleased to see him there. Mr. Brighty had gone to live at Blackpool, and they hoped he would live there a long time. Lat year he brought several cuttings which had reference to the Irwell Springs Band and particular during its zenith. Quite recently he had been going through a lot of papers and documents regarding

 

The Career Of  The Band and they were most interesting. There was nothing touched one like references to the past. He would like sometime if he got the chance to make a little booklet of the various cuttings which he happened to posses which gave the opinions of various musical people on the performances of the band at different periods in its career. All present had done their share for the band at one time or another.

 

He wished to thank them again for attending Mayoral Sunday. He was very pleased indeed to see them present. Had he not had his experience it was probable he would never have occupied his present position in the Borough, for it had largely fitted him for that sphere of office. Having had the experience of having a number of men in front of him for thirty years was an education for any man, such as every man did not get. Anyone who had had an experience required to understand physcology. He did not know how many of them possessed a copy of   the history of the band, but he had been reading a criticism of their performance in St George’s Hall Liverpool, in which they were declared to have held the attention of the audience throughout, and proved ONE OF THE FINEST BANDS that had visited the city. In connection with their reunion it was touching to recall that the man who moved that had another reunion was the late Mr. James Howarth, and he remembered very well the chairman saying “We had better have another, chaps, for we shall be less rather than more”. He was very pleased to meet them all once again, and he was only sorry Mr. Rimmer could not be with them. They had had a excellent dinner and all enjoyed themselves.

 

Some three weeks ago he happened to be in Leicester and spent a few hours

with an old friend Mr. J Ord Hulme, who told him he was one of the judges at

Crystal Palace on each occasion that Springs won. He the Mayor had 30 very

 pleasant years with the men around the bandstand and he had men of various

temperaments to deal with and in all that lengthy period he did not received one

 insulting word from any of them, and that was a very pleasant thing to look

back on.

 

He proposed the vote of thanks to the committee and officials, and hoped they would give their services as freely next year. Mr. James Nuttall of Morecambe, brother of the Mayor seconded the vote which was carried with applause the chairman suitably responded. On the motion of Mr. E Calverley, seconded by the secretary, the thanks of the gathering was also accorded Mrs. Lord, the hostess for her kindness in connection with the reunion. A very happy gathering concluded with those present joining hands and lustily  singing “Auld Lang Syne”.