Conductors

It may seem that conductors have been neglected slightly within this history of Grimethorpe but there is a good reason for this. It is a well known fact that Grimethorpe gained a reputation of getting through quite a few conductors with one dismissal culminating in the now famous “hanging noose” incident. As Ken Hirst, the bands former secretary, once said “Grimethorpe have had more conductors than the National Bus Company”.

In a 16 year period between 1972 and 1988, the band employed 24 Resident, Professional and Guest Conductors (for contests) excluding conductors hired specifically for one off concerts. Included within this period was a 4 year stint by Elgar Howarth (who remains the bands Musical Adviser) and Ray Farr, including the return of George Thompson between November 1975 and March 1976.

Other notable conductors were Gerald Swartz for approximately 1 year around 1977, Jim Scott, Peter Parkes, Geoffrey Whitham, Howard Snell, David James and Geoffrey Brand. Stability returned to the band with the appointment of Garry Cutt as resident in July 1990 (who is still with the band) and Lieutenant Colonel Frank Renton as Professional between 1988 and 1993. This combination directed the band through its most successful Contesting year in 1991.

1991 saw Grimethorpe coming first in the BBC Festival of Brass competition, starting off a run of five consecutive first prizes in contests. Throughout the year, the band gained six firsts (BBC Band on the Year, Yorkshire Area Champions, British Open Champions, Mineworkers Champions, Brass in Concert Champions & UK Entertainments in Doncaster), one second (National Finals) and one third (All England Masters). It was arguably the most successful competition period in the band’s history.

In 1991, they played in Cologne as part of Rheine Musik Week for Cologne Radio Station, and in 1993 gave concert performances in Lucerne and Berne in Switzerland for the Obrasso-Verlag Company. That year ended with a short trip to Germany for concerts in Wiesbaden and Baden-Baden.