History
Astley Youth Band was formed in January 1994.
Here is a photograph from the very first rehearsal:
Astley Youth Band was originally formed to promote brass music for young people in the area, to supplement their music lessons at school and to provide a worthwhile recreational activity in an area where they were are very limited at the time. Since then, however, the organisation has grown and diversified.
Astley Youth Band has expanded so that the Astley Youth Band umbrella now includes the original Astley Youth Band, Astley Training Band, Astley Unlimited Band and Astley Unlimited Choir. The organisation caters for all.
The band has enjoyed many, many tours to places such as France, Luxembourg, Germany & Holland, Ireland (2008), Ayr in Scotland (2009), Northern Ireland (2010), Annan in Scotland (2011), Gosforth in Cumbria (2012) to celebrate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, the Isle of Man (2013), the Isle of Arran (2015), Ayr in Scotland(2017) and to Jersey in 2019.
Astley Youth Band has successfully competed in the Youth Section of the North West Counties Brass Band Association Championships coming first three times in 2005, 2007 and 2008.
Astley Youth Band were the National Champions in the Junior Section of the National Youth Brass Band Championships in 2010. In 2011 & 2012 the band have competed in the Intermediate Section of the National Youth Brass Band Championships, in 2011 the band were announced as 'The Band With The Most Potential'.
Astley Training Band entered the 2011, 2012 & 2016 National Youth Brass Band Championships in the Training Band Section and in 2011 were awarded the 'Band Of The Day' prize.
Astley Unlimited Band formed in 2015 and is aimed at connecting up with adults with a love of brass banding who have time to spare in the day to enjoy playing music, it now attracts over 30 players for its weekly rehearsals. The band play at a number of joint concerts with the organisation and also take on their own concerts throughout the year.
Astley Unlimited Choir formed in 2017 and has been growing from strength to strength with regular Monday morning rehearsals and performing at a number of concerts throughout the year.
In 2019 the band celebrated its 25th Anniversary with a wonderful concert and party at Leigh Sports Village. The event was attended by the Mayor of Wigan, three local councillors and the Rotary President. It was incredible to see faces from the past; Dave Norcott, Steve Tonge, Debbie Broadhurst, together with former players, parents, friends from throughout the 25 years of the band. Each band performed and the choir sang. The concert finale was a very moving massed reunion band and we performed an old favourite march, “True and Trusty”, Helen’s arrangement of the hymn tune St Clement, The Final Countdown and John Miles Music, which has been part of the programme throughout the band’s history. The band continues to thrive, thanks to the hard working volunteers who work tirelessly to provide members with the very best musical experience possible, and long may then continue to do so.
In our most recent incarnation, the organisation has grown to this: