Crookes Brass Band won an award as they represented Sheffield at the Yorkshire Regional Championships in their first contest for 101 years.

Crookes finished in sixth place and won best percussion in the fourth section at the event which took place on Saturday 1 March at Huddersfield Town Hall. 

The band was revived in 2023, after 85 years, by Jim Fletcher, the band’s musical director, who also runs the education projects of the world-renowned Grimethorpe Colliery Band. 

Mr Fletcher said: “To get to the point where we are in such a massively short time, after just 14 months, was an incredible achievement and I couldn’t have been prouder of everyone.

“My thoughts and hopes about this project keep changing because I never thought we would do the competition last week but it just keeps exceeding my expectations.”

The Yorkshire Regional Championships is an annual contest which brings together brass bands from across Yorkshire with over 40 bands competing in four different sections. 

Crookes, competing in a contest for the first time since 1924, were judged on their performance of ‘I, Daedalus’ by the composer Andrea Price.

Rachel Bates, the band’s secretary, said: “We were definitely nervous but also super excited and proud to play and to represent Crookes again and to show that you can make a band like ours work.

“Everyone was really supportive of each other and just so happy to be there.”

Along with its main band, Crookes also has two additional bands for players of different levels including a development band and Brassworks – a band for beginners.

Organisers said the band is low commitment and, unlike other brass bands, it only rehearses once a week, allowing flexibility for its nearly 70 members. 

Jo Towler Wareham, a solo cornetist, said: “Huddersfield Town Hall is an iconic brass band venue so to play there was just fantastic and we played probably the best we have ever played as a group. 

“Jim has created an amazing atmosphere where we have fun but also make great music which is what makes it so special. There is a real community feel to it.” 

The band rehearses every Wednesday at St Mary’s Church in Walkley and is always open to new members of all ages and abilities. 

Pictures by Gary Millard and Demetris Bates.