1951-2000

After moving around the village in various band rooms for some time , and  after a proposition at the AGM in Feb. 1951, enquiries were made about the possibility of rehearsing within the Bent House building in Tinker lane, then owned by Mrs. Thomason. It was decided at a special meeting in April 1951 that the secretary was to obtain terms for use of the room in Bent House and if these terms were no more than £1 weekly for rent and rates, he had the power to accept the tenancy. This was apparently a successful move. Then in Jan. 1952 it was agreed to have the property valued. After repairs and decoration, the cost to purchase, £750, was agreed. This the band agreed to pay over a period of time. At a meeting in May 1960, Mr Edward Greenhalgh, the Band President, offered to hand over the deeds and free the band of any further payments for the Band room owed to him provided that the band operated with trustees and that the deeds were deposited in a secure place. This offer was gratefully accepted and from that time the Band has operated under trustees for the benefit of the people of Meltham and Meltham Mills.

Over the years modernisation has been carried out on the building and now the band owns what must surely be one of the most substantial and effective, dedicated band rooms in the country.

Meltham and Meltham Mills Band ventured into the Yorkshire Area Contest in 1953 in the 3rd section and from that time entered most years for the next 25 years or so, improving all the time. The most successful period at this time being 1958,1965and 1966, when the Band went to the national finals in London representing Yorkshire.

Since 1981 the Band has entered the Yorkshire Area Contest every year and has been placed in the top six 14 times up to the present time, 2011. The result of this success has seen the Band advance through from the 3rd section to the 2nd section in 1988, the 1st section in 1992, back to 2nd in 1995 then 3rd again in 1998 and back again into 2nd  section in 2000.

In 1996, the Bands 150th anniversary,  a celebration concert was held in Huddersfield Town hall. The near acoustically perfect venue gave justice to the bands performing and Meltham had as their guests the only other two Yorkshire winners of the British Open on three consecutive years, Black Dyke and Brighouse & Rastrick. As part of their performance Meltham played a piece called Triple Gold, specially commissioned for this occasion and written by Simon Kerwin. A ‘big’ piece was also requested from the two guest bands, and they obliged by Brighouse and Rastrick playing Pageantry (Howells) and overture Le Roi Dy’s (Lalo, arr Frank Wright) being played by Black Dyke. The finale, with all the bands was Procession to the Minster, Wagner. arr Snell ! What a way to conclude this unique concert!