Unearthing A Hidden Collection Of Handwritten Original Scores

It was only when I had completely emptied the cupboard that I realised there was a removable base in it!

Tony Clarke from Meltham and Meltham Mills Band, who unearthed a hidden collection of handwritten original scores, from the band's most successful period in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, during maintenance of their bandroom, told us:

“In 1997 we managed to put an upstairs in our band room to give us more storage space. Our music library was in an old 7ft tall cupboard at the time, like an old wardrobe in the corner of the room - it had been there since the band room was bought in 1952.

"I was the band’s librarian at the time, so I went to empty the cupboard to re-home the library upstairs. It was only when I had completely emptied the cupboard that I realised there was a removable base in it! I lifted this up to find loads of old music. Unfortunately, about two thirds of it just completely disintegrated when it was picked up but I managed to salvage the rest. I was amazed to find scores handwritten and signed by the legendary brass band conductor John Gladney and the actual music that was used on stage when Meltham & Meltham Mills were the best band in the world after winning the triple at Belle Vue brass band contest in 1876, 77 and 78.

"It's such a unique glimpse into the band's musical past, and it’s a mystery how the music had been preserved before 1952. We can only surmise from the information we have that when The Brook Company (the Mill’s owners) passed the ownership of the band's equipment back to the band that the music was part of this. It must have been stored in someone’s garage or loft between 1939 and 1952 when we finally got our band room - good job we did!”

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