The History of the Long Eaton Silver Prize Band

Sharon Stansfield, F.V.C.M. (Hons)

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Sharon first joined Long Eaton Silver Prize Band in 1971 at the age of 9, along with her brother Carl (right). At first an instrument shortage meant that they had to share a cornet, until after six weeks Carl was given a baritone to play. Sharon was initially taught by Sid Bland (below), a fine cornet player in the band, who inspired in Sharon the desire to excel in cornet playing. Later lessons were from Ted Bradley, the principal Euphonium and later Musical Director, who was to be the primary influence on Sharon's early musical development. These early teachings by Sid and Ted have continued to stand Sharon in good stead throughout her entire musical career.

In 1971, the Long Eaton Silver Prize Band were in the second section (the first section was the Championship section in those days). At that time Sharon had three rehearsals a week: one on a Monday or Tuesday for the juniors, and then on the Friday evening and Sunday morning with the senior band. This period of success for the band came to an end in 1975 when  the band were compelled to seek regrading to the fourth section, where they have since remained.

Sharon first soloist position was on flugel, before, at the age of 15, she became the band's principal cornet. During this period, Sharon entered many solo, duet, and quartet completions with fellow band members and was a frequent prize winner. The band enjoyed some modest success with the occasional third or fourth prize in local contents, whilst performing frequently in various parks during the summer and in clubs during the winter.

At this time Sharon was taught at college by Laurie Fraser, with whom she studied trumpet and piano, and also joined the Nottinghamshire County Concert band as principal cornet under the musical direction of Lt. Col. George Evans of Kneller Hall. Pictured left  is Sharon in uniform after winning an international contest in Vienna with the band in 1981.

At 18, Sharon left the Long Eaton Silver Prize Band to play with Bestwood Colliery Black Diamonds Band, then in the Championship section. Further moves followed to other top East Midland bands including Riddings, Huthwaite, Ransomes, William Davis, and Nottingham City Transport. In the mid to late 1990s, Sharon played principal cornet for both the Kirkby Colliery Welfare Brass Band and Ibstock Brick Brass, playing in six national finals in seven years. After two years back in the the Championship section with Newstead Welfare Band, Sharon has recently returned to the Nottingham City Transport Band. Sharon has made radio broadcasts with the Long Eaton Silver Prize, Bestwood Colliery Welfare, Ransomes and William Davis bands, and television broadcasts with William Davis, Kirkby Colliery Welfare and Ibstock Brick Brass.

Sharon first started teaching at the age of 15, and has achieved unprecedented success, with no pupil ever failing to achieve either a merit or distinction in any examination. Since leaving Long Eaton in 1980, Sharon has maintained strong links, both in making guest appearances at concerts, and in encouraging her pupils to join the band: indeed eight of the current band are either former or current pupils.

Sharon joined the Ockbrook Big Band in 1995, succeeding her mentor Sid Bland as the band's principal trumpet and from 1999 as the musical director. Sharon left the band in January 2002 to concentrate on her own dance band "Anything Blows" which she founded in 1998.  Sharon also regularly plays the trumpet in local musicals, and is a Friend of the Ilkeston Operatic Society.

In 1995 Sharon became an Associate of the Victoria College Music, AVCM, in cornet playing, and in 1999, became Licentiate of the Victoria College Music with honours, LVCM (Hons), in conducting and obtained a bronze medal in bandmastership. In 2005, Sharon became a Fellow of the Victoria College Music with honours, FVCM (Hons), in conducting.

In January 2000, following the resignation of the previous musical director due to his work relocation, Sharon was delighted to accept an invitation to return to the band as musical director. Eight weeks later the band achieved its best result in the Midlands Area contest for many years: 17^th out of 34 entered bands. The band continued to make good progress, achieving its first prize since 1992 at the Brass & Trams Entertainment Contest (June 2002), its best result since 1966 at the NEMBBA contest (February 2002), and its first national qualification (March 2002) also since 1966 (see contest results).

In March 2003, the band followed another prize at the annual NEMBBA contest by qualifying in second place for the national finals and gaining promotion to the third section: twenty-five years after their relegation when she was a junior member.  This is only the second time the band has qualified in two successive years (the other time being in 1965/66).

In September 2003, Sharon became the first musical director since 1927 to lead the band to a placing at the National Championships of Great Britain when the band took second place off the notorious No. 1 draw. The band were particularly delighted with the praise of the musical direction of the band from both adjudicators: a tribute indeed to the loyalty, dedication and musical talent of our beloved M.D.