It was a blast on a great day!

Members of around a dozen bands in West Yorkshire and from across the border in Lancashire attended, delighting junior band members and supporters, who had organised the open air music event in St George’s Square, Hebden Bridge, to raise money for the juniors, who lost instruments and their home to the Boxing Day floods, and the Calderdale flood relief fund.

Todmorden, Huddersfield, Milnrow and Saltaire bands were just some of those who sent musicians to lend their support, and the organisers were particularly delighted when a good number from the Yorkshire Regiment Band, which had done much to raise townspeople’s spirits when they appeared in the same place in January, took their places to play.

A spokesperson for the band said they had put the word out prior to the event as to what music was likely to be played, so the disparate musicians were able to undertake some preparation ahead of performance, under the direction of the junior band’s music director Neil Robinson.

“I would say there were hundreds of people there. It was fantastic and we are hoping it will become an annual event,” she said.

“We tried to contact as many bands as possible, so we could email them the music.

“It was a brilliant boost for the band. We are still looking for premises but have some engagements lined up. We’ll be playing the Hebden Bridge Duck Race on Easter Monday and at the Dock Pudding Championships on April 17, and have a concert the week following.” Since the band lost its rehearsal space at Holme Street following the flooding, nearby Friendly Band have offered them a temporary base while members search for a new home of their own.