It was the inspirational captain of the 1st Rainford Boys’ Brigade, Alf Webster, who was behind the setting up of the original BB band, and it was his officers; Tony Brown, David Roughley and Ken Wesley, who drove the Rainford Band project forward.

Some 40 years later, the Band can look back on some considerable successes. From an early solid foundation, it spent some years as a non-contesting band before eventually entering its first competition at Oldham’s Queen Elizabeth Hall in 1979, performing Reginald Heath’s test piece, ‘The Winter’s Tale’.

Some talented musicians led the band in its early days. William Lyon, then MD of Skelmersdale Prize Band, was the first tutor, followed by William Horrocks, Albert Atherton, Ken Heaps and Geraint Jones. It was Colin Moore who led the band to its first contesting successes. The most notable result of his 21-year tenure as Musical Director coming in 1991, when the band achieved second place in the 3rd Section National Brass Band finals held in London.

Following Colin’s departure, Steven Pendlebury and Brian Harper took the band for short periods before Malcolm Brownbill took the helm. Malcolm was instrumental in inaugurating the successful Summer Pops concerts at White House Farm, Rainford, which have been held there every year since. He also took the band to a National Qualifying Contest at the Winter Gardens, Blackpool.

The experienced conductor and educator Lynda Nicholson then took the band to a series of notable successes in the Third Section, establishing a solid base for future development. After Lynda’s departure, ex-Leyland trombonist Neil Samuel was given the opportunity to take the baton at Rainford. Over a period of 8 years Neil drove Rainford to its greatest contesting successes, earning “Championship” status for the first time in the band’s history.

In early 2013, Gareth Brindle, a Black Dyke baritone soloist for many years, was appointed as the band’s Musical Director.

It was under Gareth that Rainford made its Championship Section debut, their rendition of Philip Sparke’s ‘Harmony Music’ placing 5th amongst some strong competition.Since then, the band has made a number of strides on the contest stage, most notably at the ‘Spring Festival’ competition in Blackpool, where the band took just three years to rise through the sections and qualify to perform in the ‘Grand Shield’, a contest that sees some of the country’s best brass bands compete for an invitation to the British Open Championships in Birmingham. Gareth is enthusiastic to build upon these recent successes and also looks forward to reinforcing Rainford’s reputation as one of the country’s top brass bands.

The band can be grateful for some fantastic support from the community throughout its existence. It raised thirty thousand pounds as its contribution towards the National Lottery-funded band room under the inspirational guidance of the then Chairman Linda Mawdesley. This sum was largely accrued through the help and generosity of the people of Rainford.

Past presidents, Eric Foster, Stanley Fishwick, David Wood and current president John Walker have all played a major role in the Band’s continuing development and the band is now looking forward with confidence and enthusiasm to future successes.