Bold As Brass

Burston Brass Band is a village band in Lancashire. It already had a history before Joe Clayton joined as a young member during the Second World War, but this is its history from the time he joined.

It is the amusing story of that special breed, the brass bandsman. Drawn entirely from the author’s own experiences and knowledge, we share the bandsmen’s drinking sprees, their feelings when first appearing on the contest stage, the way they ‘nobble’ other players and the awful rejection when disqualified from a contest after weeks of practice. And also the great camaraderie and the tremendous effort put into their playing, and the way the local community relied on them to be there, even when it meant tramping for hours through the snow on their regular Christmas Eve ‘farm visits’.

Their dedication to playing is only surpassed by their dedication to drinking. Wherever they were playing, certain bandsmen would know exactly where to go to find an open pub or club - even when it meant ‘special opening hours’! They often found themselves busking for ale, and the brass band was a good excuse for many to escape the guiding wifely hand.

In a direct and witty narrative we are introduced to the great individuals who make up the band and whose often hilarious antics leave us aghast and amused.