Short History of Diggle Band

In 1996 Diggle Band was reformed after its previous dissolution in 1927. The original plan was to get together players that had retired from competitive banding for a weekly blow in the Band Club in Diggle. The first outing was only a dozen strong, and took place in the only space available in the bandless Diggle band club, the club garage!
Within two years the band had grown to full strength of 27 players, and the upper story in the club had been fully refurbished and converted from a store loft into a first class rehearsal room.
The original ambition of the band had also grown, and in 2000 after much thought, it was decided to enter the North-West area as a 4th Section Band. They won, and went onto London for the National Final in the Royal Albert Hall, coming a creditable 5th and promotion to 3rd Section. The MD for this period was David Morris.

After three years of consolidation at this grade, in 2003 the band became National Champions 3rd Section under the directorship of Norman Law and the band was once again promoted.

In 2005, having come second at the area Championship, the band qualified for the National Championship in the 2nd section and finished as forth. It was a very successful year as the band also won the Tameside Open Contest and gained 12 contest prizes on Whit Friday.

In January 2006 the band was promoted as a 1st Section Band and finished 4^th at the area championship. Autumn 2006 saw Norman Law leaving and Les Beevers taking over as Musical Adviser sharing responsibilities with David Morris, who is taking the band for some concerts and rehearsals.
This year the band has qualified for the National Championship as a 2nd section Band, having come second at the area Championship. The band also won the Tameside competition and has gained 12 local contest prizes. This year the band will compete as a 1st Section Band.

In just nine short years the band has grown from just a dozen players, playing just for the hell of it in what was little more than a stable, to three bands. The main band, the B band and a trainer band with over a hundred playing members. The banding future looks bright in this small but growing hillside community that is Diggle.