Newstead Brass Band have been crowned Midland Champion Brass Band 2020

The musicians outplayed 16 rival bands from across the region to win the contest.

The win qualifies the band for the national championship finals at Cheltenham in September and secures promotion to the highest championship grading from January 2021.

A Newstead band spokesman said: “Our thanks to Mareika Gray for stepping in to conduct us when it became clear that our regular MD Jim Davis would be unable to lead us at this year’s contest.

“Given the theme of Tom Davoren’s ‘Legacy’ we particularly extend the band’s thanks to the consultants, doctors and nurses who cared for Jim earlier in the year. It was great that Jim was able to join us for rehearsals in the final week before the contest and be with us on contest day.”

Runners up Jackfield Band, who will join Newstead in representing the Midlands at the national finals, alongside qualifiers from the other five English regions, Scotland and Wales, had their own story of adversity with floods from the River Severn after recent storms preventing access to their band room.

Newstead Brass began in 1988 when, following the Hucknall Colliery closure, the band-room was demolished and the Hucknall-Linby Miners Welfare Band relocated and became the Newstead Welfare Brass Band.

The band originally began in the mid-1970s when the junior section of the Bestwood Band were adopted by the Hucknall and Linby Miners Welfare who were keen to support and develop a band of their own.

The Newstead Brass name was launched in 2005 to emphasise the versatility of a group that can happily switch between swing, big band, jazz, film and classical transcriptions as well as traditional brass band selections.

Newstead Brass still have dates available for concert bookings in May, June and December and you can book them by calling secretary Mike Allcock on 07914 529936, email [email protected] or visit www.newsteadband.co.uk.