Accrington Pals Centenary Concert
On 27th September 2014 at Accrington Town Hall and in the presence of composer, Dr Peter Meechan, “Letters for Home” received its world première performance. It was funded by Arts Council England to commemorate the Centenary of WW1 and the recruitment of the Pals battalions.
The concert was recorded for broadcast on Christmas Day and Boxing Day 2014 by BBC Radio Lancashire.
See http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02dhc16 to hear on BBC iPlayer.
The whole event was expertly filmed by Accrington Movie Makers who kindly made this short video as a "taster" for the DVD recording now available. To order a copy of the 2 hour DVD (£10.00 + £1.50) please send your requirements via the "Contact us" page and we will send a pro-forma invoice.
. (Click on the arrow head below to play.)
East Lancashire Concert Band
Musical Director -
Dale Grindrod
Flutes –
Kristina Tarry, Carmen Reid, Anne Yardley
Clarinets –
Cathy Callery, Paul Backhouse, Lesley Adye, Christine Tregartha,
Christine Ryan, Ray O’Brien, Bernadette Garland, Carol Yates
Bassoon / Bass Clarinet -
Lewis Cosh, Julie Bleasdale
Saxophones –
Steve Taylor, Maureen Hanson, Pam McGuinness, Marie Greenhalgh, Gerald Adye
Horns –
Alan Isherwood, Joy Howarth, Andrew Jones, Barbara Maclaren
Cornets / Trumpets –
Nick Holme, Arlene Cunliffe, Chris Pickup, Ben Yardley, Jack Yardley, Wendy Redman
Trombones –
Ian McGuinness, Oliver Pickup, Tom Young, Neil Matthews, Sam Ollsen
Euphonium –
Neil Edwards
Bass –
Barry Bleasdale, Dave Price,Dave Redman
Percussion –
Dave Yardley, Jack Eastwood
Singers –
Steve Taylor
Sophie Proctor (Pianist – Harry Spencer)
Stephanie Johnson (Pianist – Maureen Hanson)
Ephy Clarke (Violinist – Isabella Clarke)
Movement On Stage –
Actors from Oswaldtwistle Civic Arts Centre
Rebecca Ashton, Jess Brindle, Chloe Fitzpatrick, Crystal Fitzpatrick, Eddie Fitzpatrick,
Maisey Fitzpatrick, Paul Fitzpatrick, Ross Fitzpatrick, Sophie Fitzpatrick, Bill Highton, John Kirby,
Chris Knight, Andrea Marsden, Richard Quinn, Charlie Walsh
Scene From “The Accrington Pals” – By Peter Whelan
Oswaldtwistle Players
Wendy Duggan, Clare Highton, Gayle Knight, Maddie Knight, Lauren Stirzaker
Narrators –
Feelgood Theatre Productions
Caroline Clegg, Alisdair Craig, Simon Jenkins, Simon Pothecary
Presenter –
BBC Radio Lancashire
Sally Naden
Music –
Opening film sequences:-
“Come, Lasses and Lads” (Traditional. Performed by East Lancashire Concert Band)
“One Way To The Somme” (Written and performed by Ephy Clarke)
Programme:-
National Anthem
“Imperial Echoes” (Arnold Safroni)
“The Granadiers” (Emile Waldteufel)
“Yeomen of England” (Edward German)
“Silver Threads Among The Gold” (H P Dank)
“Linden Lea” (R Vaughan Williams)
“Gilbert And Sullivan Selection” (Arthur Sullivan)
“Your King And Country” (Paul Rubens)
“Florentiner March” (Julius Fucik)
“Pals March” (Ralph Sanders)
“The Accrington Pals” (Ephy Clarke)
“Afghanistan” (Ephy Clarke)
“Accrington” (William Moore)
“Letters For Home” (Peter Meechan)
“WW1 Medley” (Arr John Cowking)
“Land of Hope And Glory” (Edward Elgar)
Sound Crew –
BBC Radio Lancashire
Chris Thornley
Film Crew –
Accrington Movie Makers
Don Clarke, Ray Burrows, Roger Leach, Robert Miller, Jim Whalley
Edited by - Ray Burrows
Photography -
Viv Preston
Lighting –
HSL Group (Blackburn)
Vinny Holme, Amanda Holme, Hugo Holme, Max Holme
Transportation –
Kevin Cunliffe
Programme Design & Printing
Nightrain Productions
Floral Tributes –
Tamzin Cook & Caitlin Grindrod
Publicity & Promotion
Aspen (UK) Ltd
Special Thanks
Accrington Heritage Centre, Accrington Library, Accrington Lions, Accrington Observer,
Helen Barrett, Andy Buck, Burnley Borough Council, Norris Burroughs, Sir Harrison Birtwistle,
Les Bond , Cllr. Peter Britcliffe, Charlie Ciairoli Jnr., Cockburn School Leeds,
D R M Industrial Fabrics Ltd., Anne Elwood, Farnworth & Walkden Brass Band,
The Fusilier Museum London, John Gilmore, Dr. Maureen Gowland, The Great War Society,
Haworths Chartered Accountants, Mark Hone, Walter Holmes, Lieut. Col. Anthony Hollingsworth,
Hyndburn Council, Jane Hunt, Imperial War Museum North, Lieut. General Sir Alistair Irwin, Andrew Jackson, King Edward School Birmingham, Sally Knowles, Scott Knowles, Lancashire County Council,
Lancashire Infantry Museum, Lancashire Telegraph, Lancaster Military Heritage Group,
Sue Leuty, Antony & Phylis Little, Liverpool Pals Memorial Fund, Fiona Maddocks,
The Manchester Regiment Museum, Alan McEwan, Graham & Gill McGuinness, Stephen Murphy,
National Football Museum, North West Film Archive, Dylan Owen, Cllr. Miles Parkinson,
Alicia Ramwell, Brian Retallick, Royal British Legion, Royal Northern College of Music,
Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, John Simpson, David Speight, Max Stannard, Mike Townend,
Trustees of Bill Turner, Katherine Walsh, Mike West, Capt. Shelley Whitehead, Maureen Wiggett,
Steve Williams and to all other supporters too numerous to mention individually.
Musical Director -
Dale Grindrod
Flutes –
Kristina Tarry, Carmen Reid, Anne Yardley
Clarinets –
Cathy Callery, Paul Backhouse, Lesley Adye, Christine Tregartha,
Christine Ryan, Ray O’Brien, Bernadette Garland, Carol Yates
Bassoon / Bass Clarinet -
Lewis Cosh, Julie Bleasdale
Saxophones –
Steve Taylor, Maureen Hanson, Pam McGuinness, Marie Greenhalgh, Gerald Adye
Horns –
Alan Isherwood, Joy Howarth, Andrew Jones, Barbara Maclaren
Cornets / Trumpets –
Nick Holme, Arlene Cunliffe, Chris Pickup, Ben Yardley, Jack Yardley, Wendy Redman
Trombones –
Ian McGuinness, Oliver Pickup, Tom Young, Neil Matthews, Sam Ollsen
Euphonium –
Neil Edwards
Bass –
Barry Bleasdale, Dave Price,Dave Redman
Percussion –
Dave Yardley, Jack Eastwood
Singers –
Steve Taylor
Sophie Proctor (Pianist – Harry Spencer)
Stephanie Johnson (Pianist – Maureen Hanson)
Ephy Clarke (Violinist – Isabella Clarke)
Movement On Stage –
Actors from Oswaldtwistle Civic Arts Centre
Rebecca Ashton, Jess Brindle, Chloe Fitzpatrick, Crystal Fitzpatrick, Eddie Fitzpatrick,
Maisey Fitzpatrick, Paul Fitzpatrick, Ross Fitzpatrick, Sophie Fitzpatrick, Bill Highton, John Kirby,
Chris Knight, Andrea Marsden, Richard Quinn, Charlie Walsh
Scene From “The Accrington Pals” – By Peter Whelan
Oswaldtwistle Players
Wendy Duggan, Clare Highton, Gayle Knight, Maddie Knight, Lauren Stirzaker
Narrators –
Feelgood Theatre Productions
Caroline Clegg, Alisdair Craig, Simon Jenkins, Simon Pothecary
Presenter –
BBC Radio Lancashire
Sally Naden
Music –
Opening film sequences:-
“Come, Lasses and Lads” (Traditional. Performed by East Lancashire Concert Band)
“One Way To The Somme” (Written and performed by Ephy Clarke)
Programme:-
National Anthem
“Imperial Echoes” (Arnold Safroni)
“The Granadiers” (Emile Waldteufel)
“Yeomen of England” (Edward German)
“Silver Threads Among The Gold” (H P Dank)
“Linden Lea” (R Vaughan Williams)
“Gilbert And Sullivan Selection” (Arthur Sullivan)
“Your King And Country” (Paul Rubens)
“Florentiner March” (Julius Fucik)
“Pals March” (Ralph Sanders)
“The Accrington Pals” (Ephy Clarke)
“Afghanistan” (Ephy Clarke)
“Accrington” (William Moore)
“Letters For Home” (Peter Meechan)
“WW1 Medley” (Arr John Cowking)
“Land of Hope And Glory” (Edward Elgar)
Sound Crew –
BBC Radio Lancashire
Chris Thornley
Film Crew –
Accrington Movie Makers
Don Clarke, Ray Burrows, Roger Leach, Robert Miller, Jim Whalley
Edited by - Ray Burrows
Photography -
Viv Preston
Lighting –
HSL Group (Blackburn)
Vinny Holme, Amanda Holme, Hugo Holme, Max Holme
Transportation –
Kevin Cunliffe
Programme Design & Printing
Nightrain Productions
Floral Tributes –
Tamzin Cook & Caitlin Grindrod
Publicity & Promotion
Aspen (UK) Ltd
Special Thanks
Accrington Heritage Centre, Accrington Library, Accrington Lions, Accrington Observer,
Helen Barrett, Andy Buck, Burnley Borough Council, Norris Burroughs, Sir Harrison Birtwistle,
Les Bond , Cllr. Peter Britcliffe, Charlie Ciairoli Jnr., Cockburn School Leeds,
D R M Industrial Fabrics Ltd., Anne Elwood, Farnworth & Walkden Brass Band,
The Fusilier Museum London, John Gilmore, Dr. Maureen Gowland, The Great War Society,
Haworths Chartered Accountants, Mark Hone, Walter Holmes, Lieut. Col. Anthony Hollingsworth,
Hyndburn Council, Jane Hunt, Imperial War Museum North, Lieut. General Sir Alistair Irwin, Andrew Jackson, King Edward School Birmingham, Sally Knowles, Scott Knowles, Lancashire County Council,
Lancashire Infantry Museum, Lancashire Telegraph, Lancaster Military Heritage Group,
Sue Leuty, Antony & Phylis Little, Liverpool Pals Memorial Fund, Fiona Maddocks,
The Manchester Regiment Museum, Alan McEwan, Graham & Gill McGuinness, Stephen Murphy,
National Football Museum, North West Film Archive, Dylan Owen, Cllr. Miles Parkinson,
Alicia Ramwell, Brian Retallick, Royal British Legion, Royal Northern College of Music,
Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, John Simpson, David Speight, Max Stannard, Mike Townend,
Trustees of Bill Turner, Katherine Walsh, Mike West, Capt. Shelley Whitehead, Maureen Wiggett,
Steve Williams and to all other supporters too numerous to mention individually.