HATFIELD AND ASKERN COLLIERY BAND

The bands of Hatfield and Askern Colliery officially merged in June 2018 to form the Hatfield and Askern Colliery Band. 

Askern Colliery Band was first formed in 1921 as the Askern Silver Prize Band and during the late 30’s and early 40’s was conducted by the great Harry Mortimer to many contest successes. Askern’s most successful period was during the late 70s and early 80s, culminating in being crowned sectional National Champions in 1980.   

Hatfield Band was formed in September 1947 by two miners of Hatfield Colliery, Jim Rigby and John George Hedley (known as Geordie) and has been the premier brass band within the Doncaster area for many years.  There have been many contest successes during this time.    

Over the years, the two bands have flourished under the direction of such greats as Harry Mortimer, Ken Johnson, Alan Exley, Graham O’Connor and in more recent years Stan Lippeatt.  At the same time the bands have fledged many renowned figures in the brass band world, such as David Read, Roger Webster, Steve Sykes, and Richard Marshall to name a few.

In 2019 the newly combined band swept the board in the First Section at the NEMBBA Championships and Yorkshire Area Championships, also picking up a 3rd prize at “Brass at the Guild” along the way.  2020 started with an excellent 7th place in the Championship Section at the Yorkshire Area contest, before Covid-19 brought the curtains down.  This early success was followed latterly by wins at the Leicester BBA Contest (2023), NEMBBA Contest (2024) and the Holme Valley Contest (2024), with a second place finish at the inaugural Red Admiral Entertainment Contest in September 2024.

Today, the band plays under the baton of Musical Director Mr Richard Marshall - currently Principal Cornet with the world-famous Black Dyke Band. He is supported in the role by our resident conductor, Vicki Kennedy. 

Since the outbreak of Covid-19 in 2020, times have become harder in brass banding and we find that we now need to replace some of our aging instrument inventory.  Primarily, we have an urgent need to replace a worn out E-flat tuba.  We would love to do this before the 2025 round of regional championship competitions commences in March 2025.

The band does not boast a household name.  Our annual income lies around £20,000 and is almost exhausted each year through what is effectively our hand-to-mouth existence.  Clearly, we need help to achieve our aim.

These instruments retail at just under £10,000 new.  We are hoping to be able to part fund procurement of a replacement instrument by raising £5,000.