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The Leabrooks Excelsior Orchestra was established in 1906 by John Amos and William J. Winfield, from Somercotes, and William Gregory who lived in Leabrooks. They gathered together some members of the former Leabrooks Brotherhood Band which had existed towards the end of the nineteenth century and incorporated other talent from the locality to form a new orchestra. When it was formed Leabrooks Excelsior Orchestra was a self-funded organisation and was run on formal lines. It had its own elected officials such as president, treasurer, secretary, librarian and conductor and it held an Annual General Meeting each year. It was comprised of local men who worked as miners, iron foundry workers, on railways or in other heavy industries. They were amateur musicians who played music in their spare time. The orchestra consisted of mainly brass and woodwind instruments and this mixture of instruments gave the orchestra an interesting sound. For thirty years at the beginning of the twentieth century Leabrooks Excelsior Orchestra played on countless occasions at local and county venues, mainly raising money for good causes such as cottage hospitals, military charities and benevolent institutions.

Over time the orchestra was renowned throughout Derbyshire for quality entertainment and musical ability. Women did not play in the orchestra on a regular basis but were asked to join in as guest musicians on occasions. Each year the orchestra advertised for volunteer musicians as they were not paid for their services, the funds which were raised covering only the costs of instruments and travel. The volunteers had to be proficient in playing a string or wind instrument but anyone was welcome. For many years (up to 1938) there was no shortage of amateur musicians who found the orchestra to be an invaluable means of obtaining orchestral practice and advice. Practices were held every Sunday afternoon at the Labour Hall, Leabrooks (previously known as the Brotherhood Room). Most orchestra members stayed for many years and were proud of their record of continuous run of more than thirty years. Local newspapers reported the orchestra’s successes and here are only a selection of the many venues played and the entertainment given over the years:

1912 January – Annual Christmas Ball at Somercotes Girls’ School

1916 Ripley and Heanor News Sept 1 st 1916 – Open-Air Concert at the Cottage Hospital, Ripley by the L.E.O.

1919 Two concerts by L.E.O. at Somercotes Cricket Ground.

1931 March 6th “L.E.O. gave its annual concert on Sunday last in the Edwards Welfare Hall, Somercotes. The orchestra is to be congratulated on its continued efforts for charity, the concert on this occasion being on behalf of the Derbyshire Royal Infirmary. The programme was an excellent one.”

1933 Ripley and Heanor News July 7th. “The Leabrooks Excelsior Orchestra gave a musical evening on Sunday on the Cricket Ground, Somercotes, kindly lent for the occasion when, the guest soloist was Miss H. Parker on the flute. The conductor was Mr. John Amos under whose baton the band has played for many years. Credit must also be given to Mr. Levi Winfield, Alfreton Road, Swanwick, who has been a playing member for over thirty years while the band has been in continuous existence, a record that few orchestras can equal.”

1933 July 14th “Garden Fete at Riddings House by kind permission of Miss G.F. Oakes. Because of inclement weather the L.E.O. played their evening performance in the drawing room rather than in the garden.”

1935 Ripley and Heanor News June 9th . “Notice is given that L.E.O. is giving a concert in Alfreton Park on Sunday evening, now that the rhododendrons are looking their best.”

 

SOME FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS ASSOCIATED WITH LEABROOKS EXCELSIOR ORCHESTRA

ATKIN

Thomas Atkin was an ardent worker for Leabrooks Excelsior Orchestra. On his death in December 1933 “The Derbyshire Times” printed the following article: “Mr. Thomas Atkin (66). President of Leabrooks Excelsior Orchestra for 25 years died at his home at 7, Albert Street Leabrooks after an illness lasting thirteen months. He had previously been a patient at the D.R.I. Mr Atkin was a native of Swanwick and had been interested and involved with the orchestra since its inception. During his illness the orchestra played outside his home on a number of occasions For 51 years he worked as a miner at Selston and Swanwick Collieries.”

GREGORY

Joseph Mellor Gregory was a miner who lived on Sherwood Street and worked in Alfreton Collieries. When he died in November 1935 his obituary revealed that he played the First Violin in the orchestra. He was connected to the orchestra for more than 30 years. At his funeral the orchestra was represented by Mr. A. Walvin and Mr. Reg. Moakes.

ORCHESTRA MEMBERS IN 1936

When the orchestra performed at Pye Hill Methodist Church on December 8th 1936 the members of the orchestra were listed as:

FIRST VIOLINS: Messrs.A. Walvin, Alfred Warhurst, C. North, Mrs Wainwright

SECOND VIOLINS: Messrs. O. Walker, E. Lee, W, Wathey, S. Osborne, Miss Fearn

CELLOS: Mr. G. Oxley, Stanley Lathwell

DOUBLE BASS: Reg Moakes

FLUTE: Messrs. J. Winfield W. Fearn

OBOE: Mr. W. Winfield

CLARINET: Messrs. J. Winfield and W. Fearn

BASSOON: Mr. L. Winfield

CORNET: Mr. H Bowring

SECOND CORNET: Mr. H. Storer

FIRST TROMBONE: Mr. C. Hawkins

DRUMS AND TYMPANI: Harold Moakes (xylophone) and Roy Moakes

 

MOAKES

The Moakes family lived in Bramley Street, Lower Somercotes during the 1920’s. Alfred Moakes (1877-1965) and his wife, Clara (1875-1929) had four sons and one daughter, all of whom could play at least one instrument. Harold, (1900-1979) the oldest son, played drums and xylophone, Roy (1907 – 1983) played Tympani and Reginald Moakes played the double bass. All the children were so musical that the family was named locally as the “Moakes Band”. All four boys played regularly in the L.E.O.

WINFIELD

William James Winfield (1871-1953) belonged to a very musical family His father, Job Winfield could play the cello and William learned to play the oboe. He lived at 32 Langley Avenue and when he retired from working on the railways in June 1935 “The Ripley and Heanor News” wrote at length about the Winfield family’s musical achievements. William Winfield was one of three men who established the L.E.O. in 1906 and was a driving force as the Assistant Conductor as well as the regular oboe player. His two sons were also staunch members of the orchestra. Levi Winfield (1895-1976) played bassoon. During the Great War in 1915 he was a member of the Royal Marines Band. His younger brother Albert Leslie Winfield (1897-1970) was equally proficient on the oboe and saxophone, also playing in the Band of the Royal Marines during the Great War. On May 6 TH 1933 “The Derbyshire Times” reported on the following incident regarding Albert Winfield:

FOR FIRST AID WORK PRESENTATION TO SOMERCOTES AND CHESTERFIELD MUSICIAN.

Well-known in the district of Chesterfield as a woodwind player in a number of orchestras, Mr. Albert Leslie Winfield of Quarry Road, Somercotes, has gained honours in ambulance work. At St. Pancras Hotel, London, on Friday, Mr. Winfield was one of two recipients of a Mantle Clock awarded for outstanding ambulance work. Mr Winfield is a goods shunter employed by the L.M.S. Railway Co. at Pye Bridge. On February 5 th last year (1932) a shunter at Birchwood Colliery named Herbert Burt of Somercotes, had his left leg run over by a waggon. Although the limb was almost severed, Mr Winfield stopped the bleeding by applying pressure to the artery until further assistance came. Mr. Winfield is a son of Mr. and Mrs. W.J. Winfield, Langley Avenue, Somercotes. He has been employed at Pye Bridge since 1919 and has been a member of the railway ambulance class at the station for four years. He has the three year’s training medallion and a fourth year bar. Mr. Winfield is principal Oboe Player in Chesterfield Symphony Orchestra where his brother, Mr. L. Winfield is the First Bassoon Player. His father plays the oboe in L.E.O. while three other family members are all associated with local musical organisations.

AMOS

Another musical family in Somercotes were the Amos family. John Amos (1871-1949) and his brother William Amos were exceptionally gifted and inherited their musical talents from their father, James Amos who was a member of the original Somercotes Brass and Reed Band. William Amos held the post of Treasurer of L.E.O. for many years but it was John Amos who led and conducted the orchestra for more than thirty years, retiring from this position in October 1933. The ”Ripley and Heanor News” printed the following testament to his achievements in their edition on October 13th 1933:

BAND CONDUCTOR RETIRES

“Mr. John Amos A.C.V. resigned the position of Conductor, Leabrooks Excelsior Orchestra after having held the post for over 30 years. It speaks volumes for the personality of Mr Amos that this voluntary organisation has been kept alive so long... Mr. Amos started his musical career at the age of 11 with the violin, under the keenest of teachers, his father. As a youth he accompanied his father to the various Sunday school anniversaries in the district. During 1895 and 1896 John Amos was a pupil under Mr. Peter Peat of Alfreton. In June 1896 he gained his graduate certificate and in November the same year gained A.C.V. After gaining this distinction, John Amos became a teacher and is a teacher at this present time.

The musical activities of Mr. Amos were not confined to string instruments, for he played the bass trombone in the old Brass and Reed Band when the late Mr. George Simpson was the conductor. When the Birchwood Ambulance Band sprang up, again Mr. Amos’s services were sought, and as there was only a cornet at liberty, he took up this instrument. But the outstanding achievement in John Amos’ career has been the Leabrooks Excelsior Orchestra.”

 

There is little evidence of Leabrooks Excelsior Band after 1937. Great changes had taken already place in the 1920’s and 1930’s and World War 2 was imminent. Leabrooks Excelsior Orchestra ceased to exist but music was continued and developed in the local area through the rise of the Silver and Brass Bands which became part of their communities and instilled a sense of pride. During the 1940’s History welcomed the rise of the Dance Band. But for thirty years Leabrooks Excelsior Orchestra was a centrepiece for public events and social gatherings as well as supporting charities such as hospitals when times were particularly hard. The orchestra helped to instil a sense of community, pride and purpose in many people as well as providing enjoyment for ordinary families.

 

Judith Fitzhugh September 2022