Darlington’s culture scene has taken a hit over the last couple of years. But Cockerton Prize Silver Band is still thriving after 151 years. Abi Wing looks at its past, present and future.
BACK in 1863, a music teacher called James Hoggett decided to gather young Cockerton men together to form a band. The rest is history.
Before Cockerton Band, there was Darlington Band in 1832, when the Reform Bill celebrations were held, but little is known about the band generally.
The history of Cockerton Band is fairly remarkable. In 1880, Mary Pease, of Pierremont, established Cockerton Cocoa Palace, which became the band’s much needed rehearsal room.
Then after the closure of the Cocoa Palace due to the end of the cocoa revolution, the members resorted to renting a room in the Dr Syntax Inn situated next to the Garden House on the Green. In 1912, the inn closed. The band bought the property and it was reopened on November 23, 1912, as the Cockerton Band and Musical Institute.
The building still stands there today and the band continues to play in the grounds of its original home.
The band now rehearses in a room in the grounds of Cockerton Band and Musical Institute (in Woodland Road) and has a real place at the heart of Cockerton and Darlington’s culture.
Band members have had their musical talents recognised over the years, from playing with Darlington Philharmonic Band in 1864 to playing in national competitions, which they are more known for these days.
Chairman of Cockerton Band and compere, John Steel said: “We’re Darlington’s last remaining band. There are youth bands and school bands, but this is the only league band left.”
John, 60, said: “I always think brass banding is a bit like working class arts. I think that’s why in Cockerton there’s still an appeal, because they can remember, and the chances are they’ve had somebody in the family, who played in a brass band, especially in the pit community.
“That’s why brass banding is still very popular in County Durham and I would include Darlington in that.”
Three generations in Cockerton Band, from left, John Parkin, his son Neil, and Neil’s daughters Amy and Eve
Three generations of the Parkin family have played in the band, and Dickie and Charlie Harrison were the fourth generation of their family to also play.
John, Cockerton-born and a former headteacher, became involved in the band after taking his daughter Beth to rehearsals, where she was a young percussionist. She began playing in the band when she was just six years old.
However, despite the band’s long history, John admits that the audience is somewhat limited.
“It does tend to be older people,” he said. “But we have a lot of young people in the band, so I don’t think brass banding is dead by any means.
“If you go back 100 years, access to live music would be fairly limited. If people wanted to listen to music they would go to church or they would go listen to the band on the bandstand on a Sunday afternoon. At one time virtually every bandstand in every park would have a band on.”
The band is a registered charity funded through donations and must raise £10,000 every year to cover its costs.
“We’ve done all these venues on bandstands but with the economic climate, councils can DARLINGTON & STOCKTON TIMES WEEKEND dst.co.uk FRIDAY, JUNE 6, 2014 31 no longer afford to pay us. In hard times, these are the first things you can chalk off.
They’re not necessities. Which is a pity, because it does limit people’s experience.”
But John still has faith that Cockerton Band can continue for many years to come.
He said: “There’s still that kind of sentimentality about brass banding and certainly still part of the North-East culture and heritage.”
John Dean, of Darlington for Culture said: “Cockerton Band is an excellent example of high quality art and entertainment, and has been for some time.
They are a credit to Darlington.”
The band entered in the North of England Brass Band Championships, held at the Dolphin Centre in Darlington in March, and finished in fifth place.
Cockerton Band plays at many venues over the summer
Cockerton are attending the DLI contest in Durham on Sunday, July 6.
For more information go to cockerton.org
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