Band History

2020's

2020 | 70th Anniversary
2020 & 2021 | 1,000 & 1,500 followers on Facebook
2020-2021 | Adapting to COVID-19
- Introduction of Virtual Performances
- Entries into Online Contests (2020-2021)
  - Foden's Band Online Whit Friday Marches 2020 (40th Place overall & 3rd highest placed 2nd Section band) & 2021 (46th Place overall & 4th Place in the 2nd Section)
  - 2020 Cory Band Online Championships (2nd Section - 3rd Place) & 2021 Kapitol Cory Band Online Championships (2nd Section - 5th Place & Best Euphoniums & Baritones)
- Evenings on Zoom with Nick Childs & Richard Evans
2021 | Back to in-person rehearsals (adhering to COVID protocols initially) & the first public engagement in 16 months
2022 | 4th New Van
2022 | North of England 2nd Section Runners Up
2022 | National Finals Qualifications (2nd Section - 18th Place)
2023 | Bandhall front redeveloped & flooring inside the bandhall fixed - members can now enter safely

2010 | 60th Anniversary
2010 & 2012 | Exchange trip to Switzerland with Echo de la Dent Blanche in 2010 - Echo de la Dent Blanche came to Durham in 2010 and come into Durham Miners Gala with Bearpark and Esh in 2012
Variety of concerts with Durham County Council & Brass Festival
- 2011 - Pan Optikum
- 2013 - Bandakadabra
- 2016 - The Durham Hymns
2012 | Welcomed the Olympic Torch to Esh Village
2016 | 3rd New Van
Played in prestigious venues like Durham Cathedral & Fountains Abbey
2016/2017 - 2nd Band CD "Take 2" recorded - released in 2019
Success in Contests throughout the decade
- North of England 4th and 3rd Section Runners up in 2015 & 2016
- North of England 3rd Section Champions in 2019
- National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain appearances in 2015 (3rd Place | 4th Section), 2016 (19th Place | 4th Section) & 2019 (10th Place | 3rd Section)
  - Wide Variety of Individual Awards won at contests

2000 | 50th Anniversary
2000 | North of England 4th Section, 3rd Place (missed out on the Nationals at the Royal Albert Hall by 1 place)
2000 | Band Website goes live
2000 & 2001 | Bandhall Refurbishment (Grant by the North Eastern Co-Operative Society towards disabled provisions)
2001 | North of England 4th Section Runners Up
2001 | National Brass Band Championships, 4th Section - 8th Place
2001/2002/2003 | Concerts with guest soloist, Alan Morrison
2002 | First CD 'Colliery Connections' was recorded - Released in 2003
2003 | New Uniform for the band in the items of Fleeces and Raincoats.
2004 & 2008 | First 2 vans for transporting percussion equipment easily (2008 upgrade)

1993 | North of England 3rd Section Champions
1993 | National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain - 3rd Section (20th Place)
1994 | The Alan Hutchinson Memorial Trophy for the Best Bass Section in the DCBBA Contest (3rd/4th Section) was introduced in memory of bass player Alan Hutchinson, who sadly passed away due to cancer.
1987 | Relationship with folk band, The Whiskey Priests continued, with the release of their 2nd album, which was released in 1994.
1997 | Opportunities from the National Lottery Commission to replace the old instruments came, and 1997 saw the bid be successful - £41,210 was awarded for new instruments.
1999 | North of England 4th Section Champions
1999 | National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain - 4th Section, 9th Place

1984 | The purchase of The Old Chapel in West Terrace for the band's rehearsal space, was completed
1985 | Uniform updated again
1983 - 1991 | Creditable success in the CISWO, League & National Contests
1987 | Relationship with folk band, The Whiskey Priests - began
- Recorded first album, Nee Gud Luck (1987) - released in 1989

1970 | Band Uniform was changed from the Maroon uniform, to the Black & Grey combination - still in use today
1970 | First airing of the new uniform was in January 1970, at the funeral of Richard Harbisher, one of the founder members of the band
1970 | Band name was changed to Esh Colliery Band
1971 | Stand Drapes were commissioned for the band
1973 & 1975 | Band made 2 appearances to Belle Vue Manchester, placing 4th Place and 1st Place respectively
3 appearances throughout the decade to the National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain, all in the 3rd Section
08/04/1979 | Following small financial support from Bearpark Colliery, the band name was changed to Bearpark & Esh Colliery

1961 | National Coal Board provided the band with a new set of instruments, as the present ones were starting o suffer from "old age"
Across this decade, the band were supported by CISWO and the local miners lodge - along with having success after success in the local competitions and playing the Esh Winning Colliery Banner into Durham, during the Durham Miners' Gala.
1968 | The closure of Esh Winning Colliery saw the band lose both financial support and the rehearsal hall in West Terrace - meaning the band decided to "go it alone" and was able to find rehearsal premises in a small backroom in the Stags Head Hotel in Esh Winning. Increasing the concert work was required to raise money to cover running costs.
The band were allowed a concession, after a little while, by the National Coal Board to return to the rehearsal hall in West Terrace, Esh Winning - where they remain now.

1950 | The band was formed by 8 men, who each initially contributed £8 to start an instrument fund
1950-1952 | These years were spent raising money so that, with the help of the National Coal Board, they were able to purchase a set of second-hand instruments and form the Esh Winning Colliery Welfare Band
1952 | Cornsay Colliery Band folded, enabling the newly formed band to fill the vacant instrumentation
1956 | The road to success begins for the band, which reached a peak of appearing in the Daily Herald National Brass Band Championships, in the 4th Section, and winning - resulting in promotion to the 3rd Section
1957 | Following promotion in 1956, the band were champions in the 3rd Section of the Coal Industry Social Welfare Organisation (CISWO) Area Contest
1959 | National Brass Band Championships (3rd Section) - 1st Place