The long journey from West Lothian to County Durham to compete in the annual Beamish march and hymn tune contest was a worthwhile one for Bathgate Band.

For the band returned victorious from the event, organised by the Durham County Brass Band Association!

Setting off early in the morning, the band travelled to the Beamish Living Museum near Durham. The setting, with its deep connections to mining heritage, was a fitting backdrop for a competition celebrating the brass band tradition.

Despite the lengthy seven-hour round trip, the effort was a rewarding one. With warm weather and ideal conditions, Bathgate joined nine other competing bands, each performing a march and a hymn tune for the contest adjudicator and crowd.

Bathgate Band, conducted by MD Craig Anderson, delivered a stunning performance of Clive Barraclough’s march Simoraine and the Salvation Army hymn When I Survey, arranged by Olaf Ritman, impressing both the judge and the audience.

The band’s musical excellence secured first place in both the hymn tune and march categories, which meant it claimed the overall competition title as well.

Speaking after the event, band president Gerry Duggan expressed the band’s delight at their win. “The Beamish contest has become one of the events the band looks forward to most in our calendar,” he said. “The setting of the mining museum brings out the deep heritage of the brass band movement and particularly that of our band.”

“We were delighted we put on a performance that the adjudicator and the crowd really enjoyed. It makes the three hours travelling down in a bus worthwhile. We want to say a huge thanks to the DCBBA for putting on a great contest again and for their hospitality.”

After their triumphant performance, Bathgate Band has its sights set on next year’s event, hoping to return in 2026 to defend its title.

If you’d like to listen to the band’s performance click here.