1919 :

Engagements improved and contests were attended. Joe Kirby (an excellent soprano cornet) joined from Stanley and entry fees are shown for the new young blood Albert Lunn and William Bagley, but the biggest single influence in taking the Band to its peak of achievement between the wars was the appointment as Conductor of Mr Nathan Sidebottom. He was a Rothwell man born in the year of the Band's foundation when his father was bass drummer.

Nat, as he was known, was playing in the Band by the age of ten and eventually became Principal Cornetist with experience under G.F. Birkinshaw and W. Heap, the professionals who laid the foundation of the Band's contesting traditions.

In 1903 he was considered one of the finest cornetists in Yorkshire and he was engaged as soloist to travel round with Mr Heap and his contesting bands.

After gaining valuable operatic experience through appointments at Bridlington, Wolverhampton and Sheffield, Mr Sidebottom had military band experience as cornestist and Band Master during the First World War.

His considerable achievements conducting Rothwell Temperance are recorded in the following fifteen years.