1939

Another modest round of activities with prizes at the Holmfirth Contest. No seaside engagements or broadcasts but an intention to assert their position in the Championship class by engaging J A Greenwood, one of the leading professional conductors of the time, to take the Band to Belle Vue Contests playing John Ireland’s “A Downland Suite.” However, due to the confusion caused by the outbreak of war less than half the Bands entered for the contest actually attended the event and Rothwell were amongst the withdrawals.

During 1938/1939 tuition fees were paid to local conductors, John Newton and Percy Holgate.

John Newton recalled in later years that Mr Greenwood taught the Bandsmen to thing of “Come Pretty One, Come Pretty One” when playing the familiar groups in the First Movement of “A Downland Suite.”