Now I know a little about the Fairey Aviation Works Band as my Father worked at Stockport in his later years and was a great follower and friend of the band.

Fairey Aviation were a band that emerged during the second world war years. Harry Mortimer took charge after Frank Smith left for New Zealand and lead them to their Open win in September 1942 with “Pageantry” and achieved the double in 1945 with Denis Wright’s “Overture for an Epic Occasion” at the National and K.A. Wright’s “Price of Race” at the Open. The band has enjoyed phenomenal success on the contest platform through to the present day.

The Fairey FP Music Band has just secured the 2003 National Championship Trophy under the baton of Allan Withington on Eric Ball’s arrangement of Edward Elgar’s “The Theme and Eight Variations from the Enigma (Opus36)

At one time I knew a few of the players but the track here dates from September 1943 – just a bit before my time.

Slavonic Dance No. 8 (Dvorak, arranged by Arthur Lang)

THE BANDS