COUNCIL bosses are planning a brass band contest in Darwen this year in honour of one of the town’s bands celebrating its 175th anniversary year.

The Blackburn and Darwen Band dates back as far as 1840, with the formation of the teetotal Darwen Temporance Band, and its allegiance was purely to Darwen until being forced to change its name in 1986 by the borough council.

MORE TOP STORIES:

To celebrate the special milestone and to recognise the band’s Darwen roots, town councillors have agreed to look at holding the competition later this year.

During a meeting of the town council last week, deputy chairman Councillor Pete Hollings said: “Blackburn and Darwen Band is celebrating its 175th year since forming.“They were originally a Darwen band and I would like to have a band competition to honour them.”

Sunnyhurst councillor Dave Smith said: “I think it is a part of Darwen’s history we can celebrate as a one-off.”

Whitehall’s Councillor John East said: “There is a heritage about brass bands in Darwen and it will be interesting if we can get this moving. If it comes off it should be good.”

The band, which has also been known as Darwen Borough Prize Band, Darwen British Legion Band and Darwen band, became Blackburn and Darwen Band in 1986, when Blackburn with Darwen Council awarded it some money.

Veteran councillor Paul Browne said he was at the meeting when the name change was ordered.

He said: “We had our own brass band in Darwen and I remember they said if they wanted to keep the funding they had to change their name and I went mad.”

Blackburn and Darwen Band chairman Steve Breen said: “We have spent a lot of time as a committee putting together a plan for our 175th anniversary.

“The idea of a competition is very exciting and a chance to pit our wits against other local bands as well.”

“It is a good idea to celebrate.”

Blackburn and Darwen Band will perform a song from every decade of its existence during a concert at the Thwaites Theatre in Blackburn on February 15. Tickets cost £8.