The band is very fortunate that one of its previous members had not only been born in, but grew up in Greenfield (part of Saddleworth). He lived in Bracknell for some years and during his time with the band had organised our first visit to the Whit Walks. He has since moved back to live and work in the Oldham area and is still prepared to organise our visits for us so long as we are prepared to be involved in the actual morning walks which is what the day is really about.

The Whit Walks is actually a religious event that involves the people of the church assembling early in the morning and then moving around the village stopping periodically to hold a short service at strategic locations in the village. The assembly eventually returns to hold a formal service in the church. Several bands take part in the event playing marches while the assembly moves from location to location and playing the hymns during the short services. It is this activity that Saints is pleased to be able to help with during the morning walks.

During the afternoon one or two of the bands have traditionally played concert music during the school sports events on the field and in recent years Saints have played their share. The same field is used later in the evening for the brass band contest during which competing bands play a contest march of their own choosing. The format of the contest is that bands arrive at the venue and join the queue of bands awaiting their turn to play. When their turn arrives the band plays while marching to the actual contest platform then forms up and plays it's chosen march. As soon as the performance is complete the band returns to its coach and moved to its next chosen contest venue. It is the unenviable task of the adjudicator to mark the band performances as the many bands take their turn. These events are enacted in the various villages that go to make up the Saddleworth district.

For many years the bands in the surrounding area became involved in a series of contests that soon came to be known as the Whit Walks. In later years, as the contests became more widely known bands from far and wide began attending. Most of the contest venues allow bands from all grades to compete which enables village bands to compete against the top bands in the country although one or two venues have opted to cater for the lower section bands only.

We try to go 'up north' every other year, and have been doing so for more than ten years now! Bands of all abilities come from all over the country, and it's an amazing spectacle for the thousands of people who come to watch.

It's a great social occasion for the Band too, as we get to spend time together - largely on the coach between venues and in the hotel on the Thursday and Friday evenings!

Whit Friday 2003

Whit Friday 2005

Whit Friday 2007