1977 Switzerland
In September the band embarked on their first tour abroad, staying at Goldswill just outside Interlaken for 6 days. At the first concert the band were welcomed by four drummers dressed in blue from the Spiez Youth Band. Concerts were also given at Lauterbrunnen and Munsingen, A large cow bell and a book were presented to Mr Robinson as a memento of the visit. We enjoyed a tour of the
Toblerone factory. The final evening was a joint concert with the Interlaken Youth Band in the Casino Concert Hall.
1979 Three Countries Tour
July saw the band and parents fly to Zurich to start their tour of Switzerland, Germany and France. Freiburg was the centre for the tour, with concerts given in Basle, Freiburg, Strasbourg and Colmar. The band also visited Konigsfeld school in the Black Forest. This Moravian school had connections with Fulneck School in Pudsey. (The initial contact for the visit had been made with Mr Ray Austin who had a club in Gottenheim called The Halifax Club).
1979 St Pol Sur Ternoise, France
In November we travelled to St Pol for the official Town Twinning celebrations. We spent four days staying with families and performing concerts.
1982 Switzerland
In July, the band set off to Interlaken staying in the centre at the Hotel Bristol and Hotel Horn. Concerts were given at Gerzensee Castle, Meiringen and in the Casino gardens as well as a return visit to Lauterbrunnen. Whilst in Switzerland the band enjoyed rides on Chair Lifts, Cable Cars and Gondelbahns as well as a trip to the top of the Jungfrau Mountain. What a view! Blue sky, sun and snow.
1985 Warstein, Germany
A coach trip this time. An overnight crossing from Felixstowe to Ostende then onto Warstein, band members stayed with families and parents in a local hotel where they were kept in tow by Zola (But they soon showed them how to make a cup of tea). Concerts were given at Allagan, Belica, Hirschberg and at the RAF base in
Detmould. The last concert provided an ununsual venue for the music of Glenn Miller – inside an aircraft hanger. In Germany, visits were made to Munster, The Mohne Dam and the Warsteiner Brewery. Warstein completed the friendship triangle and towns twinned with St Pol sur Ternoise and Hebden Bridge.
1988 USA
After a visit from the Sarasota Mobile Home Park Concert Band to Hebden Bridge in 1987 we accepted an invitation for an exchange visit. The band had 4 days in Orlando visiting Magic Kingdom, Sea World and Epcot Centre where the band were privileged to play in the United Kingdom Courtyard. Then onto to Sarasota for 5 days, a concert in the Van Wezel Auditorium in Sarasota in front of an audience of 2000 was certainly an experience for us, with further concerts in Venice and Bradenton. Many friendships were formed.
1990 Denmark
Band members and parents set sail on the Dana Anglia from Harwich to Esberg to start an 11 day trip. Youth Hostels in Horsens and Roskilde were the accommodation for this tour. Concerts in Kolding, Odense, Esberg and the Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen were given and also in Legoland with the band enjoying time afterwards to ‘play with the Lego’.
1993 Austria
Band and parents boarded two coaches on what was to be the longest coach journey the band had ever experienced. “Only two more hours” was repeated and repeated until we eventually arrived in Hutter at 2am. The hotel was very nice and welcoming even with our belated dinner. The concert in the beautiful Mirabelle gardens in Salzburg was a delight, as were those in Innsbruck, St Gilgen and
Betchesgarten. An experience down the Salt Mines was not to be missed, especially the slide. There were those that went down the mine, those that went up the Eagle’s Nest and those that did both.
1994 Paris, France
In September, a 5 day break was organised to Euro Disney. The staff at the Hotel Cheyenne were fascinated when our young people arrived with their strange shaped luggage. The highlight of the trip was the concert on the stage at Sleeping Beauty’s Castle. The music was heard throughout the theme park – courtesy of the loudspeaker system. A free day in the park was enjoyed and most rides experienced (some more than once). A trip to Paris gave us the chance to sample the sights and sounds of the French capital city.
1998 Norway
Band members and parents travelled by ferry from Newcastle to Haugeshund. This was our base for the tour. Concerts were given in Skudenshaven quayside, Espevaer quayside, Langevaag Church, Bomlo, Suldalshallen, Sand and in Haugeshund. Visits to the fjords, the biggest power station in Norway and many boat trips. It was also the celebration of the engagement of the Musical Director Mr Brian Robinson to Janice Stewart.
2000 Italy
In July, band members and parents spent a week on tour in the Lake Garda region of Italy. The journey by coach took them through France with an overnight stay in Metz, then on through Switzerland to Nago. Concerts were given in Arco, Preve di Ledro and Riva Del Garda. A visit to the Opera ‘Aida’ in the Roman Amphitheatre
in Verona. A visit to Gardaland was enjoyed with visits to Malcesine and Torbole. The return journey took the band through Austria with an overnight stay in Saarbrucken in Germany then on through Luxembourg, Belgium and back home.
2001 Netherlands
In October, band members and parents travelled on the North Sea Ferry, Norsea from Hull to Rotterdam spending a night on the ship. On arrival in Holland we enjoyed the sights, museums and shops in Amsterdam, then travelled to the hotel in the lovely village of Vollendam. A concert was given on the sea front and in the hotel. Then onto Emmen to meet up with the Drents Jeugdorkest band who had visited Hebden Bridge two years ago and friendships had been made.
2001 St Pol sur Ternoise, France
A visit to St Pol Sur Ternoise in France for the 20th Anniversary celebrations of the Town twinning between St Pol and Hebden Bridge. Three days was spent with families. A concert was given with the St Pol school band before a party.
30th Anniversary year 1971 – 2001
On September 21st an evening to remember was held at the Cedar Court Hotel, Huddersfield. 250 members past and present together with parents and friends joined together to give Mr Robinson a special evening. It began with the present band giving a 30 minute concert conducted by Mr Robinson, then past members joined in with at one time Mr Robinson playing and a past member taking up the baton. A toast was made to Mr Robinson for his hard work and dedication over the past 30 years, two founder members gave their tributes to him.
2002 St Pol sur Ternoise, France
The band had been invited to play at the Remembrance Day parade in the town. We played a concert on the Saturday evening, at Mass on the Sunday morning followed by a civic reception. With a procession to the War Memorial for a Service of Remembrance on Monday 11th November.
2003 Mosel Valley, Germany
Travelling by coach for an early morning ferry to Calais, we visited Treis Karden, Cologne, Boppard and Cochem. Concerts were given in Linz, Bad Bertrich and Andernach. A day in Phantasialand was thoroughly enjoyed by everyone.
2005 Switzerland
This time we left Hebden Bridge in the afternoon but caught a ferry at midnight. What views through the Alps. Concerts were given in Brienz, Wilderswil and in Stechelberg with the Lauterbrunnen band. Two members of the Lauterbrunnen band who had joined with us in 1977 were there to meet us. A glacier backdrop and a runaway goat made for an evening to remember. Visits to the Aare Gorge, Trummelbach falls, Pfinstegg cablecar and Grindelwald were arranged.
2005 St Pol sur Ternoise, France
The band again invited to join in with the town twinning celebrations. They gave a concert, led the parade on the Sunday morning from Warstein Square and the ‘Salle des Fetes’ (Europe market place) and onto the war memorial.
2007 Czech Republic
Band members parents and friends enjoyed this tour to Strackonice in the Czech Republic. We attended an official reception in the Cultural house together with officials from Calderdale Council and the International Group. Visits to Strackonice Castle were made for the medieval festivities. Concerts were given in Strackonice, Blatna Castle and Vodnany. We visited Prague and the nearby Cerne and Certovo lakes with canoeing and swimming.
2008 East Coast of Britain
Band members and parents enjoyed a three day tour to the East coast. Concerts were given on the bandstand on the lake at Peasholme Park, Scarborough and the bandstand at Whitby. An enjoyable day at Leisure World in Bridlington ended the weekend. Staying at the Youth hostel in Scarborough everyone helped by either preparing and serving meals or washing up. A Hebden Bridge Junior Band’s Got Talent show was held.
2008 St Pol sur Ternoise, France
Ten band members spent a weekend in St Pol. A Christmas market was held in front of the Town Hall with stall holders from St Pol, Warstein and Hebden Bridge. The band entertained them with Christmas music in their traditional festive outfits.
2009 Dublin, Ireland
Band members and parents thoroughly enjoyed this visit to Ireland. Concerts were given at Temple Bar, Dublin, Tullamore (despite the rain, the band led the parade through the streets), the Guinness store house and Brae Bandstand.
2009 St Pol sur Ternoise, France
At the end of August we went to St Pol for the 30th Anniversary of the twinning with Hebden Bridge. Unfortunately, this was at the end of the summer holidays and only three band members were available to represent the band at this occasion. They accompanied the civic dignitaries at the War Memorial and visited a Medieval festival.
2011 Warstein, Germany
We enjoyed the hospitality of Hebden Bridge’s Twin Town. Concerts were well received at the Warsteiner Brewery staff summer party, Paderborn, Belecke Town Square, Hirschberg Town Hall Gardens and Warstein Youth Day of Action plus the stately home of Baron Von Fuerstenberg at his restored Schloss Kortinghause.
40th Anniversary year 1971 – 2011
On September 17th we had an evening to remember at the Cedar Court Hotel, Huddersfield. About 230 members past and present, together with parents and friends enjoyed this special celebration evening. It began with the present band giving a 30 minute concert conducted by Mr Neil Robinson, then past members joined in with Mr Brian Robinson conducting and the present conductor playing.
This wonderful performance continued for hours and everyone thoroughly enjoyed themselves.
2013 Paris, France
This was a memorable occasion playing at the Parc Champa De Mar at the foot of the Eiffel Tower and in Square Jean behind Notre Dame. Performing on the centre stage at Disneyland Paris was the highlight.
2014 St Pol sur Ternoise, France
A short visit to the Twin town was held in May for the 35th Anniversary of the town twinning.
2015 Poland
Band members and parents set off for an exciting tour with concerts in Krakow and Zakopane in the Tatra mountains and the surrounding areas. We played with a Polish Highland Dance group and were interviewed on TV. An option to visit Auschwitz was given to band members and was taken up by many. Much fund raising was organised to make this and all the tours possible.
2016 Whitby
After the devastation of the floods a short visit was made with band members who were determined to keep going despite the upheaval. Concerts were performed on the bandstand in Whitby and Scarborough.
2017 Netherlands
The Band visited a Fringe Festival in Utrecht. Followed by concerts in Kerekrade, the de-Efteling Theme Park, Amsterdam’s Museumplein, Zandvoort and on a sloop barge on Utrecht’s canals. Bright orange t-shirts were worn for this tour.
2018 Whitby and Scarborough
A sunny weekend visit to the east coast was made with concerts on the bandstand at Whitby and the promenade at Scarborough with relaxing times on the beach.
2019 Regensburg, Germany
Quite a number of the older members of the band were due to leave to further their careers, so a tour to Bavaria was organised. Concerts were given in the town square attended by the Mayor of Regensburg and we played together with a local youth band, ‘Uptown Funk’ was a popular tune with everyone. We canoed the River Danube, survived a swan attack and enjoyed practising our German language skills with a friendly, local police officer who queried our street licence.
2020 & 2021
Covid19 and travel restrictions meant no tour was arranged, but we hope to resume our adventures in 2022
