I am delighted to welcome you to Tameside for our annual Whit Friday Brass Band Contest. I am proud that the Council has sponsored the contest for the past 21 years, though the event itself has its origins in the first recorded brass band contests back in 1884.

Now a cultural institution the contest annually attracts thousands to the Borough and visiting bands from around the country. Many of the bands performing in this year’s contests will be local to the area and they are a vital part of Tameside’s cultural tapestry.

All our contests are hosted by individual committees of hard working and tireless volunteers and their kind hospitality, ensures visitors to the Borough receive a warm welcome, with many returning year after year.

Throughout Tameside we are proud to be working within our communities to develop musical and cultural experiences, and I hope that visitors to the contest might also extend their experience in visiting one of our other event, such as the forthcoming Stalybridge Splash on Monday 31st May or Splendid Weekend in July, further details of which can be found on the Tameside Council website www.tameside.gov.uk

I wish each of this year’s competing bands the best of luck I hope that they thoroughly enjoy their performing experiences and finally hope that the weather is kind to us.

The Worshipful the Civic Mayor of Tameside, Councillor Jean Brazil.