New Co sponsorship Deal
Hatfield Brass Band Hit a New High In Their 59th Year
Doncaster’s best known brass band has hit a high note in their 59th year history with the announcement that Mr Richard Budge,
Chief Executive Officer of Powerfuel plc and the owner of Hatfield Colliery is to support them with a new 5 year sponsorship deal. Powerfuel plc have been granted permission to build a one thousand mega watt 1GCC power station next to the mine, which would run on coal produced by Hatfield Colliery for up to 40 years.
Read BBC News Item
Powerfuel Hatfield Colliery Band is the new name for the 28 musician band, which was formed in 1947 by miners at Hatfield Colliery. The band was supported by the miners of Hatfield Colliery until the 1990s when the colliery first closed. Being mostly self supporting since that time has placed a financial burden on the members, who, despite this, have achieved promotion from the Third Section in 2000 to the Championship Section in 2006. The band have gained in strength over recent years and were crowned First Section Yorkshire Area Champions in 2004 and 2005 which led to the promotion to the Championship Section 2006 achieving a remarkable 9th place in the Yorkshire Area Championship section in March of this year.
Hatfield Band secured the support of Hatfield Town Council at the end of 2005 and are based in the Hatfield Town Council Offices. Hatfield Town Council have supplied the band with free use of the council offices for rehearsals and storage of band equipment and have also assisted financially. The additional sponsorship from Powerfuel plc will enable the band to record their first ever CD in 2007, which has been a dream of the band for many years. It will also assist with travel costs, the purchase of new music, uniforms and eventually the first ever International tour for the band.
Richard Budge has enjoyed a long association with brass bands and in the past has sponsored Grimethorpe Colliery Band and Kippax Band. Mr Budge last supported Hatfield Band from 2003 until 2005 when the band were known as Hatfield Coalpower Band. Band Manager, Susan Pratt said: “Everyone is delighted once again to have the support of Richard Budge and Powerfuel plc and we’re looking forward to a long and rewarding relationship.
