THIS year Blackburn and Darwen Band is celebrating its 175th anniversary.

Today we take a peep into its history and some of the people who have been members over the years, Back in 1840 the band was created as Darwen Temperance Band where each member was expected to denounce the demon drink.

The greatest achievement as a Temperance band was in 1856, taking part in the National Finals at Crystal Palace. Each of the band members had their railway fare paid by the Crystal Palace Company.

These judges chose the best bands out of the 60 to play inside the Palace for the prizes, and Darwen Temperance were among the ones selected.

It was felt by townsfolk that not only the band but also Darwen as a whole had been honoured.

The Darwen Temperance Band played Worthy is the Lamb and Amen and was loudly applauded by the audience, but were sadly not successful in carrying off any prizes.

During Victorian times, the band played a big role in the social life of the town, taking part in many processions and concerts.

Back in 1846 the band appealed for funds to purchase a carriage in which they could play during festive occasions.

They obtained a “neat, plain” structure, which was built by a Mr Speight of Blackburn.

In October of that year, the band paraded through the town with the vehicle and then held a concert in the William Street school.

Also on the stage was Darwen Choral Society, which performed to an audience which contained, reported the Blackburn Standard, “quite as many well dressed females as males” which “said much for the taste and judgement of all parties.”

The band took part in the concerts and festivities in Darwen to mark the coronation of King Edward VII in 1902.

Fast forward to 1983, as the National Brass Band Championships approached, and band member Dave Wallbank, its E Flat bass player was a worried man.

It was hard work playing the biggest instrument in the band at the best of times, but Dave had a broken elbow and was desperately hoping it would heal by the time of the contest.

Dave, then 35, from Chorley, had taken up music as a schoolboy, along with his brother Trevor, but in his 20s had changed instruments to an electric guitar in a dance band.

After playing with Bill Gulshaw’s band, he then formed the Dave John Sound, which appeared on the same bill as the Syd Lawrence Orchestra, while also backing The Ivy League and Tom O’Connor. In the early 1980s Trevor was invited to play for Darwen and asked Dave to go along, too.