This was the Falcons Dance Band well known in the area in the late 1940s/early 1950s.

It was founded in 1942 from cadets of the 316 squadron of the Air Training Corps in Leigh, managed by Squadron Leader Charles Grundy and led by Vince Hayes, with Ken Williams as secretary. The picture has been sent to me by Mr Roland Lightbown, of Wilkinson Avenue, Little Lever, whose brother Fred can be seen third from left on the front row.

In their early days the Falcons played at Leigh Church Institute, St. Joseph's Hall, the Co-op Hall and at RAF, USA and Navy camps in the Leigh and Warrington areas, and also at Atherton Drill Hall and Walkden Town Hall. Then in 1945 they entered Melodymaker and Musical Express Dance Band contests to get known, and in 1945 won the northern counties section at Levenshulme Palais.

In 1946, one of Bolton's famous musical sons, Alyn Ainsworth, took the helm, and from then on the Falcons spread their wings, with engagements all over the north. Among those who played were Tom Jackson, Maurice Alcock, Harold Hill, Ken Bowers, Frank Gregory, Derek Healey, whose father, Johnny, was bandleader at the Bolton Palais, Wilf Hardman, Fred Lightbown, Sam Pollitt, Max Holgate, Jimmy Mee and Jim Speakman.

After that 1945 championship success, the band won the East Lancashire and Manchester championships, and in 1947 were big band winners and overall runners-up in the All British Finals. In 1949 they became North of England champions.

Incidentally, the Falcons' reward for their 1947 success were recording contracts with Regal Zonophone Records in London, and a radio broadcast in Manchester.

Leader Alyn Ainsworth moved on to the Northern Dance Orchestra, then formed his own band in London and became a successful conductor and arranger for many London-based orchestra, including the Radio Big Band. He died in 1960.

The Falcons continued without him for a time, but in 1952/53 several band members moved on.

The picture shows members of the Falcons in a competition at the Empress Ballroom, Blackpool - as they were semi-professionals, Alyn Ainsworth, who was fully professional, could not appear with them, although he was at Blackpool for the competition.