Westoe Brass Band

Based in South Shields, the band began life in 1911 taking on members of the Tyne Dock Temperance Band to fulfill the needs of a band at Harton Colliery. Just eight years later in 1919 the band won the British Open Contest, becoming the first colliery band as well as the first band from the North of England to do so. The band was led to this victory by George Hawkins, who was also the first amateur to win this title. This title is seen as the leading accolade in the brass band world. 

In 1958 the band added Westoe to its name, becoming the Harton and Westoe Colliery Band. This name continued until 1986 at which point it became purely the Westoe Colliery Band. 

The link with South Tyneside Health Care Trust began after the closure of Westoe Colliery in 1993. 

The band competes in the First Section of the National Brass Band Championships and were finalists in 2015 and has released a CD entitled "The Call of the Colliery". 

Westoe Band consists of around 30 members from a wide range of backgrounds across the North East and performs regularly throughout the year at a variety of engagements including the Catherine Cookson Parade and the South Shields Amphitheatre, as well as its annual charity concert at Customs House in October. The band can also be booked for events including marches, park entertainment, evening concerts and weddings.