Jim Cant and Glossop Old Band have been linked for almost 50 years since he started playing trombone there as a young boy, but it is as a conductor, in several spells for around 15 years that he will best be remembered, and for the achievements that the band made under his direction in the 1990s. Jim returned to the band from a spell at Hollingworth (who had just won the 4th Section Nation title under his direction) at the end of 1993. Glossop were in a state of rebuilding and found themselves in the third section, but with a strong and eager team. Following what was to be a low point of 2nd place at Rochdale contest, the band attended over 30 contests under Jim’s baton over the next 3 years and won every one. They won back to back 3rd Section, 2nd Section and 1st Section area titles and National titles at 3rd and 2nd Section, (giving Jim a hat trick of National victories); and back to back Pontins Easter and October titles amongst many others, the run finally ending in Birmingham’s Symphony Hall when the band were placed third in the 1996 1st Section national finals, a feat they repeated the following year in Cardiff. Moving into the Championship section in 1997 finals success was missed by one place in each of the next three years. Glossop were also by 1998 invited to enter the Grand Shield where they missed an Open invite by a couple of places. Following the near miss of the 1999 area Jim’s personal circumstances meant he felt it was time for a break from the band and he moved on to Stalybridge, but the strong band he had built at Glossop managed to gain an Open berth the following year and on his return to the band in 2002 Jim was finally able to lead his band in the world’s most famous contest. In 2005 he moved to Silk Brass in Macclesfield for several years prior to his illness and for a spell after his recovery before returning to Glossop again. It was a privilege and a pleasure to play for him even in the last few weeks when he was not as sharp as previously and he will be greatly missed by everyone at Glossop as well as by his many friends in the wider banding community.
Posted on: Mon, 14 Jul 2014 12:59:33 +0000
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