ira mitchell

Ira Mitchell was one person anyone would have been proud to have been associated with. He was kind, considerate, firm but fair. Thurlstone Brass Band were very privileged to have Ira as a member of the Band and for him to have been Principal Solo Cornet for over 30 years.

His death has brought back some happy memories you all should share. First, please spend a moment to read the following poem.

Miss me but let me go
When I come to the end of the road
And the sun has set for me
I want no tears in a gloom filled room,
Why cry for a soul set free?

Miss me a little but not too long
And not with your head bowed low,
Remember the love that once we shared
Miss me but let me go.

For this journey we all must take
And each must go alone,
It is all part of God's plan,
A step on the road to home.

Now, let's celebrate the life of Ira Mitchell. Primarily this is a photo tribute....

Where there are names relating to the photo and you see ??, it means I do not

know or remember who it is. If you know different, please get in contact. Also contact me if you have any photographs of Ira, or of Thurlstone Brass Band.

1951

Winning First prize at Dewsbury Town Hall

1952

1953

Coronation

1954

Front row cornets - Ira Mitchell, Clive Mellor, Derek Bacon
Back row cornets - ??, Nancy Hull (nee Smith as she was on this photo), Gordon Crossley, ??
Tenor Horns - Lucy Arnold, Derek Matthews, ??
Basses - David Matthews, ??
Euphoniums & Barritones - Leonard Wilkinson, Derek Ford
Trombones - Ken Dyson, Julian Langley, ??

1957

This photograph was taken outside the Black Bull Hotel in Thurlstone, where the band rehearsed for many years in the old hay loft.

I was only six when this photograph was taken, so I would like some assistance with the missing names please.

Back Row - Derek Myers, Ira Mitchell, Derek Bacon, Nancy Hull, Derek Ford, Terry Atkinson, Gordon Crossley, ??
Centre Row - Angus Holden, Derek Matthews, George Kaye, Lucy Arnold, Clifford Hamer, Ken Dyson, ??, Maurice Dransfield, Harry Turner
Front Row - Wilf Aspinall, Stan Dyson, Leonard Wilkinson, Eric Crossley, ?? Stratham ??, Arnold Thompson, David Matthews

1977

Thurlstone Brass Band before their concert with Millhouse Green Male Voice Choir on Saturday 22 January 1977.

Back Row - Carlton Woodcock, Ira Mitchell, Steven Scarfe, Derek Ford, Peter Mears, Chris Carter, Nancy Hull, Jayne Booth, Vivian Woodcock
Centre Row - Gillian Lewis, Des Scarfe, Sandra Eastwood, George Kaye, Arthur Lewis, Andrew Hutton, Chris Ward, Robert Eastwood
Front Row - David Beaumont, Wilfred Aspinall, Peter Smith, Eric Crossley, Peter Crossley, Stuart Haigh, Peter Windle, Stanley Dyson

Thurlstone Brass Band performed a number of years in Radio Sheffield's "Bold As Brass" competition. In 1977 they bowed out in the Quarter Finals.
L-R - Derek Ford, Stan Dyson, Nancy Hull, Ira Mitchell, Mick McLaughlin, Sandra Eastwood, ??, George Kaye, Arthur Lewis, Jayne Booth (who took over as Principal Cornet in 1979, with Ira as her mentor until 1983), Robert Eastwood, Chris Carter, Jillian Lewis, David Beaumont, Vivien Woodcock, Andrew Hutton, Cartlton Woodcock, Stuart Haigh, Belinda Gaynor, Mick Gaynor, June Gaynor, Kirsty Gaynor, Peter Mears, Peter Smith, Stephen Scarfe, Chris Ward, Eric Crossley, Peter Crossley, Peter Windle

1983

Ira retired from playing in 1983. Here we see Ira in his last performance presenting the prizes at the Band's Slow Melody contest on Saturday 22 October 1983.

First prize went to David Wray.
Equal second prize winners were Richard Wray and Thomas Collett.
Third Prize went to Debbie Mellor, who was also presented with a medal from Mrs Evelyn Bray, President of the Huddersfield & District Brass Bands Association.