The original marching drum belonging to Cawthorne Brass Band has been expertly restored by the BBC’s Repair Shop and will once again echo through the streets of Barnsley.
The drum, purchased in 1873 when the band was first formed, was manufactured by Higham and Co in Strangeways, Manchester. Over the past 150 years, it has been a prominent feature in numerous village celebrations, including the millennium drama One Breath.
However, after bursting while being tightened for Remembrance Day some years ago, the drum was put into storage and left untouched.
The drum’s rich history is well documented, including mentions in the History of Cawthorne Village by Barry Jackson.
Last year, the team from The Repair Shop took on the task of restoring the drum, which will be featured on BBC One today at 4:30 p.m.
Elvin Athey, a long-time member of Cawthorne Brass Band, expressed his excitement about the drum’s return.
“I’ve been playing in the band for 42-and-a-half years,” he said. “I usually play the tenor horn, but when we have a parade, I use the marching drum.”
Athey shared that he had attempted to repair the drum himself over the years but had no success. The idea of sending it to The Repair Shop came about when he was attending a funeral last year.
“They’ve done a really good job,” he added. “They wanted us to play it at the Penistone Show last year, and now everyone is going to get to see it. The whole village is buzzing about it.”
Athey, who is no stranger to TV appearances, humorously added, “I was on TV last week as well. I was in hospital last year, and they put that on Casualty 24/7. I might be a TV star now.”
Ron Carbutt, who played a key role in ensuring the drum’s restoration, recalled the moment he first saw the damaged drum.
“When Elvin told me about the drum, I was intrigued,” Carbutt said. “It was the first drum Cawthorne Brass Band bought when they were formed. I saw it and was impressed by the beautiful colors and Victorian craftsmanship, but it was in bad shape and needed expert attention.”
Carbutt took photos, gathered the drum’s history, and made a presentation to The Repair Shop. The rest, as they say, is history—its restoration will be showcased on BBC One today at 4:30 p.m.
He described the restoration as a “real fairytale story,” with the drum now poised to be an annual feature in Cawthorne.
“It’s a real fairytale,” Carbutt said. “The drum was bought 150 years ago, used at every major celebration in Cawthorne, and then disappeared. It was found in a Barnsley attic and returned to the band when it was reformed. After being damaged, it ended up in a storage room at Silkstone Chapel. Now, restored, it’s back in Cawthorne, as good as new.”
The drum will now be played each year during the village’s Remembrance Parade and will be a major attraction at the Victoria Jubilee Museum.
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