Was a miner. Took part in Jarrow march. Was a brass band conductor and fanatic. Lived in Cherry Orchard in West Drayton.

George's role as Musical Director & Conductor of the Yiewsley & West Drayton Band is described in considerable detail in the book, "A Band for Two Villages" which includes photographs. In particular, the band's appearance in the 4th Section final of the National Brass Band Championsip, at Belle Vue, Manchester, is described in some detail.

He had earlier been a member of the St Hilda colliery band in South Shields in Durham. References are made to him as "Bandmaster" and "Deputy Conductor" of the St. Hilda's Band in the Yiewsley & West Drayton Band's history.

In 1890 the officers of the "Yiewsley Band of Hope" reported that sufficient funds had been raised from the inhabitants of Yiewsley and West Drayton for the establishment of a brass band. The first rehearsal was held on Wednesday 13 August 1890 at the Wesleyan Chapel in Yiewsley, then a village of just 2000 inhabitants. Twenty players signed up, and a conductor was appointed. The first recorded engagement was in December 1890 when the band played at a Christmas party for the children of the Wesleyan Society. Fund raising and a busy diary of local events dominated the early years.

In 1894 the band severed its links with the Wesleyan Temperance movement and, as a result, the name was changed to the "Yiewsley Brass Band". A new rehearsal venue was also adopted, this being Yiewsley's "National Schoolroom." From this time the band was an independent village group enjoying considerable general support from the inhabitants of Yiewsley and West Drayton. The Band's first recorded attendance at a contest was at Wembley Park on 27th June 1903. They did not win any prizes on that occasion, but their fortunes were soon to change.

During the period 1911-1953, the "Golden Age", the band met with considerable success, consistently winning prizes in local and national competitions. The crowning glory came in 1952 when the band was a finalist at the Daily Herald National Championships, held at Belle Vue, Manchester. It was the second time that they had competed at this level, having won a challenge cup in 1904. The band would have to wait 50 years before the band achieved similar heights. The Golden Age can be attributed to two long serving musical directors, Mr Allen (1911-36), and most notably, Mr George Turner (1937-55), who were both dedicated to the best traditions of brass band music. They ensured that Yiewsley and West Drayton were always a strong force in the brass band world.

The St Hilda Colliery was situated at South Shields, an industrial town on the North-East coast. In 1869 a group of workers, mostly members of the colliery, approached a Mr John Dennison to form a brass band. None of them could play an instrument; the first rehearsal was led by the conductor's ten year old son. They attended a local contest five years later and when unplaced, such was their determination that they issued a private challenge to the winning band, appointing an adjudicator and referee at their own expense. They proved themselves the winners. Due to a change of sponsorship they had been known as "Dennison's Family Band", Dennison's Borough Band", and "South Shields Borough Band". In 1906 they were taken over by the officials and men of the Durham Miners' Association and became recognised as the St Hilda Colliery Band. In the same year Mr J.A. Greenwood, a popular band trainer, became their professional conductor, and five years later Mr James Oliver was appointed bandmaster, having attained success in the north east with the Heworth and Felling Colliery Bands. It was partly due to the hard work of Mr Oliver and Mr Southern, their band secretary and bass trombone player, that the band achieved such rapid progress. In 1912 Mr Halliwell, a prominent band trainer, took over as professional conductor and established himself by leading them into first place at the National Championship, a success which was repeated in 1920, 1921, 1924 and 1926.

They recorded for almost every record company, often a mere repetition of items, but apart from their test pieces the output was somewhat unimaginative. They seemed to favour the lesser known marches, especially those of J. Ord Hume, and such trivialities as "Three Blind Mice", Pop Goes the Weasel" and "Dinah's Holiday". Among their more serious items we find the "Ballet Egyptien Suite" and Liszt's second "Hungarian Rhapsody", arrangements which require the tone colour and definition of the military band to be effective. "Cleadon Park" written by their first professional conductor, J.A. Greenwood, was recorded on Marathon 138, Cleadon being an attractive village near South Shields. "St Hilda" written by another band trainer of that period, Mr George Hawkins under the pen-name of "Raymond", (Zonophone 2182 and HMV B1554) and "Sergeant Major" by James Oliver (Zonophone 2581). Their cornet soloist during the early years was Arthur Laycock, although somewhat of an eccentric he was one of the greatest cornet players of all time. His artistry can be heard on Columbia and Zonophone recordings. Other players who recorded were Harold Laycock and E. Boam, trombonists, which both Jack Mackintosh and Harry Mortimer were at one time members of the solo cornet section.

By 1926 the band was at the height of its success. Winners of five Nationals, full summer bookings and their winter engagements included Bertram Mills' Circus at the Olympia, London. The St Hilda colliery had closed however in 1925, hence the players were classed as professional musicians and no longer eligible to contest. In 1927 they turned professional, many, unwilling to make music their livelihood, left, but with the untiring efforts of Messrs Oliver and Southern a competent band was soon "on the road". James Oliver continued as musical director, assisted by Hubert Bath and later Frank Wright. They were however unable to regain their former glory. Summer engagements declined and during the winter season they were billed at music halls and for stage interludes at the cinema. In later years they tended to use the title "St Hilda's Famous Band", but in 1937 were forced to disband. Their final engagement was at the Stanhope Show. In the mid-thirties Mr Oliver bought a house at Brancepeth, Co. Durham, near his home town Haswell, when he was looking forward to taking over the colliery band. He had been conductor of St Hilda's for twenty-two years. James Southern left banding and retired to Cheshire.

The name St Hilda, however, still survived. in 1930 a St Hilda Colliery Band was formed in 1930, achieving success at several local contests, but was disbanded 1940. Four years later a group of businessmen bought the name, but their band was taken over in 1951 by the Yorkshire Electric and Welding Company (Y.E.W.C.O.). It showed promise by gaining fifth place in the Championship section at Belle Vue in 1955, but owing to declining interest it too was disbanded.

Although J. Ord Hume at one contest complimented St Hilda's on their fine playing, which he stated, was equal to anything he had heard in his whole experience of banding, we have but limited knowledge of their performance. We have to rely on the gramophone record and the brass band does not record well. The musical material, too, is often inadequate, marches, novelty items and poor arrangements fail to aid judgement. The writer recalls hearing St Hilda's just before their Canadian tour and was impressed by their highly polished instruments, immaculate uniforms and ease of playing, although, he hastens to add, too young to comment on their performance. They did not succeed in gaining the coveted "hat trick" (three consecutive firsts) at the Nationals. In 1913 they were placed second, fourth in 1922/3, fifth in 1925 when the winners were Marsden, a colliery only a few miles along the coast from South Shields. St Hilda's name appears infrequently at Belle Vue, second in 1912, sixth 1913, third in 1919 and 1926.

During the past few decades bands have tended to change their name, many seem anxious to sever links with the past, but the name St Hilda's is firmly established in brass band history - a name which not only recalls a great band, but an era when our summer seasons were filled with the sound of open air music instead of noise and pollution. (by Alan Hindmarch]

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