d.middlehurst
Cotton Jazzmen, Stubbins Village, Rossendale
This is the article that accompanied the photograph in the Rossendale Free Press on 31.12.60
"We've told their story annually for the past few years, but it is always worth repeating for the good cause that they serve.
They are the 'Cotton Jazzmen', comprising of a good natured workpeople from the Stubbins Vale Mill of Porrit Brother and Austin Limited, most of them the depicting the 'Black and white Minstrels'. They toured the various departments of the mill and
later, the department of the company's Broadway Mill at Haslingden, where the employees assembled. A collection was taken at each mill.
In a ten man dancing troupe were Mr. Bob Rothwell (piano accordionist) and the creator of the 'Jazzmen' and Messrs. George Mellodew (drums). Brian Fant, Brian Lamb, Brian Isherwood, Alistair Sim and David Loftus (musical submarine), Joe Roscow and Stewart Storey (mouth organ) and George Crook (cymbals). They were dressed in black and white satin trousers, red stockings, clogs and wore wigs. Their faces were blacked in minstrel style.
Messrs Alec Henderson (trombone), Roger Hoyle (cornet), John Lomax (concertina) and Derek Perry (side drums) made a four man band.
Others in the 'Jazzmen' party were Sheila Rothwell, Doris Scott, Margaret Bromley, Joan Wright and Janet Law as collectors.
A highlight of the dancing was a portrayal of 'Hello Dolly' by drum major Henry Martin wearing a brown wig, black frock coat edged with yellow ribbon, yellow satin trousers and yellow stockings and David Loftus, who did a quick change into a mini-skirt and blouse and white nylon wig for the occasion.
The 'Jazzmen' walked in procession through Stubbins village, residents of which contributed to the collection. Motorists in passing cars threw money into the street for the cause.- The Ramsbottom Old Peoples' Welfare Association, for which all told, £32 was raised."
Cotton Jazzmen, Stubbins Village, Rossendale
This is the article that accompanied the photograph in the Rossendale Free Press on 31.12.60
"We've told their story annually for the past few years, but it is always worth repeating for the good cause that they serve.
They are the 'Cotton Jazzmen', comprising of a good natured workpeople from the Stubbins Vale Mill of Porrit Brother and Austin Limited, most of them the depicting the 'Black and white Minstrels'. They toured the various departments of the mill and
later, the department of the company's Broadway Mill at Haslingden, where the employees assembled. A collection was taken at each mill.
In a ten man dancing troupe were Mr. Bob Rothwell (piano accordionist) and the creator of the 'Jazzmen' and Messrs. George Mellodew (drums). Brian Fant, Brian Lamb, Brian Isherwood, Alistair Sim and David Loftus (musical submarine), Joe Roscow and Stewart Storey (mouth organ) and George Crook (cymbals). They were dressed in black and white satin trousers, red stockings, clogs and wore wigs. Their faces were blacked in minstrel style.
Messrs Alec Henderson (trombone), Roger Hoyle (cornet), John Lomax (concertina) and Derek Perry (side drums) made a four man band.
Others in the 'Jazzmen' party were Sheila Rothwell, Doris Scott, Margaret Bromley, Joan Wright and Janet Law as collectors.
A highlight of the dancing was a portrayal of 'Hello Dolly' by drum major Henry Martin wearing a brown wig, black frock coat edged with yellow ribbon, yellow satin trousers and yellow stockings and David Loftus, who did a quick change into a mini-skirt and blouse and white nylon wig for the occasion.
The 'Jazzmen' walked in procession through Stubbins village, residents of which contributed to the collection. Motorists in passing cars threw money into the street for the cause.- The Ramsbottom Old Peoples' Welfare Association, for which all told, £32 was raised."