Its raw portrayal of life in the fictional struggling mining town of Grimley hit a nerve with many people across the country who had also seen the devastation left in the wake of the pit closures in the 1980s and early 1990s. The inspiration behind the story was The Grimethorpe Colliery Band based at the pit village near Barnsley. While the pit they were attached to has sadly close, the brass band has gone from strength to strength, winning numerous awards.

And they are bringing their sound to the North Notts Community Arena next week fresh from winning the National Brass Band Championships last weekend. On Thursday 1st November, the arena will be filled with the sound of trumpets, cornets, trombones and French horns, with players ready to raise the roof. To make it even more of a community occasion, profits from the night will go to help support the Bassetlaw Hospice in Retford.

“For a number of years the Grimethorpe Colliery Band has kindly given us their services to raise funds for Bassetlaw Hospice,” said hospice administrator Ian Hall.

“And every time they have performed they have given us a night of sheer delight.” “They are unrivalled and undoubtedly the very best of brass.” Since the success of Brassed Off, Grimethorpe’s fortunes have literally taken off with the band travelling around the world for concerts playing on stages in Australia, Hong Kong, and Paris.