Skipton Brass Band on All Creatures Great and Small: 'We felt like we were actually there on VJ Day in 1945'
With the backdrop of the Dales and the tales of author and vet James Herriot at its heart, there’s not much more quintessentially Yorkshire than All Creatures Great and Small.
This week, the hit Channel 5 series showcased another of the region’s charms – its decades-old brass band culture, which is still thriving in many communities today.
Skipton Brass Band was approached by producers earlier this year to help bring to life for the show the VJ Day celebrations of 1945.
Appearing alongside Nicholas Ralph, who plays Herriot, the choir features in a dramatic scene on the moors, where a beacon is lit to celebrate the end of the Second World War, accompanied by their poignant rendition of I Vow To Thee My Country, arranged by the Band's Musical Director Adrian Austin.
"Being part of bringing this moment in history to life was like travelling back in time somehow,” says Adrian. “As we were filming, we all felt like we were actually there in 1945 as the set, script and costume design felt so real.
"It's a fantastic opportunity for the band to be featured on a show that showcases not only the beauty of the Yorkshire Dales but also the sound of brass bands. We're so honoured to be alongside such talented actors and to contribute to the show's nostalgic charm.”
"Brass bands played a vital role in boosting morale and entertaining communities during the Second World War,” he adds. “They performed at factories, military bases, and other wartime venues, playing a mix of patriotic songs, popular tunes, and classical music.”
In the show, the band also features in a VJ Day village green party scene, filmed in the picturesque village of Arncliffe, with the likes of Siegfried Farnon (played by Samuel West) and Mrs. Hall (played by Anna Madeley).
Players say all the food on set in the scene was real and the props department had to top it up after each take to keep everything looking authentic. "Thankfully the beer wasn't as authentic so it kept us in tune," laughs Sarah Paul, Skipton's Band Manager.
"I loved the attention to detail in this period drama - everything had to be 1940s, even the music had to look aged. Fortunately, as Skipton Brass Band was originally established back in the 1870s, we had a treasure trove of music archives to dig into and that helped us get into the spirit of things."
“I wouldn't have wanted to live in 1940s Britain as a woman, to be honest," Sarah adds. "It took so long to do your hair. We were all in hair and makeup for hours being transformed into our 1940s characters...
"I have to admire the women however, who stepped up to play in brass bands during the war.
"With so many men away fighting, women took on new roles and became talented musicians, paving the way for the mixed brass bands we see today, like we have at Skipton."
- Episode six of the latest season of All Creatures Great and Small can be seen online at channel5.com