Version of 'Jerusalem' will be heard by millions as English athletes are presented with their medals in Delhi

FIFTEEN years ago they were blasted into the spotlight through the success of the film Brassed Off, which told the story of a Yorkshire colliery band struggling to cope with the closure of the pits.

And now the world-famous Grimethorpe Colliery Band is set to bring its rousing music to the international stage once again, after being asked to record a special version of the hymn Jerusalem for the forthcoming Commonwealth Games in Delhi.

A month-long public poll was set up by Commonwealth Games England to choose an anthem to be played for the English athletes when they receive their medals.

Jerusalem, with words written by William Blake, won with just over half of the poll, ahead of Land of Hope and Glory with 32.5 per cent and God Save the Queen, with just 12 per cent.

Band manager Terry Webster said it was the huge success of Brassed Off which led to the colliery band being selected for the prestigious recording.

He said: “One of the people on the Commonwealth Games board had watched Brassed Off and heard our version on the soundtrack, so contacted the band office and asked if we’d be interested in doing another recording for the Games.

“I thought it was out of this world. It isn’t very often you get to hear your recording played in front of about 100 million people. It’s fantastic to be representing England.

“We already had a recording session booked in July, at Yellow Arch Studios in Sheffield, so we did a recording of Jerusalem for the England team and sent it off to them.

“They said they thought it was fantastic and, since then, it’s been sent off to Delhi.”

Delays in preparing for the Commonwealth Games in the Indian capital were a concern, Mr Webster said, as at one point there was a fear that the English squad may pull out altogether.

He said: “I was thinking, Grimethorpe do a recording for the England team for the first time ever, and it might not have been used. Thankfully the team will definitely be taking part.

“In the last Commonwealth Games, England got 30-odd gold medals, so hopefully this time you could hear Grimethorpe play maybe 40 times during the course of the Games.

“Dame Kelly Holmes, president of Commonwealth Games England, has heard it. She sent a letter saying it was brilliant and it brought her out in goosebumps.”

Grimethorpe Colliery Band was formed in 1917 and regularly played on radio in the 1940s. In 1972 the band won the British Open and in 1974 they and the Black Dyke Mills Band, became the first brass bands to perform at The Proms.

Just four days after Grimethorpe Colliery closed on October 13 1992 the band won the National Brass Band Championship at the Royal Albert Hall– a bittersweet success that was brought to the big screen in Brassed Off, which starred Ewan McGregor, Tara Fitzgerald and Pete Postlethwaite.

“Grimley”, the town where the film is set, is a thinly-veiled reference to Grimethorpe, and much of it was shot in the former pit village and around the Dearne Valley.

Band members are preparing for forthcoming performances both in Harrogate on October 2 – the day before the Commonwealth Games gets under way – and a concert at Sheffield City Hall on November 20.

Mr Webster added: “To record Jerusalem for the Commonwealth Games is a fantastic honour.

“To be picked out, when they could have chosen a pop act, an orchestra, a military band – anything – is brilliant.

“Not only is this fantastic news for the band, it’s fantastic news for the area and for Yorkshire.

“It shows everybody just what we’re capable of.”