Middlebrook Memories for Smithills

On Thursday 12th January it was exactly 25 years (a quarter of a century to the day) since the gala opening of the Middle Brook multiplex cinema. Those involved in the Smithills School Senior Brass Band 1997-98 season were booked to play all of the music for the evening, performing as every star arrived and walked the red-carpet into the cinema; Coronation Street, Emmerdale, Eastenders, various film themes, Warner Brothers and 20th Century Fox fanfares, Match of The Day amongst others were the pieces played by the band, situated right at the front entrance as the stars arrived. 

Chris Wormald, the conductor of the world champion Smithills Senior Brass Band shared his memories of the occasion: “I remember it being very cold! The main star of the red-carpet opening was Dame Edna Everage (Australian Barry Humphries, now 88) and together with actress Shirley Anne Field (now 84) and two stars who are sadly no longer with us, Rik Mayall from Blackadder/The Young Ones and Bolton steeplejack Fred Dibnah. The night was packed with local and London celebrities attending Bolton. Will Mellor was there and already a tv star not to mention Gudni Bergsson (Captain, Bolton Wanderers FC, now 57 and President of Icelandic Football Association), together with many of the first team star players of the 97-98 team. It was a thrill for us to have taken part and lovely to look back at this milestone marker for the multiplex.”

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