Harold Laycock

Cornet & trombone player. Born on March 4th 1887 and lived at 1 Hole Bottom, Stansfield, Todmorden. Died at the comparatively young age of 42 back in 1929. Arthur was a member of St Hilda Colliery Band for fourteen years, and it was widely regarded that a great deal of the band's success was due to his untiring efforts, he was probably their greatest asset and as a critic once remarked, "St Hilda's without Arthur Laycock is like a machine with a broken cog in the main wheel" He recorded for several gramophone companies including Pathe, accompanied by their studio Symphony Orchestra, Columbia accompanied by the Scots Guards Band, Zonophone, and The Winner, accompanied by St Hilda, also soloist to the ones recorded by St Hilda's. He was regarded as being one of the most successful brass recording artistes of his time.