MUSICIANS from Millom and Haverigg had their chance to reach a national audience back in 1949 when a BBC radio live broadcast team arrived.

Millom man Allan Hodgson, who now lives at Workington, was part of a band which played for the regular show Works Wonders which was broadcast from factories all over the country.

Mr Hodgson said: “With the Pelleymounter Band we started to rehearse in the Tin Chapel for the broadcast with a final live rehearsal on February 23 and then the real thing.

“It went over the air presented by Ray Lakeland.

“It all proceeded without a hitch with most of Millom listening, the feedback being excellent.”

Mr Lakeland died in July at the age of 95 and in 1949 had been based at Newcastle with the BBC.

He later became a household name for his commentaries on the annual Grand National horse race from Aintree, Liverpool.

Mr Lakeland retired in 1976. Most of the performers and audience members for Works Wonders were from Haverigg Tannery – which had 400 workers.

The show was broadcast from a building in Mainsgate Road, Millom, which is now the base of the Millom Pensioners Association.

At that time the Tin Chapel was described as the tannery’s new sports and recreation centre.

On the musical programme was a 40-strong tannery choir which was then only six weeks old.

The youngest performer was 17-year-old Bramwell Taylor who played the cornet solo Carnival of Venice.

Another soloist was the tenor Claude Robinson, who sang Violetta.

Also taking part was Renee Taylor, of Crown Street, Millom, whose picture featured in the Evening Mail in August 1951 as winner of a personality girl contest at Douglas on the Isle of Man.

In 1950 she played the title role of a countess in Maritza, by Millom Amateur Operatic Society.

Works Wonders was far from the only show Mr Hodgson had been involved in as a drummer during 1949.

He had come out of the RAF and returned to Hodbarrow iron ore mines at Millom as a fitter.

He said: “A variety of gigs took place throughout the year.

“On New Year’s Eve I played drums until 2am in the Drill Hall with Harry Pelleymounter and his band.”

He played with Joyce Shepherd, vocals, Jimmy Ellwood, bass, Eldred Rowe, piano, Fred Wilson, guitar and Chico Greenwood providing the comedy with the Music Masters.

Mr Hodgson said: “We did our first gig at Haverigg Workingmen’s Club and it was a disaster, except for Chico who went on last and brought the house down.

“We later had successes.

“I played at dances at Bootle, Broughton, Seascale and The Green with various bands and in Millom at St George’s Hall, the Palace, the Co-op Hall and the Tin Chapel."