Rotherham Town Brass Band in jeopardy after break-in sounds bum note

Rotherham Town Brass Band is appealing for help and a fundraising page has been set up after the vandals broke into the community hall at St James’ Church in East Dene, where they kept their musical instruments.

The band, who can be seen performing regularly in the Christmas markets in Sheffield and Rotherham, is now unable to perform and its future is in doubt.

Band co-ordinator Edward Rhodes (42) said: “They basically took the first six they could get their hands on, and they totally wrecked the room.

“We just don’t know how we’re going to keep going.

“As the instruments they stole were quite big and our members kept their instruments at the church, we now can’t play the concerts we are booked for in June, July and September.

“We can’t afford to replace the instruments they took. We’ll lose at least £2,000 in revenue we’re in a state of shock.

“You just don’t expect a church to be broken into, and also you don’t expect them to wreck the room the way they did.

“My husband, Joe, has run this band for 25 years, and he is really worried because it’s been a part of his life for 25 years.”

Mr Rhodes added the thieves took two large horns an e flat bass and a b flat bass and four cornets.

He said the damage was even bigger as some of the instruments had sentimental value to the musicians they were passed down from parents to children.

Edward’s sister Beth (40), who set up a fundraising page for the band called the crime “just needless vandalism”.

She said: “I don’t think it was really about stealing stuff to sell, it was just a bunch of scrotes who broke in and smashed the church up.

“They smashed up the nursery for single mums who cannot afford childcare, including all the high chairs.

“They went down to the cellar and stole musical instruments.They poured water and coffee granules on the instruments.

“I think the instruments that they stole, they stole for giggles I don’t think they took them because they believe they’re going to make any money out of them.

“I’m not sure if they are intelligent enough to make money out of them.

“I’m trying to help the band raise funds.

“If they can’t replace the instruments, the band is dead.”

Rev Toby Gibbons, the vicar of St James’, told the Advertiser this was the first attack against the church in 20 years.

He said: “They kicked down a lot of doors and caused a very big mass.

“I’m just disappointed as this is a facility for the community and upset because people would do something like that.

“It is a shame that they targeted a place that is used by some of the most vulnerable people.

“Some people said they felt like as if they had attacked their homes.

“It is really sad.”

A police spokesperson confirmed they were investigating the raid on the Cambridge Street church, which is believed to have happened between 9pm last Tuesday and 9am on last Wednesday (May 11).

Anyone with information, call police on 101 quoting incident number 201 of May 11.

Visit https://www.gofundme.com/f/rotherham-town-brass-band-need-your-help and donate to the band.