Dobcross Youth Band paid a moving tribute to a much-loved librarian during this year's Whit Friday celebrations, honouring a woman who dedicated more than three decades to nurturing young musicians in the Saddleworth area.

Rosemary Whiffin, who served as librarian for the band for 34 years, passed away last year, leaving a legacy of care and dedication that has touched hundreds of young lives. Her loss was felt deeply by the band and the wider Dobcross community, and this year’s traditional Whit Friday events carried a particularly poignant weight.

The band came together for the morning service at Dobcross Band Club, where past members are remembered before the procession to Uppermill. In a touching gesture, band members wore flowers adorned with sprigs of rosemary as they took part in the day’s celebrations.

But the most lasting tribute came in the form of a new professional-quality cornet, purchased thanks to a generous donation made in Rosemary’s memory by her brother. The instrument, a Besson Sovereign cornet, is engraved as a permanent memorial to her decades of commitment to the band. It was blessed during the morning service by Rev Sachin Awale and will now be played by principal cornet player Bethany Oliver, who becomes its first custodian.

Jenny Wood, Secretary of Dobcross Youth Band, spoke of Rosemary’s profound impact on generations of young musicians.

“Whit Friday is always a special day for our young musicians and for the whole of Saddleworth, but this year it feels particularly poignant,” she said. “Rosemary’s thoughtfulness, kindness, care and attention to detail ensured that all our children could be reassured and certain of Rosemary’s care and dedication to her role.

“There have been hundreds and hundreds of children who Rosemary ensured had the right music at the right time. I like to think that the Youth Band family in Dobcross is unique because it has many Rosemarys in our organisation that make it run so smoothly.”

Following the morning commemorations, the band took part in the famous Whit Friday brass band contests, one of Saddleworth’s most treasured traditions. Bands from across the UK and abroad descended on the area, performing at 11 different villages as part of the annual celebration of music and community.

Sue Crook BEM, Chair of Dobcross Youth Band, reflected on the day’s success. “What a wonderful end to a fantastic day for Dobcross Youth Band and our local community,” she said. “It’s days like this that create memories that last a lifetime for children and adults alike.”

For communities across Saddleworth and the wider Oldham area, Whit Friday is a highlight of the calendar. The sight of brass bands parading through village streets, the sound of music echoing across the hills, and the gathering of families and neighbours are traditions that bind generations together. For Dobcross, this year’s event was not only a celebration of that enduring spirit but also a heartfelt thank you to a woman who embodied it for so many years.

Dobcross Youth Band continues to play a central role in the village’s musical life, nurturing young talent and maintaining the strong community spirit that Rosemary helped foster for more than three decades. The dedication of the cornet ensures that her name—and her contribution—will live on, played by the young musicians she so diligently supported.

As the sound of brass fades from the hills for another year, the memory of Rosemary Whiffin will remain, woven into the fabric of Dobcross and the lives of the many young people she guided with such care.