I don't know that much about them, but there were, and still are quite a few bands. There are competitive leagues in the brass band world, and the colliery bands were often up with the best. (Many of the other bands being associated with other manufacturing industries, eg Fairey Engineering and Fodens). I think I remember my husband (a one-time mining engineer who used to be in colliery management in Notts) once telling me that the members of the bands were, whenever possible, kept off the really dusty work that would damage their lungs!

I think the "silver" refers to the silver plating on the instruments. The bands would play at local public events and especially the miners' "Galas" held annually, when often there was a parade and the local colliery branch of the NUM would proudly march with their banner behind the band.

That's all I can really offer, still it's enough to start the ball rolling and is all fairly common knowledge. Radio 2 does have a 30 minute brass band programme at 9.30pm on fridays called "Listen to the Band".

Andrea