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Through the 1970's and 1980's Brighouse Light Opera Society presented their October show in the Rydings Hall. This was rented from the Brighouse and Ratrick Band. The following is a brief history of the hall from the point that the band decided to purchase the hall.
In 1966 Brighouse Corporation put plans forward for road improvements including the Ludenschied Link Road, which was to go through the middle of the Odd Fellows Hall which was the rehearsal room for the band. Eventually a compulsory purchase order was served and alternative accommodation had to be found by the band. This was eventually achieved with the purchase of St. Martin's Parish Hall in Church Lane in 1970. A great deal of renovation and preparation work had to be carried out. In a report of the official opening of the new facilities, the ‘Brighouse Echo’ picked out a few names of volunteers who had helped - Messrs Lakey, Lord, Merrifield, Murray, Noble and Smith, as well as members of the Brighouse Light Opera Society. The Mayor of Brighouse, Coun. W. Stanley Firth, carried out the official opening of the new bandroom – now named ‘Rydings Hall’, on 25th September 1971. The proceedings concluded with a concert given by the band with contributions from members of the B.L.O.S. This hall provided not only rehearsal facilities but an auditorium that could seat almost 500 people. The band could now promote its own concerts in its own hall, and several other local organisations benefited from this facility. Many fine recordings we made in the hall by B & R and some other bands including the Virtuoso Band of Great Britain, which was a combination of players drawn from all the top bands in the country.
In the late 1980's problems began to occur with the building and its management. The handful of people who looked after the hall for the band were not getting any younger. Some lived locally but others lived out of town and were not often readily available at short notice. Most regrettably, vandalism was on the increase. It was therefore decided by the band committee and to sell the property and look for suitable smaller accommodation elsewhere in the town. As the hall shut down B.L.O.S. transfered production of the shows to the Civic Hall in the town centre.
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