This was the contest site during the 1940s/50s and may have been the location of the early contests
The first series of Mid-Cornwall Bandsmen’s Festivals, better known as Stenalees Contest, began in 1922 and ended with the ninth contest, in 1930. Why it ceased is unknown, especially as it was attracting a healthy number of competitors and a good following of spectators. Perhaps a reason will be forthcoming.
It was resurrected in 1947 but in a different form: it became a competition for second, third and fourth section bands, perhaps recognising that the contest calendar for championship section bands had become rather congested. The 18th festival, in 1956, turned out to be the last and we have no answer as to why.
1922
The first Stenalees Band Festival was held on the 22nd July 1922 and in this, and in future years, it was organised by Stenalees Band. Tom Eastwood was the adjudicator. The search for a report of the event continues but we do know that Greensplat Band competed under J Bassett in the march section and was unplaced. Liberty Bell was one of the test pieces.
According to the Cornish Guardian newspaper, the contest was held in a field behind the Stenalees County Primary . Fourteen bands competed and it seems that although the audience was not large, the caterers ran out of food.
1923
The second Stenalees Band Festival was held at the School Ground on the 14th July 1923 and Mr W A Adamson was the adjudicator.
The Western Morning News reported that the event drew a large number of spectators and that Captain Denis Shipwright M.P., the President, “had presented a cup for the Cornwall County Championship”.
There is a report of the event in the Western Morning News of the 17 July 1923.
There does not seem to have been an open section or, perhaps, there were no entries.
The second section test piece was Mirella, arranged by Godfrey and the results were:
| Placed | Conductor | ||
| 1 | Indian Queens | Charles Baker | |
| 2 | Newquay | George Cave | |
| 3 | St Blazey & District | E F Woodhead | |
| 4 | Truro | Tom Hubbard | |
The second section hymn was Aberystwyth and the results were:
| Placed | ||
| 1 | Indian Queens | |
| 2 | St Blazey & District | |
The third section test piece was In Sunny Lands and the results were:
| Placed | Conductor | ||
| 1 | St Blazey & District | E F Woodhead | |
| 2 | Penwithick | G Cave | |
| 3 | Truro | Tom Hubbard | |
| Greensplat Band | G Attwood | ||
| Newlyn East | |||
The third section march was Semper Fideles and the results were:
| Placed | ||
| 1 | St Blazey & District | |
| 2 | Newlyn East | |
| Greensplat Band | ||
| Penwithick | ||
| Truro | ||
1924
The third contest was held at the School Ground on the 12th July 1924 and George Hawkins was the adjudicator. It included an open section so either the first two contests did not attract entries to this section or its inclusion was an innovation.
Adjudicator George Hawkins placed St Dennis in first place and, to underline his decision, he awarded all the special prizes to its players.
An addition to the trophy table was the Stenalees Band Festival Challenge Shield which the Misses Nicholls presented in memory of their parents, Mr and Mrs Nicholls of Penpol, St Austell. (Arthur Northey of Foxhole Band)
The open section test piece was Faust by Charles Gounod, arranged by George Hawkins and the results were:
| Placed | Conductor | ||
| 1 | St Dennis Silver | R W Davison | |
| 2 | St Austell Town | E F Woodhead | |
Special awards were made to William Juleff (cornet), J Warden (flugel) Stanley Blight (trombone) and Llewellyn Halls (euphonium), all of St Dennis.
St Dennis placed 1st for the hymn tune.
The second section test piece was Rigoletto by Giuseppe Verdi and the results were:
| Placed | Conductor | ||
| 1 | Indian Queens | Charles H Baker | |
| 2 | St Ives Town | J E Fidler | |
| 3 | Newquay Town | George Cave | |
| 4 | Falmouth Town | T Beresford | |
Special awards were made to C Sharp (cornet, Indian Queens), C Dawe (horn, Falmouth), Percy Knight (trombone, Indian Queens) and R J Thomas (euphonium, Newquay).
The second Second section choice of hymn tune is unknown and the results were:
| Placed | ||
| 1 | St Ives Town | |
The third section test piece was The Mikado by Arthur Sullivan and the results were:
| Placed | Conductor | ||
| 1 | St Newlyn East | George Cave | |
| 2 | St Blazey and District | E F Woodhead | |
| 3 | Penwithick Silver | R W Davison | |
| Greensplat | W Adamson | ||
| St Columb Town | J W English | ||
| St Minver | J H Hinchcliffe | ||
Special awards were made to William Bailey (cornet, St Blazey), T Wills (horn, St Minver) and H Bennetts (euphonium, Penwithick).
The third section hymn was Stella and the results were:
| Placed | Points | |
| 1 | Unknown | |
| 2 | Greensplat Band | |
1925
The fourth contest was held at the School Ground on the 11th July 1925 and Charles Ward of Newbury-on-Tyne was the adjudicator.
Over 3,000 people attended the 1925 contest when St Dennis Band again led the field of six bands in the open section.
The test piece was Les Huguenots by Meyerbeer and Torquay Town Band had made the long trek to take part and conductors of the various bands included Tom Hubbard, George Cave, W Adamson and Edwin J Williams.
There is a report of the festival in the Cornishman of the 15th July 1925 and the Cornubian and Redruth Times of the 16th July 1925.
Open Section
Test piece: Les Huguenots by Meyerbeer, arranged by Wm Rimmer
| Placed | Conductor | ||
| 1 | St Dennis Silver | Edwin Calverley | |
| 2 | Truro Town | Tom Hubbard | |
| 3 | Newquay Town | George Cave | |
| Bugle Silver | W Adamson | ||
| 4 | St Ives Silver | Edwin J Williams | |
| Torquay Town | C Perring | ||
Test piece:Twentieth Century march
| Placed | ||
| 1 | St Dennis Silver | |
| 2 | Truro Town | |
| 3 | St Ives Silver |
Special awards were made to Orlando Kent (soprano), William H Juleff (cornet), Percy Knight (trombone) and J Thomas (euphonium), all of St Dennis.
Second Section
Thest piece: Orpheus by Jacques Offenbach
| Placed | Conductor | ||
| 1 | Bugle Silver | W Adamson | |
| 2 | Newquay Town | George Cave | |
| 3 | Truro Town | Tom Hubbard | |
| 4 | St Ives Silver | Edwin J Williams | |
| St Blazey and District | E F Woodhouse | ||
| Torquay Town | C Perring | ||
Test piece: Holly hymn tune
| Placed | Points | |
| 1 | Newquay | |
| 2 | St Ives Silver | |
Special awards were made to J Lennon (cornet, Newquay), T Swift (flugel, Bugle), A Merrifield (horn, Bugle), J H Robins (trombone, Truro) and W Richards (euphonium, Bugle)
Third section
Test piece: Lurline by William Vincent Wallace
| Placed | Conductor | Points | |
| 1 | Greensplat | W Adamson | |
| 2 | Hayle Town | John Tanner | |
| 3 | St Newlyn East | W J Parker | |
| St Minver Silver | J M Hinchcliffe | ||
| St Blazey and District | E F Woodhead | ||
Special awards were made to Len Manhire, (cornet), Morley Robins, (trombone) and Gordon Bennetts, (euphonium), all of Greensplat Band.
Test piece: Salute the Brave march
| Placed | ||
| 1 | Greensplat | |
| 2 | St Blazey & District | |
The best soloist of the festival was William H Juleff (cornet (St Dennis).
1926
The fifth contest was held at the School Ground on the 10th July 1926 and Charles A Anderson was the adjudicator.
The surprise of the day was that Adjudicator placed Bugle Silver in first place with St Dennis second.
There is a report in the Cornishman of the 4th July 1926,
The lack of a public address system at this time was a particular problem at band contests where results were of the essence. With such large crowds, those at the back would get the announcements only second or third hand. As a consequence, there was inevitably a desire to get close to the platform for the closing ceremonies and, despite the best efforts of the stewards, a crush around the stage invariably arose. Often the last bands were disadvantaged as a not-too-silent crowd began to gather, and at the close there was a general stampede. Indeed, at Bugle contest, matters came to a head when the adjudicator commented that the interference of the crowd prevented the playing of the final band reaching him with sufficient clarity. (2000 Bugle Contest programme)
The open section test piece was L’Arlesienne by Georges Bizet and the results were:
| Placed | Conductor | ||
| 1 | Bugle Silver | W Adamson | |
| 2 | St Dennis Silver | Charles H Baker | |
| 3 | St Austell Town | E F Woodhead | |
| 4 | Truro Town | Tom Hubbard | |
Special awards were made to T Swift (cornet), A Merrifield (horn), A Camps (baritone) and W Richards (euphonium) all of Bugle Band.
The open section march was Red Gauntlet and the results were:
| Placed | Points | |
| 1 | St Dennis | |
| 2 | St Austell | |
The second section test piece (for big bands) was Carmen No. 2 by Georges Bizet and the results were:
| Placed | Conductor | Points | |
| 1 | Bugle Silver | W Adamson | |
| 2 | Penzance Independent | George Cave | |
| 3 | Hayle Town | John Tanner | |
| Truro Town | Tom Hubbard | ||
| Falmouth Town | Thomas Chainey | ||
| Indian Queens | Charles H Baker | ||
Special awards were made to T Swift (cornet, Bugle), Stanley Coombes (soprano, Hayle), Stanley Blight (trombone, Bugle) and Cyril Williams (euphonium, Hayle).
Second section hymn: Sovereignty
| Placed | Points | |
| 1 | Bugle Silver | |
| 2 | Truro Town | |
The third section test piece was Melodious Gems, arranged by Rimmer and the results were:
| Placed | Conductor | Points | |
| 1 | Greensplat | Charles H Baker | |
| 2 | St Newlyn East | W Parker | |
| 3 | Penzance Independent | George Cave | |
| Camelford Town | John Males | ||
| Falmouth Town | Thomas Chainey | ||
| Hayle Town | John Tanner | ||
| Penwithick | W Adamson | ||
Third section march: The Flying Squadron
| Placed | Points | |
| 1 | Greensplat | |
| 2 | Penwithick | |
| St Newlyn East | ||
| Penzance Independent | ||
| Hayle Town | ||
| Camelford Town | ||
| Falmouth Town | ||
Special awards were made to H Bennetts (cornet, Penwithick), trombone section: (Penzance) and L Minear (euphonium, Greensplat).
1927
The sixth contest was held at the School Ground on the 9th July 1927 and George Mercer was the adjudicator.
Normal service was resumed in this year with with St Dennis in first place.
The open section test piece was Carmen by Georges Bizet and the results were:
| Placed | Conductor | Points | |
| 1 | St Dennis | Charles H Baker | |
| 2 | Penzance | George Cave | |
Special awards: cornet: A Bray, soprano: Orlando Kent, trombone: Percy Knight, and euphonium: Gordon Bennetts, all of St Dennis Band.
St Dennis placed 1st for the march.
The second section test piece was Operatic Beauties and the results were:
| Placed | Conductor | ||
| 1 | Indian Queens | Ford Knight | |
| 2 | Bugle Silver | W Adamson | |
| 3 | Hayle Town | John Tanner | |
| 4 | Penzance | George Cave | |
| 4 | Newquay Town | William Juleff | |
The second section hymn was Edwinstone and the results were:
| Placed | ||
| 1 | Indian Queens | |
| 2 | Hayle | |
| 3 | Bugle | |
| Newquay Town | ||
Special awards: cornet: C Sharp, Indian Queens, soprano: S Coombe, Hayle, trombone: Melville Brewer, Indian Queens and euphonium: W Prowse, Penzance.
The third section test piece was Poetic Fancies by Michael Laurent and the results were:
| Placed | Conductor | Points | |
| 1 | St Blazey | George Bailey | |
| 2 | St Newlyn East | A W Parker | |
| 3 | St Minver | E F Woodhead | |
| 4 | Penwithick | W Adamson | |
| Camelford | John Males | ||
| Greensplat | Charles H Baker | ||
| Hayle | |||
| St Breward | |||
Special awards: cornet: H Bennetts, Penwithick, trombone: M Robins, Penwithick and euphonium: H Kent. St Newlyn East.
The fourth section test piece was Steady On by J A Greenwood and the results were:
| Placed | Conductor | ||
| 1 | St Breward | Charles H Baker | |
| 2 | St Issey | J H Wills | |
| 3 | St Pinnock | F J Salt | |
| 4 | Treviscoe | W H Grigg | |
| 5 | Camelford | John Males | |
1928
The seventh contest was held at the School Ground on the 14th July 1928 and George Nicholls from Derbyshire was the adjudicator.
Once again, there was a healthy number of entrants for this contest which had become a fixture on the Cornish contest programme. The Cornishman reported that 18 bands attended, the weather was “gloriously fine” and there was a record attendance.
Liskeard Band headed the fourth section and collected the Stenalees Band Festival Challenge Cup (1927) which had been presented to the memory of the late Captain Joseph Richards, the first Bandmaster of Stenalees Band.
St Dennis ruled supreme at this contest and the band’s performance of Semiramide earned it 92 points, 13 points ahead of second place St Austell.
There is a report in the Cornishman of the 19th July 1928 – Cornishman
The first section test piece was Semiramide, arranged by Godfrey and the results were:
| Placed | Conductor | Points | |
| 1 | St Dennis | Charles H Baker | 92 |
| 2 | St Austell | E F Woodhead | 79 |
| 3 | Penzance | J Probert | 74 |
Special awards: cornet: W Hancock, St Dennis, flugel: J Varcoe, St Dennis, euphonium: Gordon Bennetts, St Dennis and trombone: Percy Knight, St Dennis.
The first section march was Elephant and the results were:
| Placed | ||
| 1 | St Dennis | |
| =2 | St Austell | |
| =2 | Penzance | |
The second section test piece was Mirella by Charles Gounod and the results were:
| Placed | Conductor | Points | |
| 1 | Indian Queens | Ford Knight | 82 |
| 2 | St Blazey | George Bailey | 70 |
| 3 | Truro | W E Cuttance | 68 |
Special award: Basses (Indian Queens)
The second section hymn was Nearer my God to Thee and the results were:
| Placed | Points | |
| 1 | St Blazey | |
| 2 | Indian Queens | 80 |
| 3 | Truro City | 74 |
The third section test piece was Recollections of Verdi by Giuseppe Verdi, arranged by William Rimmer and the results were:
| Placed | Conductor | Points | |
| 1 | Greensplat | Charles H Baker | 88 |
| 2 | St Newlyn East | A W Parker | 87 |
| 3 | St Minver | J F Wills | 86 |
| Liskeard | F Priest | ||
| St Pinnock | Marsh Kessell | ||
| 6 | St Breward | Charles H Baker | |
| 7 | Delabole | R Worden | |
Special awards: cornet: Len Manhire, Greensplat, trombone: J Manhire, Greensplat and euphonium: H Kent, St Newlyn East.
The fourth section test march was Ivanhoe and the results were:
| Placed | Conductor | Points | |
| 1 | Liskeard | F Priest | 91 |
| 2 | St Pinnock | Marsh Kessell | 89 |
| 3 | Camelford | F Rogers | 86 |
| Delabole | R Worden | ||
| St Breward | Charles H Baker | ||
| St Columb | H E Wills | ||
| St Dennis Junior | Charles H Baker | ||
| St Issey | J M Wills | ||
| Summercourt | Willam Juleff | ||
Special awards: cornet: Mr Colmer, Liskeard.
1929
The eighth contest was held at the School Ground on the 13th July 1929 and George Hawkins was the adjudicator.
This contest brought Camborne Town Band into the picture but it could not prevent St Dennis taking first place in both the test piece and the march. George Hawkins must have been impressed with the sound of the Penwithick players as he placed them first in the second section.
There is a report of this contest in the Cornishman of the 18th July 1929.
The open section test piece was Labour and Love by Percy Fletcher.
| Placed | Conductor | ||
| 1 | St Dennis Silver | Charles H Baker | |
| 2 | Camborne Town | A W Parker | |
| 3 | Penzance Independent | J Probert | |
| 4 | Indian Queens | Ford Knight | |
Special awards: soprano: Telfer Rule, Camborne, cornet: S Rowe, Camborne, horn: W B Tamblyn, Indian Queens, trombone: Percy Knight, St Dennis and euphonium: Gordon Bennetts, St Dennis.
The open section march was Hungarian by Berlioz and the results were:
| Placed | ||
| 1 | St Dennis Silver | |
| 2 | Camborne Town | |
The second section test piece was Hanover by D Wright and the results were:
| Placed | Conductor | ||
| 1 | Penwithick | ||
| 2 | Truro | ||
| 3 | St Blazey | ||
The second section march was Joy of Life and the results were:
| Placed | ||
| 1 | Truro | |
| 2 | St Blazey | |
The third section test piece was Accrington by Donald Munro and the results were:
| Placed | Conductor | ||
| 1 | St Newlyn East | A W Parker | |
| 2 | St Pinnock | ||
| 3 | Redruth | ||
The second section hymn is unknown and the results were:
| Placed | Points | |
| 1 | St Newlyn East | |
The fourth section test piece was Right Away and the results were:
| Placed | Conductor | ||
| 1 | St Pinnock | ||
| 2 | Camelford | ||
| 3 | Marazion | ||
| 4 | Camborne Juniors | Jack Eustace | |
| 5 | Liskeard | ||
| 6 | St Issey | ||
The best soloist at the festival was Gordon Bennetts of St Dennis.
1930
The ninth contest was held at the School Ground on the 12th July 1930 and Hubert Heyes of Carnarvons was the adjudicator. It was the last discovered contest of the first series of contests.
There is a report of the contest in the Cornishman of the 17th July 1930.
The open section test piece was Songs of England by Bath and the results were:
| Placed | Conductor | ||
| 1 | St Dennis | Charles H Baker | |
| 2 | Indian Queens | Ford Knight | |
| 3 | Penzance Independent | J Probert | |
| 4 | Truro | George W Cave | |
| unknown | |||
| unknown | |||
| unknown | |||
The class B march was Valorousand the results were:
| Placed | Points | |
| 1 | St Dennis | |
| 2 | Penzance Silver | |
The class C test piece was Recollections of Schubert by Franz Schubert, arranged by Rimmer and the results were:
| Placed | Conductor | ||
| 1 | Penzance Independent | J Probert | |
| 2 | Greensplat | Charles H Baker | |
| 3 | Truro | George Cave | |
| 4 | Delabole | W B Williams | |
The class D hymn was Hursley by W Adamson and the results were:
| Placed | Conductor | ||
| 1 | Penzance Independent | J Probert | |
| 2 | Greensplat Band | Charles H Baker | |
The junior section march was Torchlight and the results were:
| Placed | Conductor | ||
| 1 | St Pinnock | M Kessell | |
| 2 | Camelford | F Rogers | |
| 3 | Delabole | W B Williams | |
| 4 | Camborne Juniors | Jack Eustace | |
The award for the best cornet player of the day was won by Mr. A. Bray and that for euphonium was won Mr G Bennetts – both of St Dennis.
1947
Mid-Cornwall Bandsmen’s Festival
The tenth contest was held at the School Ground on the 12th July 1947 and Fred Mortimer was the adjudicator.
This is the first discovered contest of the post-war period but if one was held in 1946, we would be delighted to hear about it.
From now on it was a contest for second, third and fourth section bands.
The second section test piece is unknown:
| Placed | Conductor | ||
| 1 | Indian Queens | Ford Knight | |
| 2 | St Newlyn East | ||
| 3 | Foxhole | ||
The second section hymn tune is unknown.
| Placed | ||
| 1 | St Newlyn East | |
| 2 | Foxhole | |
The third section test piece is unknown.
| Placed | Conductor | ||
| 1 | Bugle | ||
| 2 | Delabole | ||
| 3 | St Issey | ||
The third section march is unknown.
| Placed | ||
| 1 | Delabole | |
| 2 | Bugle | |
The fourth section test piece is unknown.
| Placed | Conductor | Points | |
| 1 | Carharrack & St Day | ||
| 2 | Lostwithiel Borough | ||
| 3 | Greensplat Junior | ||
The fourth section march is unknown.
| Placed | ||
| 1 | Carharrack & St Day | |
| 2 | Lostwithiel Borough | |
| 3 | Greensplat Junior | |
1948
Mid-Cornwall Bandsmen’s Festival
The 1948 contest is also termed the tenth contest so something has gone awry with the numbering. It was held at the School Ground on the 10th July 1948 and Alfred Ashpole was the adjudicator.
Year uncertain but if 1948 then it is probably George Cave in dark suit
The second section test piece was Recollections of Donizetti.
| Placed | Conductor | ||
| 1 | St Newlyn East | George Cave | |
| 2 | Indian Queens | Ford Knight | |
| 3 | Bugle Silver | W G Bennetts | |
| 4 | |||
The second section Hymn Tune is unknown.
| Placed | ||
| 1 | Bugle | |
| 2 | St Newlyn East | |
The third section test piece was Knights of Old by J A Greenwood.
| Placed | Conductor | ||
| 1 | Mount Charles | Albert Grant | |
| 2 | St Pinnock Silver | F S Edmonds | |
| 3 | Carharrack & St Day | J C Allen | |
The third section March was Kenilworth.
| Placed | ||
| 1 | Carharrack & St Day | |
| 2 | St Pinnock Silver | |
The fourth section march was Brave and Free.
| Placed | Conductor | ||
| 1 | St Gennys Silver | ||
| 2 | Launceston Municipal | ||
| 3 | Constantine Silver | ||
| Lostwithiel Silver | |||
The fourth section hymn tune is unknown.
| Placed | ||
| 1 | Lostwithiel Silver | |
| 2 | Launceston Municipal | |
1949
The 1949 contest programme clearly states that this is the eleventh contest so numbering will continue from this. It was held at the School Ground on the 20th August 1949 and Harold Hind was the adjudicator.
There is a report of this contest in the Cornishman of the 25th August 1949.
Year unknown (Photo: courtesy Helen Hancock Fb)
(Photo: Bygone Days of Treverbyn Parish by Una Poad courtesy Tom Seward)
The Committee of Stenalees Band Festival and Music Festival – late 1940s (Photo: Bygone Days of Treverbyn Parish by Una Poad courtesy Tom Seward)
Back row: Howard Tabb, Frank Retallick, Will Martyn, Les Youatt, Joe Gilbert, Harold Pascoe, Will Stephens, Edwin Brokenshire, Charlie Gilbert
Fourth row: Albert Hocking, Geoff Wedlake, Jack Minear, Will Brokenshire, Herbert Truscott, Arnold Merrifield, Ernie Stephens, Reg Stephens, Henry Gatheridge, Darby Row, Edwin Truscott, Cyril Kendall, Wallace Thomas
Third row: Mike Tippett, Jack Algar, Tommy Julian, Georgie Gilbert, Roy Gilbert, Ralph Gilbert, Len Manhire, Trevor Stephens, Ivor Gilbert, Len Stephens, Harold Job, Will Minear
Second row: Will Common, Tom Hocking, Revd Artless, Mrs Artless, Stuart Dingle, Wilfred Richards, W O Meade-King, George Bate, Guy Martyn, Doreen Thomas, Lewis Goudge, John Hawkey, Jim Hancock
Front row: Barry Stephens, Brian Dingle, Barton Chapman, Reg Allen
The second section test piece was Recollections of Beethoven arranged J A Greenwood.
| Placed | Conductor | Points | |
| 1 | Bugle | George Bennetts | 88 |
| 2 | Truro City | A W Parker | 85 |
| 3 | Mount Charles | Albert S Grant | 83 |
| 4 | St Stythians | Edgar Floyd | 81 |
| 5 | Indian Queens | Ford Knight | 77 |
| W | St Newlyn East | ||
The second section prelude was Rachmaninoff arraned by W Rimmer.
| Placed | Points | |
| 1 | Truro City | 87 |
| 2 | Bugle | 81 |
| 3 | Mount Charles | 79 |
| = 4 | Indian Queens | 77 |
| = 4 | St Stythians | 77 |
| W | St Newlyn East | |
Special awards: cornet: F E Braund, Truro City, euphonium: J Yelland, Indian Queens and trombone: J Clift, Truro City.
The third section test piece was The Mountain Chief.
| Placed | Conductor | Points | |
| 1 | Porthleven Town | Telfer Rule | 81 |
| 2 | Carharrack & St Day | J C Allen | 75 |
| 3 | Lostwithiel | W Stephens | 70 |
The third section march was Sons of the Brave arranged by Bidgood.
| Placed | Points | |
| 1 | Lostwithiel | 79 |
| 2 | Porthleven | 77 |
| 3 | Carharrack & St Day | 73 |
The fourth section march was The Old Regiment by Owen Thomas arranged by G Hawkins.
| Placed | Conductor | Points | |
| 1 | St Just Town | A G Richards | 75 |
| 2 | St Agnes Town | F E Moore | 70 |
| 3 | Gweek | 69 | |
| 4 | Launceston Municipal | 68 | |
| 5 | Helston Town | C L Hender | 67 |
| 6 | St Gennys | 65 | |
| 7 | Constantine | S E Hunt | 63 |
| W | Boscastle | ||
| W | Penwithick | ||
The fourth section hymn was Sunset arranged by A Boadhead.
| Placed | Points | |
| 1 | St Just Town ** | 79 |
| 2 | St Agnes Town | 77 |
| 3 | Launceston Municipal | 74 |
| 4 | Gweek | 71 |
| = 5 | Helston Town | 70 |
| =5 | St Gennys | 70 |
| 7 | Constantine | |
| W | Boscastle | |
| W | Penwithick | |
The results have been taken from a contest programme completed by an unknown person.
1950
The twelth contest was held at the School Ground on the 19th August 1950 and J A Greenwood was the adjudicator.
Mr J A Greenwood thought the playing was good but he felt that many bands had not yet fully recovered from the effects of the war.
The festival, which was described by officials as successful from every point of view, was favoured by good weather and attracted a record crowd of between 3,000 and 4,000.
Sixteen bands entered but one, Indian Queens, who were to have competed in the second section, had to withdraw because several members have been too busy harvesting to spare time for rehearsal.”
Two members of the St Agnes Band were seventeen and a half-year-old twin sisters, Maude and Dorothy Juleff. Maude on tenor horn and Dorothy on cornet. Charles Chegwyn, also of St Agnes Band, received a special mention: he was over 80 years of age and had just received his fifth uniform since commencing playing at St Agnes in 1908.
St Agnes Silver Band at Stenalees Contest circa 1950
St Agnes Silver Band at Stenalees Contest circa 1950
Lostwithiel Borough Band at Stenalees Contest 1950 (Photo: courtesy Lostwithiel Museum)
The second section test piece was Songs of Wales by J A Greenwood.
| Placed | Conductor | Points | |
| 1 | Truro City | A W Parker | 185 |
| 2 | Mount Charles | Tom Hubbard | 178 |
| 3 | Bugle | Gordon Bennetts | 175 |
| 4 | Porthleven Town | Telfor Rule | 172 |
| 5 | Foxhole Silver | Charles H Baker | 171 |
| W | Indian Queens | ||
The second section march was Comrades in Arms by Adolphe Adams.
| Placed | Points | |
| 1 | Truro City | 80 |
| 2 | Foxhole | 77 |
| 3 | Porthleven Town | 75 |
| 4 | Mount Charles | 72 |
| 5 | Bugle | 70 |
| W | Indian Queens | |
Special awards: cornet: F E Braund, Truro City, euphonium: G Treverton, Truro City, flugel: S Heayn, Truro City, and trombone: J Clift, Truro City.
The third section test piece was The Viking by Greenwood.
| Placed | Conductor | Points | |
| 1 | St Just Town | A G Richards | 180 |
| 2 | Lostwithiel Silver | W Stephens | 170 |
| 3 | Wadebridge Town | A H Dawes | 165 |
| 4 | Penwithick Silver | W D Lawton | 156 |
The third section march was Arvonia by Owen Thomas.
| Placed | Points | |
| 1 | St Just Town | 66 |
| 2 | Lostwithiel Silver | 60 |
| 3 | Wadebridge Town | 58 |
| 4 | Penwithick Silver | 55 |
Special awards: cornet: S Grose, St Just, euphonium: A Prowse, St Just and trombone: W Bennetts, St Just.
The fourth section march was Listen to the Band by W G Chapman.
| Placed | Conductor | Points | |
| 1 | Helston | C Leonard Hender | 60 |
| 2 | St Agnes Town | Frank E Moore | 56 |
| 3 | Gweek | Tom J Chainey | 55 |
| 4 | Launceston Municipal | Reginald T R Walter | 53 |
| 5 | St Gennys | L R Prout | 50 |
| 6 | Constantine | S E Hunt | 48 |
The fourth section hymn wa Lavinia arranged by A Broadhead.
| Placed | Points | |
| 1 | St Agnes | 43 |
| 2 | Helston | 40 |
| 3 | Gweek | 38 |
| 4 | Launceston Municipal | 35 |
| 5 | St Gennys | 34 |
| 6 | Constantine | 32 |
The best player of the day award went to J Clift of Truro City.
Report: (24 August 1950 – Cornishman)
1951
The thirteenth contest was held at the School Ground on the 11th August 1951 and Harold Hayes was the adjudicator.
We are light on results for this year but we do know that Indian Queens Silver, St Ives Town, St Austell Town and St Just Town played in the second section. In the third section the competition was between Carharrack & St Day, Gweek, Helston Town, Lostwithiel, Penwithick, St Agnes Town and Wadebridge Town.
“I can recall selling contest programmes at a number of contests and of receiving a saffron bun and a cup of tea in payment.” (Terry Retallick)
“One year, I can’t remember which, it rained so hard that the bands had to play in the catering marquee. It was so bad that the water was running under our seats.” (Terry Retallick)
The second section test piece was Sailor Songs by W Rimmer.
| Placed | Conductor | Points | |
| 1 | Unknown | ||
| 2 | Unknown | ||
| 3 | Unknown | ||
| W | Mount Charles Silver | ||
Unknown result between: Indian Queens Silver, St Ives Town, St Austell Town, St Just Town
The second section hymn was Hymn to Music.
| Placed | Points | |
| 1 | ||
| 2 | ||
| W | Mount Charles Silver | |
Unknown result between: Indian Queens Silver, St Ives Town, St Austell Town, St Just Town
The third section test piece was Country Life.
| Placed | Conductor | Points | |
| 1 | St Agnes Town | Frank Moore | |
| 2 | |||
| 3 | |||
Unknown result between: Carharrack & St Day, Gweek, Helston Town, Lostwithiel, Penwithick, Wadebridge Town
The third section hymn was Rimington.
| Placed | Points | |
| 1 | ||
| 2 | St Agnes Town | |
Unknown result between: Carharrack & St Day, Gweek, Helston Town, Lostwithiel, Penwithick, Wadebridge Town
The fourth section march was Slaidburn by W Rimmer.
| Placed | Conductor | Points | |
| 1 | Constantine Silver | 78 | |
| 2 | 1st Appledore Boys’ Brigade | 72 | |
The fourth section hymn was Deep Harmony.
| Placed | Points | |
| 1 | Constantine Silver | |
| 2 | 1st Appledore Boys’ Brigade | |
The results have been taken from a contest programme completed by an unknown person.
1952
The fourteeth contest was held at the School Ground on the 12th July 1952 and Eric Ball was the adjudicator.
St Stythians edged out St Just Silver and St Ives Town in the second section and in the third section the performance of Delabole ex-servicemen was preferred to St Agnes Town. The men of Pendeen seem to have had it all their own way in the fourth section.
This contest seemed to have had no problem in attracting top drawer adjudicators and in 1952 it was Eric Ball.
The second section test piece was Melodies of Long Ago by J A Greenwood.
| Placed | Conductor | Points | |
| 1 | St Stythians | Edgar Floyd | 91 |
| 2 | St Just Silver | A G Richards | 88 |
| 3 | St Ives Town | S Coombes | 87 |
| W | Bodmin Town | W D Lawton | |
| Indian Queens | Ford Knight | ||
| St Austell | Cecil E Brewer | ||
The second section test chorus was O Father Whose Almighty Power by Handel.
| Placed | Points | |
| 2 | St Just Silver | 83 |
| 3 | St Ives Town | 82 |
| 1 | St Stythians | 84 |
| W | Bodmin Town | |
| Indian Queens | ||
| St Austell | ||
The third section test piece was Wayside Scenes by J A Greenwood.
| Placed | Conductor | Points | |
| 1 | Delabole ex-servicemen | L R Prout | 82 |
| 2 | St Agnes | Frank Moore | 80 |
| 3 | Lostwithiel | W Stephens | 78 |
| Gweek | Thomas Chainey | ||
| Penwithick | E Richards | ||
| St Issey | W Hill | ||
The third section hymn was Crimmond.
| Placed | Points | |
| 1 | Penwithick | 81 |
| 3 | St Issey | 79 |
| 4 | Gweek | 77 |
| Delabole ex-servicemen | ||
| Lostwithiel | ||
| St Agnes | ||
The fourth section march was Bridgewater by W Rutter.
| Placed | Conductor | Points | |
| 1 | Pendeen | A G Richards | 74 |
| 2 | Launceston Municipal | Reginald T K Walter | 72 |
| 3 | St Keverne | E France | 71 |
The fourth section hymn was Abide With Me/Eventide by Joshua Duckworth.
| Placed | Points | |
| 1 | Pendeen | 71 |
| 2 | Launceston Municipal | 70 |
| 3 | St Keverne | 68 |
1953
The fifthteenth contest was held at the School Ground on the 11th July 1953 and Rex Mortimer was the adjudicator.
W O Meade-King was the contest president and F Ede was the chairman.
The adjudicator for the 15th festival was from the famous Mortimer family but it was not as originally planned as explained in the contest programme. “We regret to record the passing of Mr Fred Mortimer, the well-known bandmaster who would have been adjudicating here today. We extend our deep sympathy to his son, Mr Rex Mortimer, who is judging here today.”
This was Bodmin Town’s year as it swept the board with its playing of the two test pieces in the second section. Pendeen headed St Agnes in the third section test piece, Golden Dawn, where Lostwithiel Band’s playing of the other test piece, Gounod’s Judex, was so impressive that it won by a ten-point margin.
The second section test piece was Scottish Melodies by J A Greenwood.
| Placed | Conductor | Points | |
| 1 | Bodmin Town | W D Lawton | 184 |
| 2 | Indian Queens | Ford L Knight | 180 |
| 3 | St Ives | S Coombes | 179 |
The second section chorus was Worthy is the Lamb by Handel.
| Placed | Points | |
| 1 | Bodmin | 186 |
| 2 | St Ives | 180 |
| 3 | Indian Queens | 179 |
The Third section test piece was Golden Dawn by J A Greenwood.
| Placed | Conductor | Points | |
| 1 | Pendeen | A G Richards | 184 |
| 2 | St Agnes | Frank Moore | 178 |
| 3 | Penwithick Silver | R Lean | 177 |
| 4 | Lostwithiel | W Stephens | 176 |
The third section chorus was Judex by Gounod.
| Placed | Points | |
| 1 | Lostwithiel Silver | 180 |
| 2 | Pendeen Silver | 170 |
| 3 | Penwithick Silver | 169 |
| St Agnes Town | ||
Special awards: Cornet: Bodmin, trombone: St Ives.
The fourth section march was Arethusa.
| Placed | Conductor | ||
| 1 | Perranporth | Jack Eustace | |
| W? | St Keverne | E France | |
The fourth section hymn was Deep Harmony by Joshua Duckworth.
| Placed | ||
| 1 | Perranporth | |
| W? | St Keverne | |
1954
The sixteenth contest was held at the School Ground on the 10th July 1954 and W A Scholes was the adjudicator.
W O Meade-King was the contest president and F Ede was the chairman.
St Agnes Town Band played in the third section but adjudicator W A Scholes considered its performance of the march, The Chieftain, to be one of the cleanest and smartest performances of the afternoon. Apart from its emphatic wins for both the test piece and the march, it also won the trophy for the outstanding performance of the festival.
Mr G Martyn, who has been one of the prime movers behind the contest for the past nine years, said the committee were very pleased with the number of entries for this year’s festival.
St Agnes Band supporters displaying the band’s silverware
The second section test piece was Moments with Wagner by J A Greenwood.
| Placed | Conductor | Points | |
| 1 | Indian Queens | Ford Knight | 94 |
| 2 | St Austell Town | Cecil E Brewer | 90 |
| 3 | Bodmin Town | W D Lawton | 88 |
| 4 | Mount Charles | T A Cooper | 86 |
| 5 | Penzance | J R Grand | 80 |
The second section chorus was Lift up Your Heads by Handel.
| Placed | Points | |
| 1 | Indian Queens | 84 |
| 2 | Penzance | 74 |
| 3 | Bodmin Town | 72 |
| Mount Charles | ||
| St Austell Town | ||
Special awards: cornet: J Uren, Mount Charles, euphonium: J C Richards, Bodmin and soprano: R J Hooper, St Austell.
The third section test piece was The Chieftain by J A Greenwood.
| Placed | Conductor | Points | |
| 1 | St Agnes | Frank Moore | 88 |
| 2 | Delabole ex-servicemen | L Prout | 78 |
| 3 | Lostwithiel | W Stephens | 74 |
| St Newlyn East | N Halls | 70 | |
| W | Perranporth | Jack Eustace | |
Special awards: cornet: F Angove, Delabole ex-servicemen, euphonium: David Boundy, St Agnes and trombone: N George, St Newlyn East.
The third section march was El Dorado by J A Greenwood.
| Placed | Points | |
| 1 | St Agnes | 76 |
| 2 | Delabole ex-servicemen | 74 |
| 3 | Lostwithiel | 72 |
| 4 | St Newlyn East | 70 |
| W | Perranporth | |
The trophy for the outstanding performance of the festival was awarded to St Agnes for the march.
Fourth section test piece: The Spirit of Youth (J A Greenwood)
| Placed | Conductor | Points | |
| 1 | St Breward | J B Johnson | 80 |
| 2 | Porthleven Town | E H Bawden | 75 |
| 3 | St Issey | W Hill | 71 |
Fourth section test hymn: Lavinia
| Placed | Points | |
| 1 | Porthleven | 46 / 50 |
| 2 | St Issey (Deep Harmony) | 43 |
| 3 | St Breward | 41 |
The soloist of the day was Roy Marsh of St Agnes.
1955
The seventeenth contest was held at the School Ground on the 9th July 1955 and Walter B Hargreaves was the adjudicator.
W O Meade-King was the contest president and F Ede was the chairman.
Following its success, St Agnes Town Band moved up a section in 1955 and were rewarded with a second and third place out of the five competing bands. St Austell won the test piece and Mount Charles the chorus. The ECLP Trophy presented to the band obtaining the highest aggregate points for the two pieces went to St Austell Town.
The second section test piece was Rigoletto by Giuseppe Verdi.
| Placed | Conductor | Points | |
| 1 | St Austell Town | Cecil E Brewer | 180 |
| 2 | Indian Queens | Ford Knight | 176 |
| 3 | St Agnes Town | Frank Moore | 174 |
| 4 | Mount Charles | T A Cooper | 172 |
| 5 | Lostwithiel | Alfred Chapman | 170 |
The second section chorus was Hallelujah Chorus by Handel.
| Placed | Points | |
| 1 | Mount Charles | 78 |
| 2 | St Agnes Town | 76 |
| 3 | Indian Queens | 75 |
| 4 | St Austell Town | 72 |
| 5 | Lostwithiel | 70 |
The third section test piece was Moments with Wagner arranged by J A Greenwood.
| Placed | Conductor | Points | |
| 1 | Gweek Silver | Thomas Chainey | 78 |
The third section march was Salute the Brave by C Ward.
| Placed | ||
| 1 | Gweek | |
The fourth section test piece was The Joy of Youth by J A Greenwood.
| Placed | Conductor | Points | |
| 1 | Pendeen Silver | J R Grand | 173 |
| 2 | St Breward Silver | Alfred Chapman | 170 |
| 3 | Bodmin Town Junior | W D Lawton | 166 |
| Bugle | P Trevenna | ||
| Perranporth Town | Jack Eustace | ||
The fourth section hymn was Deep Harmony by Joshua Duckworth.
| Placed | Points | |
| 1 | Pendeen Silver | 43 |
| 2 | Bodmin Town Junior | 42 |
| 3 | St Breward Silver | 39 |
| Bugle | ||
| Perranporth Town | ||
1956
The eighteenth contest was held at the School Ground on the 14th July 1956 and Harold Mosswas the adjudicator.
W O Meade-King was the contest president and F Ede was the chairman.
The performances of St Agnes Town Band had been improving year on year and this, the final year of the contest, was when it achieved its best result: it was place first for the second section test piece, Moments with Mozart. Indian Queens reversed the result in the chorus and the two bands shared the ECLP Trophy for the highest aggregate points for selection and chorus.
(Photo: Bygone Days of Treverbyn Parish by Una Poad courtesy Tom Seward)
The second section test piece was Moment with Mozart by J A Greenwood.
| Placed | Conductor | Points | |
| 1 | St Agnes Town | Frank E Moore | 186 |
| 2 | Indian Queens | Ford L Knight | 184 |
| 3 | St Stythians Silver | Edgar Floyd | 180 |
| 4 | Mount Charles | T A Cooper | 172 |
| St Austell | Cecil E Brewer | 170 | |
Second section test Chorus: Worthy is the Lamb (Handel)
| Placed | Points | |
| 1 | Indian Queens | 186 |
| 2 | St Agnes | 184 |
| 3 | Mount Charles | 180 |
| 4 | St Austell | 176 |
| 5 | St Stythians | 175 |
The World-wide brass band contest archive states that St Stythians was in 4th place.
The ECLP Trophy presented to the band obtaining the highest aggregate points for selection and chorus was shared by St Agnes Town and Indian Queens.
Specials awards: euphonium: David Boundy, St Agnes, soprano: Ken White, St Agnes and trombone: David Bazeley, Indian Queens.
Frank Moore of St Agnes Town receiving the shield from contest president, W O Meade-King
The third section test piece was A Summer Day by J A Greenwood.
| Placed | Conductor | Points | |
| 1 | Delabole ex-servicemen | L R Prout | 184 |
| 2 | Lostwithiel Silver | Alfred Chapman | 180 |
| 3 | St Pinnock Silver | A J Newton | 176 |
| 4 | Wadebridge Silver | A V Creasey | 170 |
Special awards: cornet: Delabole ex-servicemen, trombone: Delabole ex-servicemen, and euphonium: Lostwithiel.
The third section march was Honour and Glory.
| Placed | Points | |
| 1 | Delabole ex-servicemen | 86 |
| 2 | Lostwithiel Silver | 80 |
| 3 | St Pinnock Silver | 76 |
| 4 | Wadebridge Silver | 70 |
The fourth section march was Marching Home by W Halsey.
| Placed | Conductor | Points | |
| 1 | St Breward | Alfred Chapman | 82 |
| 2 | Bodmin B | W Lawton | 80 |
| W | Boscastle | C Berryman | |
The fourth section hymn was Abide With Me by Joshua Duckworth.
| Placed | Points | |
| 1 | Bodmin B | 85 |
| 2 | St Breward | 80 |
| W | Boscastle | |
Some years after Stenalees Contest ceased to be held Phillip Hunt made a list of the silverware which had been used: it is now held at Wheal Martyn Clay Country Museum.
Contest trophies (Photo: courtesy Phillip Hunt)
List of Trophies held at Wheal Martyn Museum. (courtesy Phillip Hunt)
Cups.
- Stenalees Band Festival Challenge Cup (1922). Presented by Viscount Clifden in memory of the late Captain Thomas Agar Robartes.
- Stenalees Band Festival Challenge Cup (1927). Presented to the memory of the late Captain Joseph Richards, the first Bandmaster of Stenalees Band. Won by Liskeard in 1928 then only by St Just Silver in 1949.
- Stenalees Bandsmen’s Festival (1924). Presented by H D Pochin &Co Ltd.
- Stenalees Bandsman’s Festival (1927). Presented by Sir James Nelson Bart. Won in 1927 & 1928 then from 1949 to 1956.
- The Hawkes Challenge Cup. Won in 1950 & 1955 only.
- Stenalees Band Festival Challenge Cup (1923). Presented by the President of the Band- John Lovering JP.
- Stenalees Band Festival Challenge Cup (1922). Presented by John Stephens Esq. Sydenham, St Austell. Won in 1922 to 1929 then in 1947.
- Stenalees Band Contest (1923). Challenge Cup for Second Section Bands. Presented by the President Captain Denis Shipwright MP. Won in 1926 & 1948 only.
- Stenalees Band Festival Challenge Cup (1922). Presented by The Stenalees Old Boys. Won from 1922 to 1930 then 1948 to 1956.
Shields.
- Stenalees Silver Prize Band Challenge Shield for Annual Competition (1923). Presented by D George Collins. Won 1923 to 1930 then 1948 to 1956.
- Stenalees Band Festival Challenge Shield. The Nicholls Shield. Presented by The Misses Nicholls in memory of their Parents Mr & Mrs T Nicholls late of Penpoll
St Austell. Won 1924 to 1928 then 1951.
- The Hawkes Challenge Shield. Presented to The Mid Cornwall Bandsman’s Festival Stenalees July 10th 1926. Won 1926 to 1929 then 1947.
- Stenalees Band Festival Challenge Shield (1924). Presented by Mrs Lang & Family in commemoration of the Public Interest and Work of the late Mr C J L Long JP, FRS. Won 1924 to 1926 then 1952 & 1953.
Bands listed as winning on the above Trophies who no longer exist:
Penwithick Silver, St Just Town, St Blazey & District, Delabole Ex Servicemen’s Silver, Perranporth Town, St Issey, Marazion Town.
Compiled by Tony Mansell (Bardh Kernow)
