Contesting
The first St Dennis Brass Band Contest for which information has been found was in 1908 when it was said that it was held “in a field within the village”.
1908
The West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser stated, “St Dennis Brass Band: Grand Brass Band Contest will be held at St Dennis on Saturday September 12th, 1908, for bands in the Mid-Cornwall Parliamentary Division. Procession 1 p.m. The contest will commence at 2 p.m. First Prize, £8; Second prize, £6; Third prize, £4.”
It was held on the 12th September 1908 and organised by St Dennis Band but no details of the adjudicator, the competitors or the results have been found.
Foxhole Band at St Dennis Contest – Year unknown (Photo: courtesy CCHS)
1909
This poor photograph is from 1909 and shows Bugle Band on the stage at St Dennis Contest
Once again, we have no further information relating to this contest.
1910 to 1912
It is quite likely that the contest was held in these years but nothing has been found.
1913
St Dennis Temperance Brass Band Contest
16th August 1913
Adjudicator not stated on programme
Second Section Selection Contest
Test piece: The Village Bride
1st St Ives under E J Williams
2nd Lelant under J Tanner
3rd Bugle under S Minear
4th Indian Queens under C Tamblyn
Foxhole under J Morcom
Stenalees under J Libby
St Agnes under H Robins
Specials:
Cornet: St Ives
Horn: St Ives
Third Section Selection Contest
Test piece: Norma by Bellini
1st: Wadebridge under W J Lobb
2nd: St Columb under W H Webber or W Uren
3rd: Newlyn East under J Nankervis junior
4th Fourlanes under W Floyd
Cardinham under S Carne
Porkellis under E C Wills
Treviscoe under W Hambly
March Contest
Own Choice
1st St Ives
2nd St Agnes
Bugle
Cardinham
Foxhole
Fourlanes
Indian Queens
Lelant
Newlyn East
Porkellis
Stenalees
St Breward
St Columb
Treviscoe
Wadebridge
The Cornish Telegraph of the 28 August 1913 reported “St Ives Town Band won two first prizes the band contest at St Dennis last Saturday. On their arrival at St Ives they were met by large crowd”.
1914
Was there a contest in this year or were the storm clouds of war sufficient to cause it to be cancelled?
1919
Indian Queens Band at St Dennis Contest thought to be 1919
This contest was referred to as the first post-war St Dennis Contest. It was held on the 16th August 1919 and was still being organised by St Dennis Band.
The adjudicator, unknown we’re afraid, made his awards as follows:
The second section test march was Zampa by Herold and the results were:
Placed | Conductor | ||
1 | Unknown | ||
2 | Unknown | ||
3 | St Newlyn East | ||
The second section march was The Fighting Fusilier by Hawkins and the results were:
Placed | Conductor | ||
1 | St Newlyn East | ||
2 | Unknown | ||
3 | Unknown | ||
The third section test piece was Scenes of Beauty and the results were:
Placed | Conductor | Points | |
1 | Unknown | ||
2 | Greensplat Band | R Hancock | |
3 | Unknown | ||
Third section march was own choice and the results were:
Placed | Conductor | Points | |
1 | Unknown | ||
2 | Unknown | ||
3 | Unknown | ||
Greensplat Band | |||
1920
The second post-war St Dennis Contest was held on the 14th August 1920 and Mr T Valentine of Abertillery, Wales, was the adjudicator.
The West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser of Thursday the 19th August 1920 reported that St Dennis Band’s annual band contest on Saturday was admirably arranged. It seems that the weather was fine and the attendance large. Three bands failed to appear (St Columb, Truro Town, and St Newlyn East) and that was a disappointment but a late entry by Penwithick made it five bands taking part. All bands present took part in the march contest. There were three in the second section – Foxhole, Indian Queens, and Wadebridge, and in the third section Fraddon Temperance and Penwithick. At the close of the contest the adjudicator conducted an effective massed performance of the march “United Service”. Between the awarding of the prizes and the evening concert by St. Dennis Band, and dancing on the Green, the winning band in the second section played selections. On Sunday St. Dennis Band gave a sacred concert in aid of Mr. O. Bunt, a member of the band, who met with an accident recently. The officers, were; President, Mr. J. Hooper; vice-presidents. Rev. J. C. Barfett. Dr. Manson, Capts. W. A. Telland and D. Yelland; treasurer, Mr. J. Radcliffe; secretary. Mr. M. Kessell.
Mr Valentine thought he was in for a day of fault-finding in the playing of the march. Even the best was not anything like he expected. He supposed the war had affected the banding fraternity in Cornwall as in other parts of the country.
Second section test piece:
Placed | Conductor | Points | |
1 | Foxhole | J Morcom | |
2 | Indian Queens | ||
3 | Wadebridge | ||
Mr Valentine stated that Foxhole won easily.
Special awards:
The third section test piece was The Maid of Orleans and the results were:
Placed | Conductor | ||
1 | Fraddon Temperance | ||
2 | Penwithick | ||
Mr Valentine stated that Fraddon won easily, he thought that they had “got in the wrong section”.
Special awards: cornet (A. Menear), trombone (P. Knight), and euphonium (W. Trevarton).
The open march contest results were:
Placed | Conductor | ||
1 | Foxhole | J Morcom | |
2 | Fraddon Temperance | W Juleff | |
1921
The third post-war St Dennis Contest was held on the 6th August 1921 and Mr T Proctor was the adjudicator.
No report has been found so the results are particularly sparse.
The third section test piece was Spirit of Nations and the results were:
Placed | Conductor | Points | |
1 | Unknown | ||
2 | Unknown | ||
3 | Greensplat Band | R Hancock | |
1922
Stenalees Band at St Dennis Contest – possibly 1922 (Photo: courtesy Sally Glover)
The sixth (fourth post-war) St Dennis Contest
5th August 1922
Adjudicator: Mr T Proctor
Open section
Test piece: Classic Gems No. 2 by William Rimmer
Placed | Conductor | ||
1 | Bugle Silver | Edwin J Williams | |
2 | Indian Queens | Charles H Baker | |
3 | Stenalees | J M Hinchcliffe | |
Newquay Town | George Cave | ||
Wadebridge Town | W T Lobb | ||
Special awards: cornet: (Bugle), trombone (Bugle)
Second Section
Test piece: Giralda by Adolphe Adam
Placed | Conductor | ||
1 | Stenalees Silver | J M Hinchcliffe | |
2 | Indian Queens | Charles H Baker | |
3 | Bugle Silver | Edwin J Williams | |
4 | Wadebridge Town | W T Lobb | |
W | Foxhole Brass | ||
Special awards: cornet (Indian Queens), horn (Stenalees), trombone (Stenalees), euphonium (Indian Queens)
Third Section
Test piece: Pirates of Penzance by Arthur Sullivan
Placed | Conductor | ||
1 | Newquay Town | George W Cave | |
2 | Fraddon Temperance | W Weevall | |
3 | Greensplat | J Bassett | |
Special awards: soprano (Fraddon) cornet (Newquay), trombone (Newquay), euphonium: (Newquay)
So, was 1922 the last St Dennis Contest or did it continue? If you have information to share about this then please get in touch.
Compiled by Tony Mansell (Bardh Kernow)