1838 – 28^th June: Blackwater Musical Band played at Redruth for the coronation of Queen Victoria. (Still Blawin’)

“I have forgotten many thangs, but not my first appearance in public. It was a notable day, the day when Queen Victoria was crowned. Blackwater and one or two of the adjoining villages rejoiced between them a musical band of which I was the youngest member, and in which I played the fife. Unusual preparations were made in Redruth, the largest town in the district, to celebrate the Coronation and our  little band offered its service to join the festivities and the offer was accepted. I, in order to attract undue attention, and to astonish the boys, played loudly, and the leader of the band, who played the trombone said more than once during the day: ‘Jack Edwards, you play out of tune’! I have since had occasion to remember the admonition then given me and have found that my capacity for getting out of tune survived from the day of the Coronation of Queen Victoria in 1838 to that of the Coronation of Edward VII.” (A Few Footprints by John Passmore-Edwards  himself, published in 1905,  page 9)

1878: Blackwater Juvenile Brass Band, under the leadership of Mr Frank Symons… (RCG 1^st February 1878)

1901: Blackwater (Reed and Brass) Band formed or re-formed by C Retallack, DCLI clarinet player. (John Brush)

1901: “The Little village of Blackwater may well be proud (says a correspondent) of the rapid strides which the Brass and Reed Band has made during the seven months of its formation. Great credit is due to the conductor, Mr C Ratallack, …” (18 July 1901 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)

Blackwater Band practised in a hut near the railway line.

Blackwater Band at Mawla tea treat pre-1902 (Photo: courtesy Clive Benney)

1902: Sir Edward Durning-Lawrence, Bart, M.P., sent one guinea towards purchasing a new drum [for Blackwater Band]. (Cornubian and Redruth Times 11 April 1902)

1902: Blackwater Reed and Brass Band, under Mr. C. Retallick, late of the 2nd D.C.L.I., (1 May 1902 – West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser)

1903: Blackwater Reed and Brass Band, under the conductorship of Mr. H. Rogers… (16 April 1903 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)

1903: Blackwater Brass and Reed Band at Mithian Band of Hope tea. (RCG 28^th May 1903)

1903: Blackwater Reed and Brass Band at Porthtowan. (6 August 1903 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)

Blackwater Brass and Reed Band at Mount Hawke. Thomas Harvey Rogers (extreme left) is the conductor and Ernie Pearce (Monty Pearce’s father) is the young lad front right. Ernie joined in 1904 aged 12 and learnt to play the cornet

Marcus Rogers wrote: “Hi, the Blackwater Brass and Reed Band shown at Mt Hawke shows my Great Grandad Thomas Harvey Rogers, who was the conductor (mentioned in description). He is at the front on the left with his clarinet. He moved to Lanner to work at Tresavean Mine around 1907/08 when the mine reopened, which may have contributed to the band disbanding in 1907. He was a blacksmith by trade, and moved to Mt Hawke in 1901 from Crowan when he married. All his sons were accomplished musicians. I have the same original photo in my possession handed down to me.”

 

The style of hats suggest that this is Blackwater Band at Mount Hawke

1904: Blackwater Brass and Reed Band at Mithian Band of Hope tea. (RCG 19^th May 1904)

1905: “Mr Passmore Edwards [John Passmore Edwards, the Blackwater philanthropist, a fife player in Blackwater Band] says his first public appearance was the day when Queen Victoria was crowned. He played in the [Blackwater] Village Band, and the leader had on more than one occasion to say, ‘Jack Edwards, you play out of tune’. He says he has since had occasion to remember the admonition then given, and has found that his capacity for getting out of tune survives from the day of the Coronation of Queen Victoria in 1838, to that of the Coronation of Edward VII., and after.” (16 November 1905 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)

1906 circa: Blackwater Brass and Reed Band practised in a stable near Blackwater Chapel.

1906: Blackwater Band at Mithian Band of Hope. (Cornubian and Redruth Times 26^th May 1906)

1907: From the next report it appears that Blackwater Band disbanded in 1907.

1909: “The people of Blackwater and district fully realise the benefit derived from the Royal Cornwall Infirmary, Truro, and the Miners’ Hospital, Redruth, and for years have had what they term a Hospital Sunday demonstration. The idea originated with the members of Blackwater Band, with Mr. T. D. Jenkins as president, and for some years that band gave their services, assisted by some members of Redruth Volunteer Band. Through emigration and other causes the Blackwater Band ceased to exist and for the last two years the Redruth Band has gratuitously placed its services at the disposal of the Hospital Sunday Committee…” (RCG 15 July 1909)

1914: Blackwater Band disbanded according to John Brush.

1950s: “I was playing in the upper floor of Ward’s Garage in the centre of Blackwater village when I came across the Blackwater Band bass drum.” (Tony Mansell)

 

 

 

Compiled by Tony Mansell (Bardh Kernow)

 

This collection is a part of the Cornish National Music Archive (CNMA) project to Collect, Preserve and Share our Cornish Heritage and Culture.

It is based on location as each may have had more than one band.

Our thanks go to all of the organisations and individuals, whether named or not, who have provided information and photographs for this archive.

If you own the copyright to any of the photographs included here then please let us know and they will be credited or removed.

If you are able to correct or update any information included here then please leave a comment.