Cornish Brass Band Contest results are recorded separately and can be found using this link
1849/50: A band, probably named Bude Haven Band was active. It was referred to as a brass band but what instrumentation it had is difficult to assess as the cornet was still in its experimental stage and the upright instruments had not yet been developed. (John Brush)
1850: The down mail came in with the Bude Haven Brass Band playing the National and other appropriate airs. (24 May 1850 – Royal Cornwall Gazette – Truro, Cornwall)
1861: Bude Military Volunteer Nnit formed but it took quite a while for a band to be formed. (John Brush)
1872 and 1875: Bude Military Volunteer Unit Brass Band formed. (John Brush)
1883: Bude Temperance Band parading. (28 July 1883 – Cornish & Devon Post)
1884: Bude Temperance Band at Bude annual festival. (25 July 1884 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)
1885: Stratton Band wand Bude Temperance Fife & Drum Band. (27 June 1885 – Cornish & Devon Post)
1895: Bude Volunteer Band formed as a detachment of the DCLI – a Territorial Band. (Bude OCS archives) Considering the following item we wonder if this refers to the Town Band.
1895: Bude Town Band founded. (John Brush)
June 1895: Bude Town Band’s first public performance – at the Band of Hope Festival. (John Brush)
1895: Bude Brass Band marched through the rectory grounds. (8 August 1895 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)
From 1898 to 1905: J Hancock, a local tailor, Bude Volunteer Band MD, who, according to the newspapers of the time, did appear to improve them but from what to what there is no way of telling as they carried out no contesting, at least in Cornwall. (John Brush)
1898: Bude Volunteer Band played at the opening of the railway to Bude – principal soloist Arthur Cann. (Bude OCS archives)
1900: Bude Town Band , under the conductorship of Mr. Hancock, and Bude Clown Band at a carnival. (18 January 1900 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)
1900: “Band of Hope Festival. … service in the Wesleyan schoolroom, which was largely attended. At the conclusion a procession was formed headed by the Bude Town Band. A model lifeboat, banners with appropriate mottoes, and flags of all kinds helped to make a very gay procession, …” (9 June 1900 – Cornish & Devon Post)
1900: Processions through the town in the afternoon, and evening, headed by the Bude Town Band, which also played during the progress the sports held at Fair Park. (6 July 1900 – Cornubian and Redruth Times)
1900: “Bude Notes. It was pleasure to hear the Town Band again on Wednesday evening, and it is to hoped that they will receive support enough to enable them to make weekly practice of playing in various parts of the town.” (14 July 1900 – Cornish & Devon Post)
Bude DCR Volunteers 1900 – J Hancock MD
1900: It was hoped that the formation of the Volunteer Corps will not cause the Town Band to fail. Many members of the band have joined the Volunteers. (21 July 1900 – Cornish & Devon Post)
1900: Bude Town Band, attended service in Stratton Parish Church (the Mother Church) on Sunday. (6 September 1900 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)
1900: The Town Band, under the conductorship of Mr. J. Hancock… (8 September 1900 – Cornish & Devon Post)
1901: Bude Town Band gave a splendid rendering of Chopin’s funeral march. (9 February 1901 – Cornish & Devon Post)
1901: Portion of the old Town Band played a selection of Christmas carols. (28 December 1901 – Cornish & Devon Post)
1903: The ‘Fifth’ was celebrated as usual by a grand carnival with Bude Town Band. (7 November 1903 – Cornish & Devon Post)
1905: Bude Volunteers Brass Band active. This was the band of the 2nd Duke of Cornwall Rifle Volunteers – J Company. (John Brush)
Considering the next item it seems clear that Bude Town Band disbanded.
1905: Bude ought to have a Town Band of its own, independent of the Volunteers. (12 August 1905 – Cornish & Devon Post)
1905: The Bude Volunteer Band had gone to camp. (12 August 1905 – Cornish & Devon Post)
Empire day in Bude 1906
1912: Mr Hancock, Bude Band MD (Bude & Stratton Post report October 1966) It is unclear if this relates to a newly-formed Town Band or the Volunteers.
1922: Name changed to Bude Town Band but still a military band. (Bude OCS archives)
1921: Stratton Band referred to in a letter of February 21 asking for “… the money I subscribed to the Bude Band returned to me at once as the Stratton Band is asking for it …” Signed by Constance E Gibbers,
1924 – 20th November: “A meeting was held in Bude Drill Hall to introduce Mr W Cooper, who had consented to become MD, and also to take the names of players who were willing to join the new band. A vote was taken and it was unanimously agreed that a new band would be formed.” (Bude OCS archives – copied from original owned by Stan Clubb)
Approach made to the old band committee regarding transferring the instruments to the new band.(Bude OCS archives – copied from original owned by Stan Clubb)
1925 – 11th September: Public meeting in Bude Parish Hall when it was unanimously agreed to resuscitate, if possible, Bude Town Band. (Bude OCS archives – copied from original owned by Stan Clubb)
1925 – October/November: Applications for membership of Bude Town Band being received.
Bude Town Band 1928 on return from Poughill Church Parade (Photo: courtesy Frank Penfound / Audrey Aylmer)
Back row: Frank Penfound, Bill Dinner, Arky Pound, ? Sharrock
Remainder: Dad Cann, ? Legg, William “Bill” T Curtis, Tom Owens, ? Strike, Arthur Hines, Joe Worland, Bill Cann, Bob Stapleton, Charlie Cann, Ernie Legg,
Tommy Annger
Positive responses from: William T Curtis, C F Rattenburn, W Short, James Wilson, Tom Brown, Frederick Ernest Leach, J H Paddon, John Prouse, A W Bailey et al. (Bude OCS archives – copied from original owned by Stan Clubb)
Arthur Cann, MD. (JB / Bude OCS archives) Presumably the Town Band.
1928: It seems that Bude Band disbanded as there is a letter from the bank discussing disposal of the funds.
1932: Correspondence regarding re-forming “a band for the town”. (Bude OCS archives – copied from original owned by Stan Clubb)
1932 to 1934: Captain A C McDonald of Plymouth, Bandmaster. (JB / Bude OCS archives) Presumably the Town Band.
1934: Became an “all brass” band with a name changed to Bude Town Silver Band. (JB / Newspaper report from Bude OCS archives)
1934: Mr Pearce, ex Bournemouth Philharmonic, MD (Bude OCS archives) Presumably the Town Band.
1934 to 1939: William M Pearce, Bude Town Silver Band MD. (John Brush)
1934: Bill Lee, principal solo cornet. (Audrey Aylmer)
1930s: “Bude Town Silver Band regularly invited ladies to form, with them, a mixed choir to perform at band concerts. (Influence of the Salvation Army, I wonder). It seems that a serious attempt was made to reconstitute the Marhamchurch Revel, started in Cornwall back in Tudor times.” (John Brush)
Bude Town Silver Band circa 1935 (Photo: courtesy Audrey Aylmer)
Before WWII: Bude Town Silver Band entered only two contests, one was at Bideford where in two sections they achieved a 2nd and a 4th.
1936: Won by Bude Town Band, conductor Mr W M Pearce, with 89 points, third place was taken by St Gennys Silver Band, Conductor Mr W Rogers, with 88 points, and fourth place by Bideford Town Silver Band, Conductor Mr H S Wraight. (4 June 1936 – North Devon Journal Barnstaple)
1938: Bude Town Silver Band participated in the Junior Shield B (fifth tier) of the National Brass Band Championships at Alexandra Palace under W M Pearce playing Memories of Wagner.
WWII: Bude Town Silver Band disbanded but some playing continued. (Bude OCS archives)
1946: Re-formed as Bude Town Silver Band under Bill Lee, bandmaster, Bert Speare MD and Richard Penrose as his deputy. (Bude OCS archives)
Bude Town Band 22nd November 1947 (Photo: courtesy Audrey Aylmer)
Section winners at South West Band Contest
Standing: R H Penrose (adjudicator), Reg Aunger (soprano), Fin Barkwell / D Davy / S John Hooper (solo cornets)
Dave Curtis / Tom Aunger / Bob Knight (drummers)
Dave Batten / Bill Hooper / Ken Aunger (2nd and 3rd cornets) Bert Speare / Joe Worland (trombones), Bill Lee (bandmaster)
Sitting: J Heard (solo horn) Burnard Speare (1st horn) R Headon (2nd horn) N Pearse (1st baritone) Arthur Mills (2nd baritone) Jack Davey (euphonium)
G Colwill (Eb bass) Gordon Jennings / Frank Jeffery (Bb basses)
1947: Bude Town Band placed 1st in the Second Section of the SWBBA Championships under J MacDonald playing Land of the Mountain and the Flood.
1949: New uniforms for Bude Town Band – brilliant red. (Bude OCS archives)
1949: Bude Town unplaced in the Fourth Section (fourth tier) of the Regional Championships Pride of the Forest by J A Greenwood.
1952: Contesting as Bude Town Band and Bude Junior Band. (Bude OCS archives)
1952: Bude Town placed 2nd in the Second Section of the SWBBA Contest under W D Lawton playing Three Songs Without Words by Eric Ball.
1952: Bude Town Juniors placed 1st in the Youth Section at the SWBBA Championships under A C Speare playing Deep Harmony by Handel Parker.
1953: Bude Town placed 4th in the Third Section of the Regional Championships under W D Lawton playing Holiday Suite by Eric Ball.
1953: Bude Town placed 1st in the Second Section of the SWBBA contest under W D Lawton playing Gems of Old England.
1953: Bude Town Juniors placed 1st in the Youth section at the SWBBA Championships under A C Speare.
1954: Bude Town Juniors participated in the Juvenile Section of the SWBBA Championships playing own choice and hymn tune Ellen by T Hubbard.
1959: Bude Town placed 11st and 2nd in the Second section of the SWBBA contest under A C Speare playing Own choice and Cwm Rhondda.
1960: Bude Town unplaced in the Third Section (third tier) of the Regional Championships under A C Speare playing Neapolitan Suite by Roger Barsotti.
1961: Bude Town unplaced in the Third Section of the Regional Championships under A C Speare playing Salzberg Suite by Denis Wright.
1962: Bude Town unplaced in the Championship Section of the SWBBA Contest under A C Speare playing Peter Schmoll arranged by Drake Rimmer and Sovereignty hymn.
1963: Bude Town unplaced in the Second Section of the SWBBA Contest under A C Speare playing Cordell Suite by Helen Perkins and Moscow hymn.
1965: Bude Town placed 2nd in the Third Section of the SWBBA Contest under A C Speare playing Devon Fantasy and Chesham hymn.
1960s: W Speare Bude Town MD. A G Speare also shown but unsure if this was one in the same person.
1967/68: Bude Town contesting under Mr Grand. (Contest archive)
1967: Bude Town unplaced in the Third Section at the SWBBA Contest under J R Grand playing A Holiday Suite by Eic Ball and hymn tune Aberystwyth.
1968: Bude Town unplaced in the Third section at the SWBBA contest under J R Grand playing Little Suite No 2 for Brass Band and own choice march.
1969: Bude Town placed 1st/1st in the Third section at the SWBBA contest under J R Grand playing Three Days Suite by W Rimmer and own choice march.
1970: Bude Town unplaced (own choice test piece) and unknown result (own choice hymn) in the Championship/First Section at the SWBBA Spring Festival under J R Grand.
1970: Bude Town placed 1st in the Fourth Section of the W D & H O Wills Regional Championships under W D Lawton playing Fancy Free by John R Carr.
1971: Bude Town unplaced (Galantia) and unknown (own choice march) at the SWBBA Contest under W D Lawton.
1972: Bude band room created from The Old Egg Packing Station at Lynstone Road, Bude (Bude OCS archives). Made habitable by voluntary labour. Before that they used various halls including the Villa Hall, The Old Picture house and The Violet Tea Rooms. (Band website)
1974: Bude Town participated in the Fourth Section of the Regional Championships under B Megson playing Four Little Maids by John Carr.
1975: Bude Town unplaced in the Second Section of the SWBBA Championships under B Megson playing Alice in Wonderlamnd.
1976: New uniforms of blue jackets with black lapels for Bude Town Band. (Bude & Stratton Post 3rd January 1976)
1976: Bude Town unplaced (Sinfonietta for Brass Band) in the Second Section at the SWBBA Contest under D Frost.
1976-79: Bude Town Band contesting under David Frost. (Contest archive)
1978: Bude Town placed 3rd in the Second Section of the SWBBA Contest under D W Frost playing Promenade by Frank Bryce.
1978: Bude Juniors placed 7th in the Juvenile Section of the SWBBA Contest under D W Frost playing Indian Summer by Eric Ball.
1979: Bude Town – unknown results (own choice test piece and march) in the Second Section at the SWBBA Spring Festival under D F Frost.
1979: Bude Town placed 1st in the Second Section at the SWBBA Contest playing Sirius by Frank Wright.
1979: Bude Juniors placed 2nd in the Jevenile Section at the SWBBA Championships playing Fanfare and Soliloquy by Trevor Sharp.
1980 circa: Nick Chadd, Bude Town Band MD.
1980: Bude Juniors – unknown results (own choice test piece and hymn) in the Juvenile Section at the SWBBA Spring Festival under N Chadd.
1980: Bude Town – unknown results (own choice test piece and hymn) in the Second Section Section at the SWBBA Spring Festival under N Chadd.
1980: Bude Town unplaced (Academic Festival Overture) at the SWBBA Contest under Alfred Clayton.
1980: Bude Town Juniors unplaced (Roller Coaster) at the SWBBA Contest under Alfred Clayton.
1982: Bude Town unplaced (Prometheus Unbound) in the Second Section of the SWBBA Contest under D Frost.
1982: Bude Town Band contesting under A Clayton. (Contest archive)
1983: Bude Town – unknown result (1st Suite in E flat) in the Fourth Section of the National Brass Band Regional Championships under D W Frost.
1984: Bude Town unplaced (North West Passage) in the Second Section at the SWBBA Contest under F W Angove.
1985: Bude Town – unknown result (A Malvern Suite) in the Fourth Section of the National Brass Band Regional Championships under F W Angove.
1985: Bude Town – unknown result (Rhapsody in Brass) in the Second Section at the SWBBA Contest under D Perritt.
1986: Bude Town Band advertising for a Musical Director. (British Bandsman 6th December 1986)
1988 circa: M W Sweet, Bude Town Band MD. (Contest archive)
1988: Bude Town – unknown result (Les Preludes) in the Second Section of the SWBBA Contest under M W Sweet.
1991: Bude Town Band placed 3rd in the Fourth section of the 23rd Weston-Super-Mare Brass Band Contest at the Winter Gardens Pavilion under M Sweet. (British Bandsman 18th May 1991)
1991: Bude Town Band advertising for a Musical Director. (British Bandsman 19th October 1991)
1992: Bude Town Band contesting under Mark Wardle. (Contest archive)
1993: Bude Town Band advertising for a Musical Director and Principal Cornet. (British Bandsman 9th October 1993)
1995: Bude Town Band new uniforms used for first time. (Bude OCS archives)
1995: Bude Town – unknown result (Little Suite for Brass No 1) in the Fourth Section of the National Brass Band Championships under David A Dobson.
1990s: David Dobson, Bude Town Band MD.
1995: Bude Town Band placed 2nd in the Fourth section at the SWBBA Championships under Dave Dobson playing Mexican Fiesta by Hamner.
1996: Bude Town Band unplaced in the Fourth Section of the National Brass Band Regional Championships under D Dobson playing Mexican Fiesta by Ronald Hammer.
1996: Bude Town unplaced (West Sou’west) in the Fourth Section of the SWBBA Contest under Malcolm Read.
1996: Bude Youth unplaced (A Circus Suite) in the Youth Section of the SWBBA Contest under Malcolm Read.
1997: Bude Town Band placed 21st in the Fourth Section of the National Brass Band Regional Championships under M Read playing Pennine Moors by Darrol Barry.
1997: Bude Town unplaced (Northumbrian Suite) in the Fourth Section at the SWBBA Contest under Malcolm Read.
1998: Bude Town – unknown result (Solemn Melody and Scenes from a Comedy) in the Fourth Section of the National Brass Band Regional Championships under M Read.
1998: Peter Cripps, Bude Town Band MD. (Bude Town Band letter head)
2000: Bude Town Band advertising for a Musical Director. (British Bandsman 7th October 2000)
2002 to 2003: Colin Gay, Bude Town Band MD. (Bude OCS archives)
2003: Myra Inch, Bude Town Band MD. (Emma Inch)
Bude Metric Brass (Photo: Post & Weekly News 29th May 2003)
2002: Bude Town Band placed 23rd in the Fourth section of the Regional Championships under Colin Gay playing Suite in Bb.
2003 May: Bude Metric Brass formed, a separate band to Bude Town Band. (Band Website / Bude & Stratton Post and weekly News) It is suggested that the band was originally conceived as a ten piece ensemble – hence the name “Metric” in their title.
“Bude Metric Brass wanted to be free of the constraints of more conventional town bands, but able to play music of their own choice, for their own pleasure. They quickly discovered that other people wanted to hear their music, so they began to undertake engagements at old people’s homes, charity functions, and civic events.” (Band Website)
2003 to 2009 or later: Colin Gay, Bude Metric Brass MD. (Post and Weekly News 29th May 2003)
2005 March: Bude Metric Brass played for Tsunami relief fund. (Band Website / Bude & Stratton Post and weekly News)
2005 May: Bude Metric Brass played for VE Day 60th anniversary. (Band Website / Bude & Stratton Post and weekly News)
2005: Myra Inch, Bude Town Band MD. (Journal Gazette 8th April 2005)
Bude Town Band Hall, Upper Wharf 2015 (Photo: Alan McIntosh)
Bude Metric Band December 2022
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.