Callington is a civil parish and town in south-east Cornwall about 7 miles north of Saltash and 9 miles south of Launceston
1850s probably: Callington Band formed.
(Cornish Times 18th June 1859)
1859 May: Callington and South Hill Brass Bands played at the completion of the restoration of the parish church. (Launceston Weekly News, and Cornwall & Devon Advertiser 21st May 1859)
1859: “Re-opening of Callington Church. …day was everything the heart could wish. St Andrew’s peal of bells discoursed excellent music, and the Callington and South Hill Bands endeavoured to do the same. We take the will for the deed, but unfortunately the Callington Band seems to have commenced at the wrong end of musical study, the only distinct air being that worked out Herculean operations upon the drum. We should not like to be parchment for the gentleman who takes this important position in the band, and in all kindness, speaking of the performers generally, suggest the desirability of an individual drill, for discord in the units cannot produce harmony in the aggregate.” (21 May 1859 – Launceston Weekly News, and Cornwall & Devon Advertiser)
1859 August: “There was a town band in existence when a volunteer unit was formed, yet at the enrolment parade if 1859 another village band was engaged and immediately afterwards this new volunteer company had a band, so it is a reasonable assumption that the Callington Town Band were among the potential recruits. Up to 1886 everything is musically clear in the town as the volunteer band was the only band present, carrying out things like cruises around the coast, Regattas, Sunday school tea treats and the like, when suddenly there appears a town band. Callington in those days could never have supported two bands and the impression gained is that it was one group of men wearing two uniforms, but each band having its own conductors. This happy (?) state of affairs carried on until 1905, after which no more mention can be discovered of the Volunteers Band. Whist wearing army uniform, no contests were undertaken, and the only recorded conductor was a certain R Rich.” (John Brush)
1860: Callington Volunteer Band active. The Band of the 5th Duke of Cornwall’s Volunteer Rifles. (John Brush)
1879 to 1888: R Rich, Callington Volunteer Band MD.
1884: Callington Brass Band … (Cornish & Devon Post 28th June 1884) Presumably the Volunteer Band.
1886: Callington had two bands…the Volunteer Band and Callington Brass Band led by a Mr Risdon. Or was it Ridson?
1886-1891: J W Ridson, Callington Brass Band MD. (RCG 1st July 1887 / John Brush)
1886: Callington Brass Band played at the opening of the first reservoir at Ashburton Farm, Florence Road. (Band website)
1889: Callington Brass Band at Hospital Sunday. (3 October 1889 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)
1892: Callington Brass Band played on a steamer trip from Calstock with the Cricket Club. (Band website)
1893: “Callington Brass Band in the cricket field in new full Hussar uniforms. (Cornish & Devon Post 17th June 1893)
1894: Callington Temperance Brass Band active. (John Brush) New name / same band?
1894: Callington Temperance Brass Band in a procession. (23 June 1894 – Cornish & Devon Post)
1895: Callington Brass Band at the Church Parade of the Foresters, Oddfellows and Rechabites. (Band website)
1899: Richard Trewin, Callington Brass Band MD. (John Brush)
1899: Callington Brass Band at a Callington friendly society event. (24 August 1899 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)
1902: Callington Brass Band played when Lord Compton unveiled a fountain in the wall of the Primary School.(Band website)
1904: Callington Band at a friendly societies event. (Cornish & Devon Post 6th August 1904)
1905: Callington Band at a friendly societies event. (Cornish & Devon Post 12 August 1905)
1909: Callington Band at a friendly societies event. (7 August 1909 – Cornish & Devon Post)
1910: Callington Brass Band under Bandmaster Taylor … (Cornish & Devon Post 7th May 1910)
1911: Callington Brass Band at the celebrations in the town to mark the Coronation of King George the Fifth. (Band website)
Callington Town Band name adopted. (John Brush)
1911: Launceston Town Band and the Callington Band, under Bandmaster Taylor, at the carnival. (4 November 1911 – Cornish & Devon Post)
1912: Callington Town Band at the opening of the New Market Hall and Fountain. (Band website)
Callington Band date unknown
1913 to 1922: G Buzza, Callington Town Band MD. (John Brush)
1913: Callington Town Band played at Callington Cricket Club Annual Fete, conducted by Mr J Taylor, and for Carnival Day and Bonfire Night. (Band website)
1914: Callington Town Band at a Boy Scouts Grand Fete at Haye and a Band of Hope Fete at St Ive. (Cornish Times 19th June 1914)
Callington Town Band 1920
1921: Callington Town Band, conducted by Mr G Buzza, played at the Callington Show.
1922 to 1932 James Jago, Callington Town Band MD. (John Brush)
1923: Callington Town Band headed the procession for the Town Fete and Show.
Callington Band 1923
Callington Band (Photo from George Bishop’s book ‘A Parish Album of Callington’ 1920s)
1923: Callington Town Band, under by Mr James Jago, played at Pensilva Festival, a Picnic at Castleleigh, Callington Hospital Fete, and the Cricket & Football Clubs` Sports Day.
1927 / 1928 / 1933: Callington Town Band played at Hospital Sunday Processions and Callington Fete and Garden Show. (Band website)
1929: Launceston Band, under Bandmaster Worden, and Callington Band, under Bandmaster Jago, attended. (9 November 1929 – Exeter and Plymouth Gazette)
1933: H Buzza, Callington Town Band MD. (Band website)
1933: Callington Town Band played at Metherell Sports Day. (Band website)
1934: Callington Town Band disbanded. (Band website)
Callington Town Band date unknown
Unknown date of band re-forming.
1966: Callington Town Band disbanded. (Band website)
1995: Callington Silver Band re-formed with band room at the Community Support Centre. (Band website)
1995: Maurice Bennett, Callington Silver Band MD. (Band website)
(Courtesy British Bandsman 11th January 1997)
(Courtesy British Bandsman 26 June 1999)
Callington band room in building adjoining museum. (Band website)
Callington band room (Photo: Tony Mansell)
2001 to 2009: Paul Boase, Callington Silver Band MD. (Band website)
2001: Callington Training Band formed. (Shirley Morse, Callington Silver Band))
2007: Band room damaged by fire.
2009: Bill Leith, Callington Silver Band MD. (Band website)
2014 to 2015: Merryn Cocking, Callington Training Band MD. (Shirley Morse, Callington Silver Band)
Callington Town Band 2013 (Photo: Band website)
2015: Ian Whittaker, Callington Silver Band MD. (Band website)
Callington Town Band with Ian Whittaker MD 2016 (Photo: Band website)
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.
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