Constantine is a village and civil parish approximately five miles west-southwest of Falmouth
1848: Constantine Band formed shortly after Wheal Vyvyan Mine opened. (Band website)
1857: Constantine Band mentioned. (Falmouth Packet and Cornwall Advertiser 18th July 1857)
1860: Constantine Brass Band. (24 August 1860 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)
1862: Either the name changed to Constantine Teetotal Brass Band or a separate band formed. (BBHD)
1862: Constantine Teetotal Brass Band. (1 August 1862 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)
1863: Constantine Teetotal Brass Band active. (John Brush)
1869: Constantine Amateur Band. (21 August 1869 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)
1870: Constantine Brass Band which was in attendance throughout the day. (30 July 1870 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)
1871: Constantine and Sevorgan Bands. (9 December 1871 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)
1872: Constantine Brass Band to Falmouth. (6 January 1872 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)
1872: Constantine Brass Band performing select music in union with the Fife Band, under the excellent leadership of Mr T Veal at Foresters’ Fete and Baby Show. (27 July 1872 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)
1873: “The Recent Band Contest. Mr Thomas Veal, bandmaster of the Constantine band, writes to us to correct sundry errors, which he alleges appeared in our paragraph respecting the contest at Gweek between the Constantine and Seworgan bands. Mr Veal declares that the bands did not play together at all; the Seworgan Band was not invited into the Ship Inn by the landlord, who was away from home at the time. Moreover, the Constantine Band has the honour of being styled the “Teetotal Band,” and when employed by Sunday schools the members always avoid entering public houses. In conclusion Mr Veal says that if a contest piece is provided and an impartial judge appointed, the Constantine Band will not hesitate to try their skill.” (24 May 1873 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)
1873: “We see in your last week’s paper that the Constantine Band is titled ‘The Teetotal Band’. We know very different from that, for if the leader, Mr Veal, is a teetotal he must have signed the pledge very lately. Besides, we see that the Constantine Band have challenged us to play, if a contest is provided. We shall not back out. We had the praise at Gweek and that is the reason why the Constantine Band is not very well pleased. Yours respectfully, Seworgan May 26th 1873. Seworgan Band.” (RCG)
1875: Constantine Brass Band. Mrs. (18 December 1875 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)
1877: Constantine – the village Brass Band also gave a selection from the opera Martha. (23 March 1877 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)
1880: Constantine Brass Band. (30 July 1880 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)
1881: “Helston’s Festival Music… honours for the drummer! Most singular fact! Constantine and Mabe ‘Zulu’ bands are popular – the latter especially. Porkellis Band, Seworgan Band, Burras Band, and Black Rock Band are more, while Porthleven Band, alas! it is skat up.” (16 July 1881 – Cornishman)
1882: Constantine Brass Band, under the leadership of Mr E Courage. (4 August 1882 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)
1885: Constantine Brass Band at Constantine Feast. (20 March 1885 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)
Circa 1887: Became the Constantine Volunteer Band [probably existing band members enlisted]. “The explanation of this name appears quite simple, after the episode with Russia in the Crimea and the trouble with India at the time of the mutiny, it was decided the army might serve overseas in increasing numbers and that the army at home should be bolstered by a reserve force, many of whom played in the band.” (Band website)
1889: The first newspaper report of 18 Company Duke of Cornwall’s Rifles Band at Constantine. Later I Company Duke of Cornwall’s Rifles / I Company 2nd Volunteer Battalion Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry / I Company 5th Battalion Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry (Territorial Force) but since that date they do seem to have been kept busy, especially with Sunday school treats. The Bandmaster in 1889 was a Mr Waters, and then during 1902-14 Charles Reynolds had the baton. This man, in 1913, also took on board the civilian Gweek Band. Constantine Duke of Cornwall’s Rifles Band did not contest. It is noted that, strangely, this band carried on with UK engagements as late as 1915. Perhaps their unit was now a training establishment during WW1. (John Brush)
1889: Mr Waters Constantine Volunteer Band MD.
1892: Constantine and Mawnan Bands. (14 July 1892 – Cornishman)
1893: Constantine Brass Band at Durgan Regatta. (14 September 1893 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)
1898: Headed by Constantine Volunteer Band…” (30 June 1898 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)
1899: Constantine Volunteer Band. (29 June 1899 – The Cornish Telegraph)
1902 to 1914: Charles Reynolds, Constantine Volunteer Band MD. In 1913 he also took on board the civilian band at Gweek.
Constantine Duke of Cornwall’s Rifles Band did not contest.
Strangely, this band continued UK engagements as late as 1915. Perhaps their unit was then a training establishment during WW1. (John Brush)
1903: Headed by the Camborne Town Band, followed by the members of the Constantine Volunteer corps, accompanied by their Band. (29 August 1903 – Lake’s Falmouth Packet and Cornwall Advertiser)
1906: Hay Morgan, MP (in company with Mrs Hay Morgan) paid visit to his constituents at Constantine. The Volunteer Band escorted him. (RCG 4th October 1906)
1908: Constantine Band re-formed from the Volunteer Band. (Band website / John Brush)
Constantine Band 1908
1908: Constantine Brass Band gave an entertainment under Bandmaster C Reynolds. (RCG 17th December 1908)
1910: Constantine Brass Band, paraded the village. (25 August 1910 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)
1912: Constantine Brass Band at Constantine Show. (13 June 1912 – West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser)
1912: Headed by Constantine Brass Band, under Bandmaster C. Reynolds. (4 July 1912 – West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser)
Constantine Band 1912
1913: Gweek Band active with Charles Reynolds MD who was also the Constantine DCR Band MD. (John Brush)
1914: It is believed that when the Great War broke out Constantine Band joined with the Territorial Band.(Band website)
1919 circa: Re-formed as Constantine Band from the Territorial Band. (John Brush)
Constantine Brass Band 1920
1920: Constantine Brass Band at Constantine Sports. (27 May 1920 – West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser)
From the following statement is seems that Constantine Brass Band was disbanded and reformed in 1939 – unfortunate timing considering the clouds of war were gathering. (John Brush)
1939: Constantine Hospital Sunday Success. For the first time there were two bands p resent. Gweek Silver Band and the newly formed Constantine Band. (24 August 1939 – West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser)
1949: Constantine Silver Bandwill be in attendance. (9, 16, 23 & 30 June 1949 – Cornishman)
1949: S E Hunt, Constantine Band MD. (Contest archive)
1950: Redruth Silver Band, under Bandmaster J. Volante, the Constantine Silver Band at Navy Week at Redruth. (27 July 1950 – Cornishman)
Constantine Silver Band disbanded.
1977: Constantine Silver Band re-formed. (Band Website)
1977 to 1980s: George Goodale, Constantine Band MD. (Band Website)
1980s to 1990s: Everett Merton, Constantine Band MD. (Band Website)
1988: Constantine Silver – unknown result (Othello) in the Fourth Section of the SWBBA Contest under W E Merton.
1990s to Early 2000s: Ian Edwards, Constantine Band MD. (Band Website)
1994: Constantine Silver – unknown result (The Journeyman) in the Fourth Section of the National Brass Band Regional Championships under Ian EDwards.
(Courtesy British Bandsman 6th August 1994)
1996: Constantine Silver unplaced in the Fourth Section at the National Brass Band Regional Championships under Ian Edwards playing Mexican Fiesta by Ronald Hammer.
1996: Constantine Silver unplaced (West Sou’west) in the Fourth section at the SWBBA Contest under Ian Edwards.
1997: Constantine Silver placed 17th in the Fourth Section at the National Brass Band Regional Championships under Ian Edwards playing Pennine Moors by Darrol Barry.
1997: Constantine Silver unplaced (Northumbrian Suite) in the Fourth Section of the SWBBA Contest under Ian Edwards.
1998: Constantine Silver placed 17th (Solemn Melody and Scenes from a Comedy) in the Fourth Section at the National Brass Band Regional Championships under Ian Edwards.
1998: Constantine Silver – unknown result (First Suite in Eb) in the Fourth Section of the SWBBA Contest under Ian Edwards.
(Courtesy British Bandsman 5th June 1999)
(Courtesy British Bandsman 10th July 1999)
2001: Constantine Silver – 5th overseas tour in seven years – this time to Brittany where they gave five concerts at Pont Croix, Quimper and Audierne. (British Bandsman 28th April 2001)
2001: Constantine Silver – unknown result (Episodes for Brass) in the Fourth Section of the SWBBA Contest under Ian Edward.
2002: Constantine Silver tour of Holland. (Band Website)
2002: Constantine Silver placed 1st in the Fourth Section at the SWBBA Championships under Ian Edwards playing Little Suite for Brass No. 1. By Sir Malcolm Arnold.
2003: Constantine Silver participated in the Fourth Section at the SWBBA Championships under Ian Edwards playing Lydian Pictures by Simon Dobson.
2004: Constantine Silver placed 21st in the Fourth Section at the Regional Championships under Ian Edwards playing Partita by Edward Gregson.
2005: Constantine Silver placed 17th in the Fourth Section at the Regional Championships under Keith Anderson playing Divertimento.
2006: Keith Anderson, Constantine Band MD. (Band Website)
2006: Constantine Silver placed 17th in the Fourth Section at the Regional Championships under Keith Anderson playing Anglian Dances.
2013: Shaun Marsden, Constantine Band MD. (Heyl Band Website)
Constantine Silver Band has been holding its “Brass on Grass” concerts for many years when invited bands entertain with a short concert before combining for some pieces as a massed band. It is preceded by a march through the village and the event is an excellent example of a Cornish gathering.
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.
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