Mevagissey is a village, fishing port and civil parish approximately five miles south of St Austell

 

1867: Mevagissey Town Band formed and “many young men enrolled”. (John Brush)

1868: Selections of music were performed by the Mevagissey Brass Band. (28 May 1868 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)

1869: Mevagissey Band were in attendance, and the St Austell people lustily cheered the boat on her way. (1 October 1869 – Western Morning News)

1869: The boat was mounted on its transporting carriage and fully manned. The Mevagissey Brass Band was in attendance also, as well as all the Coastguard officers and men from Par, Porthpean, Charlestown, Mevagissey. (2 October 1869 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)

1869: A burlesque, The Mevagissey Cornish Sardine Band finished an excellent programme.

1869: Mevagissey Glee Club, conducted by Mr Brummell, were admirably rendered and repeatedly encored. The Mevagissey Band, attired in scarlet uniform, was also present and played a pleasing selection of music throughout the evening. (11 December 1869 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)

1871: An entertainment, the object of which is to provide three additional instruments for the Mevagissey Brass Band, was given in Mr. W. J. Furse’s sail loft on the East Wharf, on Saturday evening. (11 March 1871 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)

1880: Over 150 members marched from the Board School about 3 p.m., headed by the Mevagissey Brass Band, the big drum asserting itself vigorously. (1 April 1880 – Cornishman)

1884: Band of Hope annual festival headed by the Mevagissey Brass Band. (18 April 1884 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)

1885: Mr Samuel Rowe, leader of the Mevagissey Brass Band. (13 February 1885 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)

1886: The members of the Band of Hope, numbering 120, with the teetotallers in front, and headed by the Mevagissey Brass Band, marched to Sunny Corner and back to the school. (16 July 1886 – RCG)

1886: Annual picnic took place at Portluney Beach. Mevagissey Brass Band was in attendance, and played several selections of music. (13 August 1886 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)

1887: Procession marched through the village headed by the Mevagissey Brass Band. (3 June 1887 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)

It seems that Mevagissey Brass/Town Band disbanded but was re-formed a few years later.

1902: Mevagissey Band was in attendance. (3 July 1902 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)

1902: For Mevagissey Coronation festivities the old Town Band was re-organised, and so successful were its efforts that a number of gentlemen are endeavouring to keep it together permanently. (17 July 1902 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)

1903: Mevagissey. The newly-formed Town Band played selections at various points. (1 January 1903 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)

1903: Members of Mevagissey New Town Band were entertained to supper on Wednesday evening week by the Band Committee. The toast of The New Town Band, proposed by the chairman was coupled with the name of bandmaster (Mr S Rowe) …” (22 January 1903 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)

1903: Mevagissey Town Band, under the leadership of Mr Samuel Rowe, R.A.M., gave a concert. (26 March 1903 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)

1903: Mevagissey’s newly-formed Town Band, under Bandmaster Rowe, paraded the town at noon, en route to Providence. (16 April 1903 – Royal Cornwall Gazette – Truro, Cornwall, England)

1903: Donkey race. Mevagissey Town Band was in attendance, under Mr. S. Rowe. (9 July 1903 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)

1903: Mevagissey Regatta. The town was gaily decorated, and a fair was held, whilst Mevagissey Town Band, under the conductorship of Mr. S Rowe rendered selections during the afternoon. (9 July 1903 – West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser)

1903: The first of the people’s concerts for the season was given by Mevagissey Town Band in the Town-hall on Saturday evening, Mr. S. Rowe conducting. The bandmaster’s new march, well-balanced and spirited composition [Information about this piece will be welcomed] was admirably performed by the full band of 21 performers, which is now in a high state of efficiency. (17 December 1903 – West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser)

1904: The United Methodist Free Church, the Baptist Band of Hope and Temperance Societies also held festivals. Mevagissey Town Band, under the able conductorship of Mr. Rowe, discoursed an excellent programme en route for Greensplat. (7 April 1904 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)

1904: Saturday night choice selection of music was rendered by the band of D Co., V. 8., D.C.L.L, under Mr. W. H. Jago. Mevagissey Town Band, under Mr. S. Rowe, gave a concert in the Public-rooms on Saturday night.(5 May 1904 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)

1904: The excellent concert given by Mevagissey Town Band, under Mr. S. Rowe, was not so well attended it should have been. (19 May 1904 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)

1905: The match was between two teams from St. Austell. Mevagissey Town Band played selections during the day. (6 July 1905 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)

1905: The Mevagissey Town Band were present. (10 August 1905 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)

1906: The Brass Band [assumed Mevagissey], assisted by a portion of the mandolin band, gave a concert in the Town Hall Saturday evening, under the conductorship of Mr S Rowe. (1 March 1906 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)

1906: Mevagissey. The Town Band played on the Pier on Saturday evening, and on the Town bridge on Monday evening. (27 September 1906 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)

1907: Mevagissey Town Band under Mr. S. Rowe discoursed selections, and these were listened to and appreciated by a large crowd. (29 July 1907 – West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser)

1907: Festivities At Caerhays. Mevagissey Town Band, under Mr. S. Rowe. (1 August 1907 – Cornishman)

1907: St Austell Swimming Matches. Mevagissey Town Band was in attendance. (8 August 1907 – West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser)

1908: Mevagissey Town Band played the Flora late in the evening and large crowds paraded the streets. (9 July 1908 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)

1908: Mevagissey Regatta. Mevagissey Town Band were in attendance. (9 July 1908 – West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser)

1908: National Deposit, and Shepherds’ Friendly Societies. Mount Charles, and Mevagissey Brass Bands, perambulated the streets of the town and neighbourhood, and attended the Baptist Chapel, where a service was conducted, (13 August 1908 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)

1909: Sailing. The committee had the Goshawk, the tender to the Mount Edgcumbe, a committee boat, and the Mevagissey Brass Band performed during the afternoon. (12 August 1909 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)

1910: A Garden Fete. Mevagissey Town Band. (19 August 1910 – Lake’s Falmouth Packet and Cornwall Advertiser)

1911: Greensplat Band of Hope, headed by Mevagissey Brass Band. (20 April 1911 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)

1911: Mevagissey Brass Band was in attendance. (13 July 1911 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)

Mevagissey Band around the beginning of the First World War. Samuel Rowe conductor – back row right.

WWI: Samuel Rowe seems to have conducted a Mevagissey Band during this period. (John Brush)

It would seem that Mevagissey Brass Band disbanded or, perhaps, didn’t re-form following the war.

1937: Mevagissey Coronation Band formed for the coronation of George VI. This band was formed because of the enthusiasm of one man, Samuel Rowe, a local music teacher. His name appears in many reports of attempts to form bands in Mevagissey. He even stored all the old instruments in his house. (John Brush)

1938: Gorran Haven dancers gave a display of folk-dancing. Mevagissey Coronation Band was in attendance. (5 July 1938 – Western Morning News)

1939: “An entertainment was given by Par Beach Entertainers and selections were given by Mevagissey Coronation Band, under Sam Rowe who played the Furry Dance through the town. (6 July 1939 – West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser)

The lack of any more reports may suggest that Mevagissey Band disbanded at the start of WWII and did not resume when peace broke out.

 

 

 

 

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.

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