Rescorla is a small village in mid-Cornwall, about four miles from St Austell, in the heart of the Clay Country.
We are indebted to Geoff Pedlar, former member of Rescorla and Bugle Brass Bands, for his help in compiling this information.
Rescorla Brass Band was formed in the early 1950s and was conducted by Roy Richards.
Rescorla Band 1954 (Photo: Bygone Days of Treverbyn Parish by Una Poad)
Standing: Alan Toms, Roy Hewitt, Albert Ball**, Fred Richards, unknown, George Kestle**, Geoff Pedlar**, Maurice “Younger” Kent, Melville Hancock**, Roy Vincent**, Roy Richards, unknown boy
Front row: John Jenkins**, Fred Lean, Dennis Hayman
Our thanks to Geoff Pedlar for identifying the players.
** Also played with Bugle Band
Geoff Pedlar recalled that it was Roy Richards who formed and conducted this rather small, informal band which included some players from other bands: Geoff also played in Bugle Silver Band – for 75 years.
The band rehearsed in Rescorla Sunday school and engagements included local carnivals and tea fights (tea treats). It had few members and at St Blazey carnival only comprised 12 players – about half the size of a full brass band. Geoff said, “It was really just a get-together by a few interested players. We weren’t together long enough to have uniforms and we didn’t enter any contests”.
Four of the members, Roy Richards, Fred Richards, Geoff Pedlar and Roy Vincent, were also members of a quartet which played in local concerts.
According to local band stalwart, Tom Seward, Rescorla Band had a short life and by 1958 it had disbanded.
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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