Roche is a civil parish and village in mid-Cornwall
It is suggested that Roche may have had a brass band in the distant past, but no evidence has been found to substantiate it.
1893: Roche String Band entertained. (13 April 1893 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)
2012 – 13th July: Roche Brass formed and immediately made an impact on the brass band world.
The band’s rapid growth needs to be explained in case it is assumed that it is an easy matter to form a brass band and train players to such a high standard. The fact is that Roche Brass was formed by a cadre of experienced players who, for one reason or another, were seeking a new challenge. They found one at Roche.
2013: Roche Brass played in the Championship Section at the West of England Bandsmen’s Festival.
2013: Roche Brass placed 1st in the Exmouth Entertainment Contest.
2014 June: Gary Cutt Roche Brass Musical Advisor.
2014: Roche Brass placed 8th in the First section of the Regional Championships under Simon Badge playing Cry of the Mountain.
2014: Roche Brass placed 1st in the Exmouth Entertainment Contest. This was heady stuff for a band less than three years old, but the year did not end there. The result meant qualification to compete in the First section of the National Championships where it achieved a commendable eighth place under Tom Davoren.
2015: Lee Clayson Roche Brass MD. (Band website)
2015: Roche Brass placed 1st in the First section of the Regional Championships under Garry Cutt playing A London Overture by Philip Sparke.
2015: Roche Brass placed 8th in the First section of the National Brass Band Championships of GB under Tom Davoren playing The Alchymist’s Journal by Kenneth Hesketh.
2016: Roche Brass placed 4th in the First section of the Regional Championships under Garry Cutt playing Essay.
Garry Cutt MD (Photo: Tony Mansell)
2016: Roche Brass promoted to the Championship Section: a tremendous achievement in such a short time. Gaining promotion to Championship status in the National Contest is based on a band’s performances over three years and gaining fourth place at the Regional Championships in 2016 was sufficient to win promotion to the topflight. It had taken the band less than three years to become a Championship Section band.
2017: Tragically, euphonium player, Robert Jose, took his own life. Rob was one of the nicest guys and a world-class player. He is seated front row, third left in the above photo. (Tony Mansell)
2017: Roche Brass placed 13th in the Championship Section of the National Brass Band Regional Championships under Garry Cutt playing Pageantry.
Roche Brass with Gary Cutt
2017: Darren Hendy Roche Brass MD.
2017 – 24th May: Roche Brass, St Austell Town Band, St Dennis Silver Band and Camborne Town Band took part in Bandtastic, a concert held at the Hall for Cornwall in aid of Carrick Mind and Cornwall Search and Rescue Team. A happy, sad, funny, poignant event that produced a roller-coaster of emotions and is etched on our memories for ever. It was in aid of Carrick Mind and Cornwall Search and Rescue Team and in memory of bandsmen Del Wilton and Rob Jose who took their own lives. It was superbly organised by Jeremy Squibb, splendidly compared by Bruce Taylor and bravely addressed by Noelle Wilton. The poignancy of the moment when the euphonium was placed centre stage will live on. RIP Del and RIP Rob. (Tony Mansell)
Rob Jose
2017 – 28th May: Roche Brass placed 7th in the All England International Masters Championship playing The Torchbearer under Gary Cutt.
2017: Roche Brass placed 6th in the Open section of the SWBBA Championships under Darren Hendy playing Journey into Freedom.
Roche Brass (Photo: Clive Letcher)
2017: Released debut CD entitled “Upon Roche Rock”.
2018: Roche Brass placed 8th in the First section of the Regional Championships under David Hamilton playing Brass Metamorphosis.
2018: Roche Brass placed 3rd in the Championship/First section of the SWBBA Championships.
2018: Roche Brass placed 4th and promoted in the Spring Festival / Senior Trophy under David Johnson playing A Kensington Concerto by Eric Ball. Doing well in the Regional and National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain is the aim of every contesting band but the British Open and its Spring Festival qualifiers is certainly up there for any ambitious band and Roche Brass is certainly that. The qualifiers take place at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool and are divided into three sections: Senior Trophy, Senior Cup and Grand Shield, all comprised of top bands.
2019: Roche Brass placed 7th in the First section of the Regional Championships under David Johnson playing Symphony of Marches by Gilbert Vinter.
2019: Roche Brass placed 5th in the Spring Festival / Senior Cup under David Johnson playing Symphonic Music by Paul Huber. This year Roche Brass achieved the twin emotions of delight and disappointment. Delight at achieving fifth in this tougher section but disappointment that only the top four bands are promoted. So near and yet so far as the players gave an excellent account of themselves.
2019 – July: Moved into new band room.
2019: Roche Brass placed 2nd in the Open section of the SWBBA Championships. (Highest placed First Section Band)
2020: Roche Brass placed 2nd in the First section of the Regional Championships under David Johnson playing Legacy by Tom Davoren.
2021: Because of the COVID pandemic, there were no Regional Championships in 2021 and the qualifiers from 2020 took part in the 2021 National Championships. However, Roche Brass withdrew due to the continuing health risk.
2022: Roche Brass placed 12th in the Championship section of the Regional Championships under David Hamilton playing Contest Music by Wilfred Heaton.
2022: Roche Brass placed 11th in the Spring Festival / Senior Cup under David Hirst playing Freedom by Hubert Bath.
2022: Keith Maxwell – BMus (Hons) ACII ACIM – Roche Brass MD.
2022: Roche Brass placed 6th in the Open Section at the SWBBA Championships under Keith Maxwell playing Tallis Variations (own choice).
2023: Roche Brass placed 11th in the Championship Section of the Regional Championships under Keith Maxwell playing Red Priest by Philip Wilby.
Roche Brass May 2023
2023: Roche Brass placed 14th in the Spring Festival / Senior Cup under Keith Maxwell playing A London Overture by Philip Sparke.
2023: Roche Brass placed 8th in the Open Section of the SWBBA Championships under Keith Maxwell.
2024: Roche Brass placed 6th in the First Section of the Regional Championships under Keith Maxwell playing High Peak by Eric Ball.
2024: Roche Brass placed 20th in the Spring Festival / Senior Cup under Keith Maxwell playing The New Jerusalem by Philip Wilby.
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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