Cornish Brass Band Contest results are recorded separately and can be found using this link
Barbara Seed of Par Old Cornwall Society recorded that St Blazey Amateur Brass Band was formed in 1838 and this was confirmed by the West Briton newspaper report of the 20th April of that year: “Some short time since we noticed a band which had been formed at St Austell, under the direction of Mr Colless, from Jersey; and it now gives us pleasure to add to that the one above mentioned, which is under the superintendence of the same gentleman. On Monday last, both bands met at St Austell, and united in playing several popular and favourite airs in different parts of the town. Their performances were excellent, and considering the short time the St Blazey Band has been formed, their proficiency is almost astonishing.”
1860: 5th Duke of Cornwall’s Artillery Volunteers formed. “St Austell Bay must have been considered most important to the military planners of the mid-19th century as it had no less than thee artillery units (Charlestown, Par and St Blazey) defending its waters. Added to these was the Submarine Miners unit at Fowey. Formidable defences indeed. Can the same be said about their bands? St Blazey Artillery Band came into existence in 1860 under a Mr Pascoe. John Males, in his wanderings around the county, took them in 1905. No contests were participated in, and all engagements were at a comfortable distance from home.” (John Brush)
1860: Mr Pascoe St Blazey Artillery Band MD.
1862: The Brass Band of the St Blazey Volunteer Artillery at Tywardreath Cottage Gardening Society. (1 August 1862 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)
1863: St Blazey Brass Band and the St Blazey Gate Fife and Drum Band at a Philanthropic Society event. (14 March 1863 – Western Daily Mercury / 20 March 1863 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)
1863: St Blazey Brass Band at a church event. (5 June 1863 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)
1877: St Blazey and Tregrehan Bands in attendance… (25 May 1877 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)
1880: St Blazey Band in a procession. (16 January 1880 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)
1885: St Blazey Artillery Volunteer Band, under the direction of Mr Viol, at Tywardreath Gardening Society and obstacle races. (14 August 1885 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)
1886: St Blazey Brass Band at Tywardreath Flower Show. (13 August 1886 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)
1890: Bugle Brass Band and St Blazey Brass Band at a tea event. (19 June 1890 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)
1890: St Blazey Brass Band of the D.C.A.V. under the conductorship of Mr Samuel Viol (bandmaster) at St Blazey Wesleyan Sunday School. (31 July 1890 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)
1894: The newly-formed St Blazey Orchestral Band, under Mr Buddy… (26 April 1894 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)
1898: St Blazey Brass Band in a procession … (13 January 1898 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)
St Blazey Volunteer Band at Fowey in 1900 (Photo: courtesy of Par OCS)
1902: Par Artillery Band and the St Blazey Gate Fife and Drum Band… (3 July 1902 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)
1905: John Males, St Blazey Artillery Band MD, in his wanderings around the county. (John Brush)
1905: John G Males, RMCM. MD who had a musical degree of some sort and managed to lead an eventful life for a few years at least. In 1904 to 1905 he conducted Redruth Duke of Cornwall’s Rifles Band and took on, at the same time, the Royal Engineers Submarine Miners Band at Falmouth. In 1905 he moved to live in east Cornwall where he took over the St Blazey Artillery Band. From there he moved to Camelford DCR Band where he stayed until 1908 to 1909. He then conducted Wadebridge DCR. “It is most fortunate that there was no cavalry band in the county!” (John Brush)
St Blazey Feast Day 1907 with what we think is St Blazey and District Band
1908: Re-formed as St Blazey and District Band.
1908: St Blazey and District Brass Band, under Bandmaster Clemens, made their first appearance. (31 December 1908 – West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser)
1908: Mr Clemens, St Blazey and District Band MD. (BBHD)
1908: St Blazey and District Brass Band, under the conductorship of Bandmaster A. Clemens … (3 September 1908 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)
1912: St Blazey Town Band was in attendance, under Bandmaster A Clemens. (5 September 1912 – West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser)
1916: “… The entertainment took the form of a demonstration of drills and dances, and was held in the cricket field. The St Blazey Brass Band kindly gave their services. The proceedings commenced with the singing of the National Anthems of Britain and Belgium …” (20 July 1916 – West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser)
St Blazey Brass Band
1914 circa: St Blazey Artillery Band disbanded although this is not certain.
1915: Church parade: “Headed by the St Blazey Town Band they made a most imposing spectacle”.(Cornish Guardian 2nd April 1915)
1915: “On the evening of the Bank Holiday, the St Blazey Town Band gave some selections on the Green, when dancing by some of the young people was indulged in, and finally finished up by the floral dance through the village.”(Cornish Guardian 6th August 1915)
St Blazey Amateur Brass Band disbanded. (John Brush)
1919 circa: Re-formed as St Blazey and District Band. (Barbara Seed Par OCS) See 1908 so a bit confusing.
1919: St Blazey and District Band contesting under Edwin J Williams. (Contest archive)
1921: St Blazey and District Band led a procession. (9 May 1921 – Western Morning News)
Before 1922 to 1939 or later: George Bailey, St Blazey Band MD.
St Blazey Band 1923 (Photo: courtesy Par OCS)
George Bailey, conductor, is fourth from right in front row
William Bailey is third from right in middle row
St Blazey & District Band 1923 at Elmsleigh
Back row: S Trebilcock, J Puckey (committee), W Gapper, J Rowe, Noel Humphreys (treasurer), R Ham, Noel Purcell (president), W Bailey, R Bartlett (committee), P Sweet, L Rowe, W Hill (committee)
Middle row: E Ham, W G Bailey, V Menear, D Martin, J Greet, A Richards, J Warmington (secretary)
Front row: L Champ (standing), S Wills (committee), G Puckey, E Bounsall, A Ellory, A Day, G Bailey (bandmaster), R Squires, E Richards, C Bailey, J Gilbert (drummer)
1923/25/32/34: St Blazey Band contesting under E F Woodhead. (Contest archive)
1926: “St Blazey Prize Band, under Mr George Bailey, gave a concert in the Salvation Army Hall. (25 February 1926 – Western Morning News)
1929: St Blazey Silver Band, under Mr G Bailey at Tywardreath Wesleyans. (23 May 1929 – Western Morning News)
1930: St Blazey & District Silver, under Mr Bailey, at Fowey. (17 July 1930 – Cornishman)
1936: St Blazey & District Silver participated in the Junior Shield A (fifth tier) of the National Championship of GB at Crystal Palace under George Bailey playing Gems of Tchaikovsky arranged by Maurice Johnstone.
1939: Furry dance through the streets, headed by St Blazey Silver Band. (3 August 1939 – West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser)
1945: Furry dance through the streets, headed by St Blazey Silver Band. (11 September 1945 – Western Morning News)
St Blazey Band date unknown (Photo: courtesy Par OCS)
1949: St Blazey Silver Band at Town Criers parade. (30 July 1949 – Western Morning News)
1949: St Blazey Band contesting. (Contest archive)
1950s: St Blazey Band disbanded. (Barbara Seed Par OCS)
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.
If you are able to correct or update any information included here then please leave a comment.