St Breward is a civil parish and village on the western side of Bodmin Moor, about 6 miles north of Bodmin
Unknown formation date.
1871: The concert was ably assisted by the members of the St Breward Band, who played several excellent pieces, under the conduct of the bandmaster, Mr Joel Blarney. (1 April 1871 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)
1872: The members of the Band of Hope met at three o’clock, and headed by the Blisland and St Breward United Temperance Band perambulated the village until four o’clock, when tea was served in the Bible Christian schoolroom. (22 June 1872 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)
1872: No Connection. To the Editor of the Royal, Cornwall Gazette. Sic, Seeing in your last week’s issue that the St. Breward Temperance Society had just held its annual festival, and that the members of the Band of Hope were headed by the Blisland and St Breward United Temperance band, I beg to inform you that the St Breward band had nothing to do with them. I wish it to be understood that the St. Breward band, better known as the Delank band, has no connection with the Greenaway’s Blisland band. Yours, &c, JOEL J. WILLIAMS, Bandmaster, St. Breward. Stonemasan Vrow, June 25th, 1872. (6 July 1872 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)
St Breward Silver Band disbanded
1899: Hearsay has it that after a visit by the Cardinham Brass Band to St Breward for an event, people were so concerned about the playing that they decided to form a band of their own to see if they could do better. (A History of St Breward)
1899: St Breward Silver Band formed. (Band website / A History of St Breward)
Thomas Tremaine, St Breward Silver Band MD. (A History of St Breward)
1899: St Breward has started a Brass Band, and during the winter the evenings will be devoted to practice. (7 September 1899 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)
In the early days St Breward Brass Band rehearsed in a small room at Row which was a Bible Christian Chapel. Mr W Teague can remember sitting in the band room on corn sacks for a rehearsal when it was used as a corn store. (A History of St Breward)
1900: The Bible Christian Choir will give a selection of music at the meeting. The St Breward Brass Band will be in attendance. (20 January 1900 – Cornish & Devon Post Launceston)
1900: “St Breward Brass Band, newly formed, acquitted itself in a most creditable manner. (22 February 1900 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)
1900: Brown Willy: From what I can hear it appears that my notes of fortnight ago respecting a pro-Boer and 15 musicians in an adjoining parish have been misunderstood. It appears that the members St. Breward Brass Band have applied the notes to themselves as their band is composed of 15 musicians. Now, this is not so, for a matter of fact the “15” musicians are 15 cats kept by one man, and these cats are alleged to have eaten all the dishcloths in the neighbourhood. (10 March 1900 – Cornish & Devon Post Launceston)
1901: Sports subsequently held were well attended. St Breward Brass Band, under Mr Tremain, played selections. (4 July 1901 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)
1902: On Saturday in almost continuous rain, the members marched in procession to the field, headed by St Breward Brass Band. (31 July 1902 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)
1902: Thomas Teague, St Breward Brass Band MD. (A History of St Breward)
1906: Thomas MacDonald, St Breward Brass Band MD. (A History of St Breward)
St Breward Band 1908 (Photo: A history of St Breward – unknown)
Back row: J Toms, H May, J R Rowe, C May, O Gill, H Hill, D Broadfoot, J Oliver
Front row: A L Spargo, I Rowe, W J Hawken, W Carne, W Gill,
1908: Sports St Breward. In connection with St Breward Brass Band, athletic sports were held on Saturday. The band marched to the Cricket Field where, in spite of unfavourable weather, a good number of spectators watched the following events. (22 August 1908 – Cornish & Devon Post Launceston)
1908: An entertainment on behalf of the funds of the St Breward Brass Band attracted a large audience. (19 November 1908 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)
1908: The programme was contributed to by the St Breward Glee Party, Mesdames W and F Bolt, Messrs W Bolt, Matthewson and St Breward Brass Band under Mr W J Hawken. (19 December 1908 – Cornish & Devon Post Launceston)
1909: Music was provided by the St Breward Brass Band under Mr Hawkey. (27 February 1909 – Cornish & Devon Post Launceston)
1910: W John Hawken, St Breward Brass Band MD. (A History of St Breward)
1910: The programme consisted of selections by the St Breward Band under the conductorship of S Hawken. (17 December 1910 – Cornish & Devon Post Launceston)
1912: St Breward Silver Band contesting under W J Hawken. (Contest archive)
1914: W Cotton, St Breward Brass Band MD. (A History of St Breward)
1914: Fred Spargo, St Breward Brass Band MD. (A History of St Breward)
St Breward Silver Band ceased playing during WWI. (A History of St Breward)
1923: A successful football tournament and concert in aid of St Breward Brass Band was held at St Breward. Eight teams competed. (29 August 1923 – Western Morning News)
1924: W J Hawken, St Breward Brass Band MD. (A History of St Breward)
The old brass instruments were replaced with silver plated ones and St Breward Brass Band was re-named St Breward Silver Band. (A History of St Breward)
1928: A concert in aid the Welsh miners’ distress fund was given at St Breward on Sunday. Before the concert commenced St Breward Silver Band played selections. (18 December 1928 – Western Morning News)
1927/28: St Breward Silver Band contesting under Charles H Baker. (Contest archive)
1928: “Foxhole Silver and Wenford and St Breward Bands marched to a special service the parish church. (14 August 1928 – Western Morning News)
1929: Annual hospital demonstration at St Breward on Sunday, when Camelford Silver Band, under Bandmaster Rogers, and St Breward Silver Band, under Bandmaster Hawken, paraded the neighbourhood. (13 August 1929 – WMN)
1935: R Bawden, St Breward Brass Band MD. (A History of St Breward)
St Breward Band at Row 1935 (Photo: A History of St Breward – unknown)
Front row: Tom Parsons, Roy Hawken, Gordon Ternouth, Fred Winn, Ralph Kerslake
1935: Up until 1935 St Breward Silver Band had no uniforms, only caps which the members purchased themselves. A wonderful set of uniforms was purchased styled on the Guards pattern; high neck, lots of gold braid. They were brown with fawn set-ins and belt, fawn hat band, braid epaulettes, nine buttons down the front, six on each sleeve and three each side at the rear. (A History of St Breward)
1935: Foxhole Silver Band and St Breward Silver Band played through the village. (13 August 1935 – Western Morning News)
1936: The motor cycles they were riding collided at Ryland Corner, St Breward on Saturday afternoon. Both were members of St Breward Band and the football club. They were Mr Frederick George Winn, aged 24, second son of Mr and Mrs T Winn, of Penvorder. (26 November 1936 – Cornishman)
1937: St Breward Silver Band contesting under R Bawden. (Contest archive)
1937: M Minear, St Breward Brass Band MD. (A History of St Breward)
1938: W J Hawken, St Breward Brass Band MD. (A History of St Breward)
1938: The procession, headed St Breward Silver Prize Band, proceeded to the Wellington Hotel yard, where an effigy was burnt and a firework display given. (8 November 1938 – Western Morning News)
1939: Fete and festivities were held in the vicarage grounds, the event being declared open by Mrs G Wilson of St Mabyn. St Breward Band was in attendance, and a display of folk-dancing was given by pupils of the Council School, under Miss M Mitter. (26 July 1939 – Western Morning News)
St Breward Silver Band ceased playing during WWII. (A History of St Breward)
1945: The old chapel was not available for use as a band room so a small room at Victoria Terrace was used – it was known as the Boot Store. There was no lighting so the players used candles clipped to the music stands. Unfortunately when the door opened the draught extinguished most of the candles. There was a penny a week fund to pay for the candles. (A History of St Breward)
1948: St Breward Silver Band resumed the use of the original band room. (A History of St Breward)
1952: W G Termouth St Breward Brass Band MD. (A History of St Breward)
1953: J B Johnson St Breward Brass Band MD. (A History of St Breward)
1954: St Breward Silver Band contesting under J B Johnson. (Contest archive)
1955: Existing band room purchased for £250.
1955: Alfred Chapman St Breward Brass Band MD. (A History of St Breward)
1955/56: St Breward Silver contesting under Alfred Chapman. (Contest archive)
1957: Mr Creasey St Breward Brass Band MD. (A History of St Breward)
1958: W D Lawton St Breward Brass Band MD. (A History of St Breward)
1958 to 1966: St Breward Silver contesting under W D Lawton. (Contests archive)
1960: St Breward Silver purchased its second set of uniforms. (A History of St Breward)
1960: St Breward Silver admitted female players for the first time. (A History of St Breward)
1962: Band room extended.
1963: St Breward Silver Band placed 2nd/1st in the Third Section at the SWBBA contest under W D Lawton playing Salzberg Suite and Austria hymn.
1964: St Breward Silver Band placed 1st in the Third Section at the SWBBA contest under W D Lawton playing Indian Summer.
1965: St Breward Silver Band placed 1st in the Second Section of the SWBBA Championships under W D Lawton playing Rhapsody on Negro Spirituals by Eric Ball and Parkhall hymn by Alfred Ashpole.
1967: J Sexton St Breward Brass Band MD. (A History of St Breward)
1967: St Breward Silver unplaced in the Third Section at the SWBBA Contest under W D Lawton playing A Holiday Suite by Eric Ball and hymn Tune Aberystwyth.
1968: Goff Richards St Breward Brass Band MD. (A History of St Breward)
1968: St Breward Silver Band contesting under Goff Richards. (Contest archive)
1970: G Bunt St Breward Brass Band MD. (A History of St Breward)
St Breward Junior Band at Port Isaac August 1971 (Photo: courtesy Paul Phillips)
1971/72: St Breward Silver Band contesting under G Bunt. (Contest archive)
1971: St Breward Silver unknown (A Holiday Suite) and unknown (own choice march) in the Third Section of the SWBBA Contest under G Bunt.
1973: R W Layfield, St Breward Brass Band MD. (A History of St Breward)
1974: St Breward Silver contesting under R Layfield. (Contest archive)
1975 to 1999: Wm A Hunt St Breward Silver MD. (A History of St Breward)
1975: St Breward Silver withdrew from the Third Section of the SWBBA Championships.
1977 to 1999: St Breward Silver contesting under William Hunt. (Contest archive)
1978: St Breward Silver placed 3rd in the Third Section at the SWBBA Contest under W A Hunt playing King Lear by Drake Rimmer.
1979: St Breward Silver placed 3rd in the Third Section at the SWBBA Contest under W A Hunt Swedish Rhapsody by Gordon Jacob.
1980: St Breward Silver – unknown results (own choice test pice and hymn) in the Third Section at the SWBBA Spring Festival under W A Hunt.
1980: St Breward Silver – unknown results (own choice test piece and hymn) in the Second Section at the SWBBA Spring Festival under W A Hunt.
1980: St Breward Silver placed 1st in the Third Section at the SWBBA contest under W Hunt playing Life’s Treasures.
1983: St Breward Silver – unknown result in the Fourth Section of the Pontin’s Regional Contest under W A Hunt playing Suite Gothique by Leon Boellman
St Breward Silver Band 1984 (Photo: A History of St Breward – unknown)
1984: St Breward Silver unplaced (The Prizewinners) in the Third Section of the SWBBA Contest under W A Hunt.
1985: St Breward Silver Band placed 1st in the Third Section at the SWBBA contest under W Hunt playing Three Inventions.
1986: St Breward Silver Band contesting under W A Stone. (Contest archive)
1986: St Breward Silver Band contesting under G Swann. (Contest archive)
1988: St Breward Silver Band players pay a subscription of 10p per week. (A History of St Breward)
1988: St Breward Silver Band placed 3rd (Viscaya) in the Third section of the SWBBA Contest under W Hunt.
1990: St Breward Silver Band placed 1st out of 14 bands at Weston-Super-Mare Contest under W Hunt playing own choice test piece, Othello.
1990: St Breward Silver placed 2nd in the Third section at the SWBBA contest under W Hunt playing Fanfare Diversions by Golland. (British Bandsman 10th November 1990)
1992: St Breward Silver placed 2nd in the Third section of the 46th SWBBA Championships under W Hunt.(British Bandsman 14th November 1992)
1993: St Breward Silver placed 3rd in the Third section at the Southern Open Brass Band Championships at Plymouth Pavilions under W Hunt. (British Bandsman 17th July 1993)
1993: St Breward Silver placed 1st in the Third section at the SWBBA contest under W Hunt playing Music for a Festival by Sparke.
1994: St Breward Silver unplaced (The Journeyman) in the Fourth Section of the National Brass Band Regional Championships under W A Hunt.
1994: St Breward Silver placed 1st in the Fourth section at the SWBBA contest under W Hunt playing Suite for Brass.
1995: St Breward Silver – unknown result (Little Suite for Brass No 1) in the Fourth Section of the National Brass Band Regional Championships under W A Hunt.
1995: St Breward Silver unplaced (Mexican Fiesta) in the Fourth section at the SWBBA contest under A Hunt.
1996: St Breward Silver placed 1st in the Fourth section at the SWBBA contest under W Hunt playing West Sou’ West by D Stephens. (British Bandsman 23rd November 1996)
(Courtesy British Bandsman 12th July 1997)
(Courtesy British Bandsman 13th September 1997)
1997: St Breward Silver Band placed 3rd in the Fourth section of the SWBBA Contest at Torquay under W Hunt playing Northumbrian Suite by Johnson. (British Bandsman 8th November 1997)
(Courtesy British Bandsman 3rd April 1999)
(Courtesy British Bandsman 31st July 1999)
2000: St Breward Silver Band placed 1st in the Fourth section of the Regional Championships under G Swann playing The Haslemere Suite.
2000: St Breward Silver Band placed 4th in the Fourth section final of the National Championship of GB under Jonathan Lush-Camps playing The Seasons by Philip Wilby.
(Courtesy British Bandsman 3rd February 2001)
2001: St Breward Silver Band placed 10th in the Third Section of the National Brass Band Regional Championships under Jonathan Camps playing Sinfonietta by Joseph Horowitz.
2002: St Breward Silver Band placed 18th in the Third section of the Regional Championships under G Swann playing St Austell Suite.
2002: St Breward Silver Band placed 3rd in the Third section at the SWBBA contest under Aaron Harvey playing Promenade by F Bryce.
Aaron Harvey St Breward Silver Band MD. (A History of St Breward)
2002 to 2005: St Breward Silver Band contesting under Aaron Harvey. (Contest archive)
2003: St Breward Silver Band participated in the Third section of the Regional Championships under Aaron Harvey playing Northern Landscapes by Peter Graham.
2003: St Breward Silver Band placed 2nd in the Third section at the SWBBA contest under Aaron Harvey.
2004: St Breward Silver Band placed 12th in the Third section of the Regional Championships under Aaron Harvey playing Vizcaya by Gilbert Vinter.
2005: St Breward Silver Band placed 1st in the Fourth section at the SWBBA contest under Darren Hawken playing Mexican Fiesta.
2007 to 2009: Garry Lannie St Breward Silver Band MD. (Garry Lannie)
2007: St Breward Silver Band placed 2nd in the Fourth section of the Regional Championships playing The Seasons.
2007: St Breward Silver Band placed 4th in the Fourth section of the National Championship of GB under Garry Lannie playing Roman Tryptch.
2009: St Breward Silver Band placed 1st in the Fourth section of the Regional Championships under Garry Lannie playing The Talisman.
2009: St Breward Silver Band placed 1st in the Fourth Section of the National Championship of GB under Kevin Mackenzie playing Alta Vista by Bruce Fraser.
Kevin Mackenzie, Guest Conductor (Photo: Tony Mansell)
Shaun Woodland, St Breward Silver Band MD. (Website)
2010: St Breward Silver placed 3rd in the Third section of the Regional Championships under Graham Boag playing Labour and Love.
2010 to 2016: Nick Chadd St Breward Brass MD. (A History of St Breward)
2016: Tom Howard, St Breward Silver MD. (Website)
St Breward Silver Band with MD Tom Howard
2019: St Breward Silver placed 2nd in the Fourth Section of the SWBBA Championships. Highest placed ungraded band.
St Breward Silver Band on The Platt in Port Isaac Aug 2022 (Photo: Peter Glaser)
2022: St Breward Silver placed 4th in the Fourth Section at the SWBBA Championships under Tom Howard playing Saddleworth Festival (own choice). Highest placed ungraded band.
2023: St Breward Silver placed 6th in the Fourth Section of the Regional Championships under Tom Howard playing Hungerford Town by Darrol Barry.
2024 – St BrewardSilver Band Room (Tony Mansell)
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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