St Germans is a village and civil parish on the River Tiddy, just upstream of where that river joins the River Lynher

 

Unknown formation date.

1875: St Germans Brass Band active. (Phillip Hunt / BBHD / John Brush)

1876: The Inhabitants formed in procession and headed by the St Germans Brass Band, and carrying banners, walked through the village. (28 August 1876 – Western Morning News)

1876: West of England Implement Works. The inhabitants formed in procession, and headed by the St Germans Brass Band, and carrying banners, walked through the village, and then proceeded to a platform. (2 September 1876 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)

1878: St Germans Band, under the direction Mr P S Hawke, rendered valuable assistance. (15 March 1878 – WMN)

1878: Nearly five hundred persons assembled at the St Germans railway station, and headed by St Germans Band, under the conductorship of Mr F Hawke, marched in procession through the town and thence to Fort Eliot. (11 June 1878 – Western Morning News)

1881: The train drew a great concourse of people from St Germans and the neighbouring village collected around the station. The St Germans Brass Band, under Mr F S Hawke, were on the platform, and the ringers were – awaiting the sound of the approaching train. (24 October 1881 – Western Morning News / 28 October 1881 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)

1884: St Germans Band will play at the Temperance Fete, Port Eliot, today, the following programmes under the direction of Mr F S Hawke. (2 June 1884 – Western Morning News)

1887-1894: James Goard, St Germans Brass Band MD. (John Brush)

1887: The proceedings were much enlivened by a nice programme of music, performed by the St Germans Band, conducted by Mr Jas. Goard. (7 May 1887 – Cornish & Devon Post)

1887: Girls’ Friendly Society Excursion at Port Eliot. Tea was also partaken in the Horse Shoe! The St Germans Brass Band, under the conductorship of Mr James Goard, played selections during the afternoon. (26 August 1887 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)

1888: A very pleasing feature was the interspersing the lecture with selections from English, Irish, and Scotch airs by the St Germans Band, conducted by Mr James Goard. (2 March 1888 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)

1890: Liskeard District Agricultural Association. It was decided to engage the St Germans Brass Band to enliven the day’s proceedings. (15 May 1890 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)

1890: The members of the societies assembled at the station and headed by the St Germans Brass Band and with banners flying marched in procession through the village and then to the grounds. (29 May 1890 – RCG)

1890: Thursday’s proceedings were enlivened by the St Germans Brass Band, under the conductorship of Mr James Goard. (11 September 1890 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)

1891: St. Germans Amateur & Cottage Garden Society. St Germans Town Band was in attendance and played a choice selection of music, under the direction of Mr. J Goard. (6 August 1891 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)

1895: With art muslin relieved flags and the stalls were heavily laden with almost every kind of needlework and fancy work. St Germans Village Band, conducted Mr J Goard, played an attractive programme. (4 September 1895 – WMN)

1912: St Germans Band, under Mr J Goard. (6 August 1912 – Western Daily Mercury)

1921: It continued until well into the evening, after which a dance was held in the Eliot Hall. St Germans Brass Band was in attendance. (2 August 1921 – Western Morning News)

1920s: “There was a Mrs Curgenven in St Germans, who would have been active in the 1920s. I was told she had a special conductor’s baton. My informant did not know what type of ensemble Mrs Curgenven was connected with but it could tie in with me being told that the final conductor of the band was female. The baton was described to me as being of ivory and having a silver bobble at one end.” (Ian Whittaker)

1920s: St Germans Silver Band probably disbanded. (BBHD)

 

 

 

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.