St Mawes Castle

 

St Mawes is a small town on the Roseland Peninsula

 

Also referred to as “Mawes Amateur Brass Band”

 

Unknown formation date.

1858: Both young and old were out to witness the departure, and to listen to the lively strains of the St Mawes Amateur Brass Band, who kindly gave their services for the occasion. (11 June 1858 – Royal Cornwall Gazette / 12 June 1858 – Lake’s Falmouth Packet and Cornwall Advertiser)

1859: On Monday evening a concert of vocal and instrumental music took place, and the St Mawes Amateur Band, directed by Mr B George, showed they had not lost ground in the execution of the difficult music allotted to them. (7 January 1859 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)

1860: The room was decorated with evergreens and flowers, and brilliantly illuminated. A portion of the St Mawes Amateur Band, headed by their indefatigable leader and instructor, Mr B George, was in attendance, and gave life and spirit to … (14 January 1860 – Lake’s Falmouth Packet and Cornwall Advertiser)

1870s: From the following report it is clear that St Mawes Band disbanded.

1883: The young friends of St Mawes and, we trust, the old friends also, are anxious that we should have a Brass Band at St Mawes, and I don’t see why we should not. We have plenty of musical talent. (19 July 1883 – Cornishman)

1887: St Mawes Brass Band active. (John Brush)

1888: The committee met outside The Haven, the residence of Mr J C Kennerley, and from thence, accompanied by the St Mawes Band, proceeded to the first lamp opposite Castle-villas, which was lighted by Miss Kathleen Paine. (6 January 1888 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)

1888: On Monday the teachers and children paraded the town, as usual, accompanied by the St Mawes Band, after which tea was served in the schoolroom. (14 June 1888 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)

1889: After this party had left forborne the Roseland Friendly Society, who had marched in procession with the St Mawes Brass Band at their head from the neighbouring village. (13 June 1889 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)

1890: On Monday the teachers and scholars, headed by the St Mawes Brass Band, marched to The Haven, the residence of Mr J. C. Kennerley. The children afterwards paraded the town. (24 July 1890 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)

1890: John Brush stated that St Mawes Brass Band was active to this year so it would seem that it then disbanded.

Early 1923: St Mawes Brass Band founded. (John Brush)

1923: It was decided to form a minstrel troupe to aid the funds of the St Mawes Brass Band. Messrs. E. Whitford and J. Ditchings have undertaken the responsibility of carrying out the arrangements. (15 February 1923 – West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser)

27th April 1923: St Mawes Brass Band’s first public performance. (John Brush)

We do not know when St Mawes Brass Band ceased to exist.

 

 

Compiled and written 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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