St Cleer is a civil parish and village on the southeast flank of Bodmin Moor approximately two miles north of Liskeard
Also referred to as Caradon Miners’ Band during its early days.
Unknown formation date.
1836: 210 persons sat down at the long range of tables when a great number of persons witnessed the festive scene. The St Cleer Band enlivened the company during the afternoon with several favourite airs, performed with much judgment and skill. (17 September 1836 – Exeter and Plymouth Gazette)
St Cleer Brass Band presumably disbanded.
1847: St Cleer Brass Band, sometimes referred to as the Trade Union Band, was formed in 1847 [re-formed]. It was subsidised by The Association for the Dissimulation of Knowledge which also provided the village with a School and Library. (Duncan Paul Matthews of Liskeard OCS from notes compiled about the St Cleer area by the late Yvonne Gilbert BRD).
1848: The mines carried on in this neighbourhood have been the means of changing the manners and amusements of the people by introducing persons from other districts. an excellent Sunday school library, and other institutions for dissemanating knowledge. have been established, and an amateur brass band has been formed, the members of which are principally miners. On Thursday the 16th instant, the band gave a ball to their friends at Tremar, in St Cleer, on the occasion of one or two of the members being about to leave this country for Australia. (West Briton 24th March 1848)
1857: St Cleer Brass Band played at the first Trade Union Strike, at Balleswiden Mine leading all the striking miners in hymns. The mine owners won by closing the mine – prayers not answered as expected! (Duncan Paul Matthews of Liskeard OCS from notes compiled about the St Cleer area by the late Yvonne Gilbert BRD).
1863: Dispensation of Court Rose of Caradon, No. 4,149 (St Cleer), and Officers and Brethren of the Court in full costume, St Cleer Band. Waggon drawing the Shepherd and Shepherdess, with sheep. (29 May 1863 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)
1883: Very successful demonstration organised. A procession, headed by the St Cleer Band, was formed at the church end, and paraded the streets of East and West Looe. (28 September 1883 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)
1883: Songs by Messrs. Hockaday and Martin, alternating with well-rendered pieces by the St Cleer Brass Band, who kindly gave their services gratuitously. (26 October 1883 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)
1885: Band of Hope annual festival was held yesterday. Mr F Atkin, of London, preached in the afternoon, and afterwards the St Cleer Brass Band headed a procession to a field hard by, when the young folks thoroughly enjoyed themselves. (10 April 1885 RCG)
1887: A procession was formed at the higher end of half past two, and preceded by the St Cleer Band, under Mr Oliver, and made gay with flags and banners, marched through the place and along new road. (20 April 1887 – Western Morning News)
1899: Foresters’ fete. The programme included a service at the church, a parade and sports. The St Cleer Brass Band attended. (29 June 1899 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)
1900: In the evening the Foresters, Rechabites, and Oddfellows met at the Court-house, and headed by the St Cleer Brass Band, marched to the church, where there was a very large congregation. (30 August 1900 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)
1904: F Trenberth, St Cleer Brass Band MD. (BBHD / John Brush)
1905: W J Govett, St Cleer Brass Band MD. (Mary Piper)
St Cleer Brass Band 1905 (photo: W J Govett – bandmaster / courtesy of Mary Piper)
Back row: A Johns, M Johns, C Rolstone, S Wilton, W Harris, Will Stephens
Front row: H Stephens, ? Mitchell, J Olliver, W Stephens, J Mitchell, J Rolstone, S Johns
Circa 1905: St Cleer Brass Band possibly disbanded. (John Brush)
1925: The festival included a cricket match, tea, and sports. St Cleer Band played selections. (26 June 1925 – Western Morning News)
St Cleer Band – possibly late 1920s (Photo: courtesy Mary Piper)
Back row: Unknown, Perry Worden, William Worden, Charles Worden, remainder unknown
Middle row: Reginald Worden, Brice Hoskin, remainder unknown
(William Worden married Mable Rowe and they had three sons: Reginald Percy and Charles. Reg was Mary Rowe’s father)
(Brice Hoskin married Linda Maud Mary Ann Worden, younger sister to William Worden.
Brice Hoskins’ mother was Bessie Beaglehole, daughter of Elizabeth Beaglehole oldest sister to Margaret Beaglehole Rowe)
Possibly some Rolstones in the band.
Unknown closure date.
WWII: “From my own knowledge, the St Cleer Band Instruments were lost after all the men went off to fight in the 1939/45 war. They were subsequently forgotten and assumed lost. They were found over a decade later in the attic of Jasper Farm, St Cleer.” (Duncan Paul Matthews – Liskeard 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.
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