Camborne Town Band is pleased to announce that this year is the 175th Anniversary of the first band in Camborne.
The band’s history has been researched by band supporter, Cornish Bard and historian, Tony Mansell who has written two books about the band history. Tony has also acknowledged access to research carried out by John Brush.
Tony says: “Finding proof positive of a link between the Camborne Band of 1841 and the one of today has been a difficult task. Indeed, in my book Camborne Town Band, I suggested that there was no direct link but from more recent research I believe there is pretty strong evidence, even for the greatest doubters, and sufficient for me to have changed my mind.
That early band would have been quite different in its composition and sound to today’s bands with some of the brass instruments, so common now, still to be invented and woodwind players occupying many of the seats. Indeed, woodwind was very important and it must have been difficult to ask the reed players to make way for the new all-brass sound. One newspaper posed the question, “Is it a fact that Camborne Band do not intend to use their reed instruments in the County Contests?” (West Briton 9th August 1894)
The Band of 1841 undoubtedly existed and we now have a record of a number of engagements up until 1859 when it seems to have disbanded. In that year, a military volunteer band was formed. It was immediately fully functional and it is reasonable to assume that its players came from the ranks of the civilian band. Indeed, maybe the entire band had signed up and received the Queen’s shilling.
The volunteer band entered its first contest in 1863 and for the next 33 years competed successfully across Cornwall. Then, in 1896, the entire membership was dismissed from military duty for competing at the Trevenson contest without permission. Most of the dismissed members, possibly all, formed a new Camborne Town / Independent Band. Within a few months they had obtained sufficient kit to begin taking engagements. This was the forerunner of the Camborne Band of today, a band that is still performing to the highest standards. It was placed sixth in the 2015 National Championship of Great Britain and is currently ranked 24th in the world."