The 19th Century

A brass band called Ashbourne Brass and Rifle Corps Band was known to be in existence in the town since 1861. Throughout the years bands came and went and during one period around 1889 Ashbourne was able to boast four bands namely, Ashbourne Band, Ashbourne Volunteer Band, Bells Band and Rechabites Band. It is thought that these merged and eventually became just the one band. Until the 1990’s the band believed that they were formed in 1892 as this is when three new instruments are known to have been purchased for the total sum of £24.10.0d !!

The Early 20th Century

The Band went through a number of name changes throughout this period. In 1925 it was known as the Ashbourne Town and Old Volunteer Band. Then in 1932 it changed to Ashbourne Old Volunteer and Town Silver Band. Finally in 1936 the name was changed to the Ashbourne Town Band which it has been known as ever since.

In 1936 the band led the procession through the town for the memorial service of King George V. In the September they also took part in the Drumhead Service organized by the Ashbourne branch of the Royal British Legion and held in the Memorial Gardens.

1936 was also a significant year for the band as it was when Arthur Chadwick joined. He later went on to be the Musical Director for many years and is still an honorary member of the Committee up until his death in 2008.

During the war years the band struggled with dwindling numbers before finally having to cease its functions. Fortunately the band’s trustees, Ashbourne’s Royal British Legion, were able to retain the instruments to enable the band to reform in 1949 under the baton of Arthur Chadwick.

1945 saw the death of one of the bands most gifted bandmasters, Cyril Collier. He was instrumental in re-forming the Ashbourne Town Band in 1936 and composed some of the music played by the band including the march “Ashbournian” which the band played at its 2005 Christmas concert.

In 1952 the bandstand was officially opened in the memorial gardens, Ashbourne. Since then the band has played there on numerous occasions and it is the backdrop to the cover of the record which we released in 1977.

In 1969 the band adopted the image of the lyre into its banner and the Ashbourne Town Band emblem, as worn by the players today, was born.

Late 20th Century to present

To mark the Queen’s Silver Jubilee in 1977 the Band released its first record. At this time the band was made up of 29 members 14 of which were under the school leaving age. In 1986 a new base drum was given to the Band in memory of Jack Sweeney, former Chairman of the Band and father of our current band members.

During the 1980’s the band enjoyed two visits to Lauterbach in Germany, Firstly in 1982 and again in1986. These trips were part of an exchange programme between the two towns. In 1991 the Band went on tour again, this time to Falmouth and was able to raise £400 for local charities.

In 1992 the Band celebrated what it believed to be its Centenary by holding a concert in the St. Oswald’s Church, Ashbourne. They were joined on the night by the Ashbourne and District Pipe Band and the Ashbourne and Thorpe Singers both of which played joint pieces with the band. It was only after this event that the origins were traced back to 1861 and it was actually closer to 150 years old than 100!

photo of ashbourne town band at the Centenary Concert

The band continues to take occasional trips to various parts of the country to help local charities, increase the profile of brass bands and of course to socialize.

In 1994 the Band visited Southport and raised £700 for a local charity.

In 1996 they raised another £600 for charities in Landudno.

In 1998 the band visited Newquay and raised £700 for a charity which dealt with drug addiction and homelessness in young people. Some of this was raised thanks to the Band’s musical director at the time, Mike Wareing, who famously agreed to shave off his beard.

In 2000 the band visited Tenby and raised £900 for the local branch of the RNLI.

In 2002 the band visited Bournmouth.

Most recently in 2006 the Band crossed the Solent to the Isle of Wight. They played at various venues on the island including a joint concert with Shanklin Town Brass Band.

One of the Band’s best claims to fame in recent years is their appearance in the title sequence of Songs of Praise which was shown every Sunday for about a year.

photo of ashbourne town band at Songs of Praise

Courtesy of Ashbourne News Telegraph

The Band marked the Millennium by holding a concert in St. Oswald’s Church in Ashbourne. All past members of the Band, that could be contacted, were invited to play and those that were there would agree that it was a great success. Several past members, after years away, enjoyed being back so much that they decided to rejoin the Band.

photo of ashbourne town band at St. Oswald’s Church in Ashbourne on the Millennium

The band Appointed its current Musical Director Richard Clarke in January 2008.

In 2003 the band undertook the Thorpe Cloud Challenge which was followed in 2004 by the A-Z challenge. See the Fundraising section for details.