The Welwyn Garden City Band, formed in 1934, is almost as old as the town itself. Appealing not only to local players, it attracted a number of instrumentalists coming from all over the country to live and work in the new town – many from the traditional brass band strongholds of the North and Scotland.
WGC Band – Studio Lisa photograph (no.82) in postcard format of the “WGC Silver Prize Band”. Derek donated this image to the Welwyn Garden City Heritage Trust archive during the ‘Where Do You Think We Played?’ project. Derek’s father is pictured in the middle row – third uniformed player from the left.
In 1936 the Band registered its first contest success, winning its section at the Crystal Palace National Brass Band Championships. It continued to function during the War years although many players left to serve with the Armed Forces. On their return the Band gradually returned to strength and in 1953 gained first prize in the Southern Area Qualifying Championships.
WGC Band – formal photo of band with members of WGC Council after winning the regional qualifying round of a national brass band competition. Image dated 1953/4 donated to the Welwyn Garden City Heritage Trust archive by Derek G during the ‘Where Do You Think We Played?’ project.
WGC Band from 1960 WGC Youth Handbook. Listing reads: WELWYN GARDEN CITY BAND
Times of Meeting : Rehearsals at Heronswood Secondary Modern School, Thurs 8 pm; Sun 11 am.
Membership: Anyone interested. Suitable applicants are taught to play an instrument and are given an instrument and uniform for use with the band.
Activities: Twice weekly rehearsals. Concerts given in public throughout the summer on various open spaces and some indoor concerts during the winter. Occasionally the band goes to compete in contests (at least once a year, sometimes twice).
Objects: Generally to provide the pleasure of playing together in a more flexible combination than a normal orchestra, as one player can usually play on any instrument.
Subscription : Junior members 3d. per week, seniors 6d. per week. Secretary: Mr. R. H. Jones, 41 Archer’s Ride, Welwyn Garden City.
Promotion to the Third Section in the early 1970’s heralded the beginning of a new era for the Band with many contest successes and increased public appearances both locally and further afield. The momentum continued into 1976 which became a year of firsts for the Welwyn Garden City Band. It attained first place in the Third Section of the London and Southern Counties Regional Championships, resulting in promotion to the Second Section. It also made two television appearances, including an Anglia TV documentary, “The Garden City Sound”, cut its first LP record and embarked on its first-ever European Tour, visiting Belgium and Germany.
Welwyn Garden City Band – 1976
A number of BBC Radio broadcasts followed, the Band being featured in Friday Night Is Music Night, Listen To The Band and Radio 3’s Bandstand programmes. In 1980 the Band made a return visit to Germany for another successful concert tour and, in 1982, played for Her Majesty The Queen Mother at a garden party in the grounds of Hatfield House.
The Band’s Golden Jubilee was celebrated with a concert which was broadcast by Chiltern Radio and which featured Don Lusher as guest soloist. A ten-day tour to Sweden was a great success and the anniversary celebrations were crowned with the news that the Band had been promoted to the Championship Section from the beginning of 1985. It celebrated in style by winning the first contest of the new season, at Lewisham.
With this success as a base, the Band continued to go from strength to strength. In March 1988, it achieved third place in the Championship Section of the London and Southern Counties Regional Championships and, the following June, released its first music cassette, “Flourishes”. Many prestigious engagements followed including regular appearances in London’s royal parks during the summer concert seasons.
The Band’s continued prominence and its recognition as one of the top brass bands in the region, resulted in it being commissioned by Telstar Records to record a compact disc and music cassette of twenty ‘all-time favourites’ for nationwide retail distribution. “Best of Brass” was released in the autumn of 1993 and was an ideal prelude to the Band’s Diamond Jubilee which followed. A year of celebrations culminated in a 60th anniversary dinner attended by over one hundred guests including many past members.
Welwyn Garden City Band – 1993
Throughout 1995 the Band appeared at a number of events organised as part of the 75th anniversary of the town and also took part in local VE and VJ day commemoration services.
In March 1998 the Band was crowned London & Southern Counties Second Section Regional Champions and was invited to compete at the National Finals in Harrogate. This win also clinched promotion to the First Section from January 1999.
Winning the Buckinghamshire and District Brass Band Festival in Aylesbury in both 2000 and 2001 and taking part in the Pontins’ Championships held in Prestatyn, North Wales, were among the highlights of a run of exceptionally good contest successes. This run continued into 2002 as the Band attained the runners-up position in the First Section of the London & Southern Counties Regional Championships, competed at the National Finals in Torquay and was promoted back to the Championship Section.
Gaining second places at both Hove and Folkestone contests earned the Band the title of Southern Counties Amateur Bands Association “Band of the Year” for 2003. A further runners-up place was earned at Leamington Spa later that year.
2004 saw the Band reach its 70th anniversary, celebrating by recording a new CD – “The Platinum Album”. The Band competed at the Pontins’ Championships in 2004 and 2005 and attained a very creditable 5th place in the Championship Section of the London and Southern Counties Regional Championships in March 2005. Invitations were accepted to compete in the Senior Trophy of the British Open Spring Festival in both 2005 and 2006 which saw the Band travel to Blackpool to play in the famous Winter Gardens.
Welwyn Garden City Band – March 2009
Unfortunately, in 2009 the Band lost its Championship Section status and competed in the First Section for the following four years. A highlight of 2009, however, was the 75th Anniversary Masterclass & Workshop with Rod Franks, Principal Trumpet of the London Symphony Orchestra and the world-renowned Cornet player, Roger Webster.
Due to a shortage of players, in 2011 the Band withdrew from the Regional Contest for the first time. It was also a year that saw the Band move rehearsals to Our Lady Queen of Apostles Church after being at the Hyde Association for many years.
The remainder of the 2010s sadly saw the Band slip down through the Second Section to the Third Section and also move rehearsal venue again, this time to the Isabel Hospice Day Centre.
Welwyn Garden City Band – March 2013
Welwyn Garden City Band – September 2015 at Newbury Racecourse
When Covid-19 arrived in early 2020 the Band ceased rehearsing until June 2021 although regular online Zoom “rehearsals” and quizzes helped to keep the Band together.
Once back to regular rehearsals which had now moved to Batchwood School in St Albans, the Band returned to regular contesting including at Wychavon and Oxford. A further move of rehearsal venue in 2022 saw the Band return to Welwyn Garden City at Thalians Hall.
The Band participated in events in connection with the Queen’s Jubilee in 2022 including the beacon-lighting at Hatfield House and the following year a number of appearances were part of the celebrations for the coronation of King Charles III.
Also In 2023, the Band took delivery of its new uniforms comprising stage jackets, shell jackets and polo shirts. Competing in the Third Section, the Band gained third prize at the Oxford Contest and fourth place at the Regional Contest.
2024 saw a continuation of this successful trend with a first place at Oxford and third prize at the Regional Contest resulting in an invitation to compete at the National Finals in Cheltenham and promotion back to the Second Section effective from 2025.
As well as numerous and varied concert performances during the year, the 90th Anniversary was celebrated with a summer barbecue and an autumn formal dinner and disco for the members.