The following are excerpts from a speech given by Chris Richards, Band Chair, at the 40th anniversary dinner at the Waie Inn on Friday 15th November 2024. The excerpts are recorded here for historical record purposes having been verified with other long-standing band members and records held within the band.
"Come with me, if you will, back to 1984. The year of the Brighton Hotel bombing and the attempt by the IRA to assassinate the Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher; the Apple Macintosh computer went on sale for £2000; average house price was £29k / average wage £7k pa; and, a brass band was reforming in the Mid Devon Town of Crediton!
If I can take you further back to the end of 1983, a community play was performed at QE Lower School entitled ‘Today of all Days’.
The play required a small marching band which included, amongst others, Deborah, Nicky & Arthur Arscott, Keith & Roger Phillips, Janice Gutans and Ted Everitt (all later to become members of CTB). Arthur, Nicky and Janice are with us this evening, as are 2 persons who starred in the play, as actors rather than musicians. Firstly we have Ted Staite (who played a ‘tree planter’ ‘Wally Gush’) and secondly Claire Willman (then Claire Rowland). Claire played a member of the ‘press’ called ‘Rosina Windebank’.
‘Associate MD’ for the play was Wilson Forster, later to become the Band’s first Musical Director. I’m pleased to say that Wilson has joined us tonight.
Following a meeting in March 1984 many of the brass players from the community play, and others, reformed Crediton Town Band.
Some old instruments and music were lent by local bands and loans acquired, thanks to the support of local clubs, businesses and later, an interest free loan from Mid Devon Council.
The first public appearance was at Crediton Carnival in October 1984 as ‘Crediton Community Brass’. The Band participated in the carnival for around the next 20 years, being joined in the early years by bands from Okehampton and Hatherleigh.
Some of you will also recall the ‘Bandits’ carnival group, made up of band members, family & supporters, who successfully entered Crediton and other local carnivals.
The Band’s first concert in 1985 was a joint one, with CODS (Crediton Operatic and Dramatic Society). This is when a uniform was worn for the first time (many of you will remember the colour of the jackets being similar to the blue and black labels on the Heinz baked beans tin!) In 2005 this uniform was replaced by our current one in black & gold. This was worn for the first time at the first public performance of the ‘Crediton Craftsman’ at a concert in the Parish Church. As many of you will know, this march was written by Goff Richards in memory of Ron Hamlin (funded by the band and Ron’s family), Ron was a very skilled carpenter, carver & turner of wood, hence the title of the march. The title was chosen by the band at the request of Goff Richards. Ron was a member of the Band before, and after the 2nd World War and again in 1984. He was a playing (and marching!) member right up to the time of his death in 2004, aged 90 years. (I’m pleased to say that Ron’s son, Derek, is with us tonight)
Over the years the Band has toured countries in Europe, including Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands and France (performing at Disneyland, Paris, one of my early concerts as MD, nothing like going in at the deep end!)
In this country we have performed at such venues as Blenheim Palace, Kempton Races,the Millennium Dome, Longleat House and Sandringham.
Earlier this year, as part of our 40th celebrations we toured Dorset, Hampshire and Wiltshire, playing at Lulworth Cove, Gunwharfs Quay, Portsmouth and Wilton House, near Salisbury.
Musical Directors over the years have included the following:
Our very first was Wilson Forster, and it’s fair to say that without him, the band would not have reformed in 1984. When I joined in 1985, I recall Wilson being the MD, Chairman and Headteacher at Sandford School. I don’t know how he fitted it all in, but we’re grateful that he did.
Wilson remained as MD for 10 years and is with us tonight, he was then followed a little later as Musical Director by:
In 1995 Graham Pearson, who was ex. Royal Marines Band Service.
In 1997 Chris Taylor took the helm, for a short time, to be followed by
Chris Redwood.
John Glanfield then took over and John stood in at other periods when we were ‘between musical directors’.
Tracey Landles, then Head of Music at QE, took over for a short while before being succeeded in 2003 by a certain Chris Richards.
I was succeeded in 2019 by another former member of the Royal Marines Band Service, Colin Crossman (who is with us tonight).
In 2023 Chris Taylor returned for his second spell in charge, sadly far too briefly.
At the end of July, this year, we appointed Iorwerth Pugh as our new MD.
Bandrooms
In the early days the Band rehearsed at the QE Upper School music room (now the site of the QE sports hall at the Western Road site ). From there, rehearsals moved to the Drama Centre, (near Haywards School) and then to the Newcombes Centre, now demolished. Crediton Football Club was the next practice venue until we moved to our current location at Haywards School.
Watering Holes
The hardened drinkers in the band have frequented a number of licensed premises over the years for ‘post practice refreshment’.
My earliest memory is using the White Swan (whose licensee was a larger than life character called Jim Buxton. Jim was a supporter of the Band and donated the Buxton Plate, awarded to the junior player of the year).
Other dens of iniquity included the Duke of York, the Conservative Club and our current lair at the Kirton Inn.
So I wish to conclude by asking you to stand for one final toast.
The toast is ‘Crediton Town Band, past, present and future’