Probably the oldest institution in the town, Newquay Band was founded in 1856 and has been entertaining residents and visitor's to Newquay ever since.
Regatta days and Cornish wrestling contests in the early days were some of the band's engagements. Leading the procession of the lifeboat through the town on August Bank Holiday was a formidable task, starting at am and going throughout the day until the afternoon launch, this continued up to 1934.
The Newquay Band has a long history of entertaining Newquay's visitor's, with records dating back to the 1800's. As Newquay's popularity with holidaymakers increased during the 1930's and with sponsorship from the Urban District Council, a full time Musical Director, Mr. Moyle, was appointed. During the 40's and 50's under Mr. Moyle's direction the Band became on of the top Bands in the county.
More recently, local reorganization resulted in the loss of sponsorship and sadly the band could not longer afford a full time musical director and combined with the retirement of older members the band had a struggle to survive. However and training program for young people was formed and slowly but surely the band has improved so that today they can provide a good balanced program of modern and traditional music for the publics entertainment.
The band improved to such a level that in 2000 at the Hall for Cornwall the band won the third section of the Truro contest with an own choice test piece Othello. The band were competing in the third section eventhough they are a rated a forth section band nationally.
Most recently the band has unfortunalty lost a number of players. Over the past months the current members of the band have been working their socks off to publicise the band and get the work of Baning out into Newquay.
The first blow to the band, excuse the pun was the loss of our MD Mr Steve Thomas. Steve had conducted us for approx. 12 months and lead us to Exmouth Entertainment contest where the band enjoyed the day. The resignation of Steve was quick and unexpected.
The band then advertised in the local papers and in the Brass Band magazines. Another route the band tried was to ask about the conductor courses which are held every 6 months in Cornwall, from the latest course, the Band were able to attract Barry Trudgian, he was a brilliant new MD for the band, leading us into new music, some the lgit of air had not seen for years, Unfortunaly Barry had to resign due to his new working commitments.
The band is now conducted by Linda Trethewey. Linda has been able to bring her years of knowledge to Newquay Band. We hope we have acted like a magnet to Linda, and many more enjoyable Brass Banding years will come.
I heard Newquay band was no more and was really sad- SO SO glad it's not true!! There'll always be a place in my heart for Newquay band- ahhhh. Still playing out here- cornet and just bought a tenor horn-yay!! I'd LOVE to hear from anyone who remembers me!! (1984- 94-ish)
