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Tredegar Town Band |
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Despite this success, Tredegar had previously enjoyed Championship Section status throughout the 1960s, first qualifying for the National Finals at the Royal Albert Hall London, in 1964, when Gilbert Vinter’s Symphony of Marches was used as the regional test piece. The Band’s first performance in the Championship Section at the National Finals in London coincided with yet another Gilbert Vinter classic – Variations on a Ninth. The Band drew the dreaded number one and had the dual privilege of warming up on the National Anthem and playing to a full hall (it was in those days!) for the first performance of this superb test piece. Certainly the soloists of the Band performed with distinction on that day with John Childs on Solo Euphonium playing his high ‘D’ pause for an interminable length of time! Perhaps it is worth emphasising that at this time the Final’s test pieces were released to eligible competing Bands just 6 weeks prior to the date of the Contest. This seriously curtailed rehearsal time.
The Band then qualified again for the National Finals in 1967 when the Finals’ test piece was Journey Into Freedom and the Band had the dubious task of following Brighouse and Rastrick Band onto the stage – immediately after the Wee Professor – Walter Hargreaves had whipped the capacity audience into a frenzy in his own inimitable style. Mr. Hargreaves was no stranger to Tredegar – he had previously given lessons to Brian Buckley and always spoke highly of the musicianship of the Band under the baton of Con Buckley, whenever he adjudicated in Wales and other venues that the Band attended. Indeed it was Mr. Hargreaves who awarded the regional prize to Tredegar in 1955 prior to their success at the National Finals Section B in that year (Section 1 did not appear in contests until the late 1980’s).
When the prize money was increased at the National Eisteddfod in the mid 1960s, the Band decided to enter the main contest at Barry. Con Buckley was unwell at that time so the decision was taken to engage Mr. Hargreaves to rehearse and conduct the Band at this contest. The test piece was the formidable challenge – Festival Music by Eric Ball. The Band won the contest very comfortably much to the delight of all concerned. During the rehearsals prior to Mr. Hargreaves’ visit, the Band was conducted by Brian Buckley who combined this role with his duties as Principal Cornet.
Throughout the 1960’s, several members of the Band were regularly selected for the National Brass Band of Wales – John Childs (Euphonium); Ivor Roberts (Baritone); John Bowen (Horn); Alwyn Powell (Trombone) and Brian Buckley who shared the Principal Cornet duties with Stan Williams (Principal Cornet of the Cory Band). Other players who made significant contributions to the Bands’ success during this period were Alan Winstone, Doug Moss, Tudor Williams and Laurence Davies (Cornets), Paul Arthur (Flugel), Bill Jones (Euphonium), Trevor Greenwood (Baritone and E Flat Bass) and Roy Dallimore (Baritone and B Flat Bass).
The Band enjoyed considerable success for the last 15 years that Con Buckley was MD, winning many local contests and at venues further afield notably Blackpool, Birmingham, Oxford and Reading. Music from Scheherazade (Rimsky Korsakov) was a favourite own choice test piece, the Band winning at every contest this music was used. This music was a formidable challenge for both Euphonium (Solo and Single Cadenza) and the Principal Cornet (Solo and ‘Four’ Cadenzas). Certainly John Childs (Euphonium) and Brian Buckley (Cornet) seemed to revel in it!
Harry Mortimer and Mansel Thomas (Head of BBC Wales Music) were important visitors to the Bandroom at Union Street in the early 1960s, when they auditioned the Band for future broadcasts. The Band was successful and their first radio broadcast was live, on a Boxing Night in front of an audience in the college at Ebbw Vale. Heavy snow had fallen all day, so the Band had to walk from Tredegar to Ebbw Vale with their instruments to fulfil the engagement. This broadcast was part of a nationwide link up for the Festive Season. The Band played Castell Coch and Tritsch Tratsch Polka, then walked back home!
There were also a few enjoyable experiences on Welsh language TV, when TWW organised several series of ‘knock out’ competitions for Championship Section Bands throughout Wales – the Band reaching the semi finals on two occasions.
The end of the 1960s heralded another period of change for the Band. Con Buckley was unwell, so Brian Buckley took over the baton, leading the Band to several successes in the Championship Section. This was regarded as a temporary measure, but sadly, Con Buckley was forced to retire from active conducting due to continuing ill health. This, in turn led to Brian Buckley seeking advice on his future pathway from Walter Hargreaves who advised Brian to seek a different Band, preferably in a lower Section to help him develop his conducting skills. Brian was subsequently invited to become MD at Rogerstone (their conductor Sam Roberts having died immediately he left the stage at Cardiff after conducting the Band in a contest). John Childs was still playing Solo Euphonium at Tredegar but had started conducting at Cross Keys, so John was invited to become the Band’s new MD. This marked the start of yet another new era in the Band’s history.
In the mid 1970’s the format of the Annual Gwent Youth Brass Band Contest was changed to a short entertainment contest. This resulted from pressure by both John Childs now MD of Tredegar) and Brian Buckley, MD at Rogerstone). Both John and Brian had enjoyed many years playing at Tredegar, John as Solo Euphonium and Brian as Principal Cornet and their friendship was such that they wished to improve the standard of both these bands that served the Sirhowy Valley – Tredegar at the head and Rogerstone at the foot. Both bands became fierce competitors and raised the standard of performance to a high level with both bands gaining promotion to the championship section in the early 1970s by winning the National Championship title Section 2, Rogerstone in 1971 and Tredegar in 1973
Throughout the period that Con Buckley was MD – some twenty five years in total, there were very few changes in the Band’s administration. Gus Powell was ever present as Treasurer, with Idris Thomas being the Secretary for most of this period. Roy Williams became Secretary during the 1960s. Jim Morgan (the Superintendent of Bedwellty Park) was the Chairman initially followed by Reg Childs – John Childs’ uncle. For many of these years, the Committee of the Band included representatives of the Workmen’s Hall Institute Committee who had financial interests in the Band’s funding at that time. In retrospect, these were years of improving standards, many contest successes and much change - instruments had changed to standard pitch and the repertoire became much more technical in style and format.
Original compositions now regularly appeared as standard test pieces for major contests and local contests. The organisation of contests also changed, during the 1950’s at local contests it was commonplace for Bands in lower sections to also enter and compete in the next higher section. This meant that these contests were often finishing in the early hours of Sunday mornings.
Band personnel travelled to contests in their Band Uniforms, “Walking Out” uniforms were not generally fashionable or affordable. The cut away single breasted buttoned to the neck uniform jackets that the band had worn since the 1930’s were replaced in the 1950’s with a button up jacket complete with gold coloured shoulder lanyards. The followed the doubled breasted blue lapelled jacket. These were replaced in the 1960’s with a shorter style mess jacket complete with red facings.
Organisationally from the 1960’s, a different approached ensued, with open air contests becoming relegated to history, and right at the end of the 1960s, the major step forward to include percussion in the contesting ensemble was taken. But, that is another colourful and time consuming story!! |
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The History (1960 - 1970) |
