A new photo for the archive from Adele. We had a great chat about this one in the pub and have most of the names, except Alec Alexander’s son – any ideas?

We think this is mid 1980s taken at the Watford regional contest.

From the top left…

Len Coote, ? Alexander, Adrian Sillence, Graham Smith, Hugh Jones, Brian Edwards, Tony Crouch, Graham Farnham, Andy Ball, Alec Alexander, John Doughton, Roger Simons, Slim, Peter Wellington, Jonathan Crouch, Nigel Butler, Franklyn Drake, Eric Baker,

Robert Cooper, Raymond Woods, Judy Smith, Stephen Bunting, Avril Reeves, Siobhan Walker, John Butler, Haulewen Jones, Adele Baker

#BrassRoots #HLFfunded #NationalLottery

After a bit of a break, we’re back on the Brass Roots Trail…

The band were busy over the Royston Arts Festival weekend and during our Brass Roots coffee morning we were reunited with some old friends.

Maureen and Nigel Butler popped by and donated the band’s mascot to the Brass Roots project. Maureen made the bear and its uniform for the band in the 80s and he accompanied us on stage and behind the scenes for a number of years. After being injured in action the bear was repaired and retired to a peaceful life at Maureen’s house, but now he is back!

Do you remember the band’s mascot? Do you have any photos of him in action that you can share?

As part of our Brass Roots project we are running a competition to name the mascot, which we will announce at our annual Christmas Town Hall concert.

To take part, email your name suggestion to charmianflowerday@hotmail.co.uk or go to the band’s Facebook page. To find out if your name has been picked, come along to enjoy a programme of festive music and sing along carols at the Town Hall on Sunday 16th December at 7pm.

#BrassRoots #HLFfunded #NationalLottery

If you didn’t catch us live, you can listen again here:

This month’s spotlight item is a cutting from Lisa King about her dad Franklyn Drake, which ties in nicely to our latest listening post clip.

March’s spotlight is part of a history written by Brian Edwards who has just celebrated 75 years playing with Royston Town Band (amazing!).

“My association with Royston Town Band started in 1942 at the age of eleven. Many of the regular players had joined the Forces, and Frank Greenhill, who had been conductor of the band since 1933, came up with the idea of forming a junior band. That was, however, a wonderful idea as so much time was available from school children and instruments were there ready for learners to take up. As a band trainer Frank filled the roll admirably, and was ideal as long as you didn’t play too many wrong notes!

He was determined to keep the band going in Royston, and as so many instrumentalists were missing, the band needed as many replacements as possible to fill the gaps. This was quite an attraction to the youngsters, however, as so many of the instruments were available on which to practise. Frank’s method was quite simple and exercises, scales, and easy marches, were soon coming from the bandroom, which was on loan to us rent-free by Nash, Son & Rowleys, the auctioneers at the top of Fish Hill. This arrangement was used for a number of years. The redundant premises are now a funeral parlour and Council hall.

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