Swanage Town Band was originally formed in the 19th century. However the band was reformed in its current format in the mid 1990's After a chance meetingin Priests Road between Eric Gosney and Eddie Wright in November 1994, the possibility of forming a Swanage Town Band was discussed. A letter was published in the Advertiser by Eric Gosney on 8th December, 1994 asking for musicians or anyone interested in forming a Swanage Town Band to come forward. Townspeople and local organisations responded including the Rotary Club who donated £200 from the proceeds of a concert put on by the Belvedere Singers. Sadly no musicians at this point.
A second letter was published in the Advertiser in February 1995 again requesting musicians to come forward followed up by some personal approaches. This time success. Eight or nine musicians got in touch. An inaugural meeting of the band was held on 25th April, 1995 in the Council Chambers of the Swanage Town Hall. It was chaired by Reg_Griffiths , a former mayor of Swanage, and attended by the present mayor, Julie Wheeldon as well as representatives from various local organisations and musicians. It was decided that enough musicians had come forward to start a band and the mayor offered the Chambers as somewhere to practise. This offer was gratefully accepted and a steering committee was formed. Reg Griffiths, chairman; Eric Gosney, secretary; Sarah_Fowler , treasurer; Mike_Wickens , Band Master and Eddie Wright, Minute Secretary.
Thanks to a further donation in June of £100 from the Swanage Chamber of Commerce and another £200 from the Rotary Club, the band started off with £400.
The first rehearsal was held on Tuesday, 11th July. Those who came that evening were Reg Griffitths, Eric Gosney, Eddie Wright (conducted), Mike Wickens (clarinet), Bernard_Hooper (1st trombone), John_Dando (2nd trombone), Ray North (baritone), Heather_Bell (bassoon), Margareta_Causon (flute), Denis Gosney (drums). The pieces rehearsed were “The Flintstones” and “Those Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines”.
In September of the same year, the band was asked to play at the Swanage Rotary Club’s "Joy of Christmas" concert on 9th December. This they did choosing "Christmas Extravaganza", "Walking on Air" and "Georgie Girl" as their pieces. The performance was very well received. "What a marvellous sound they made, though practising together for a comparatively short time. And what a reception they received!" (The Advertiser).
The band also played carols in Station Road as part of Victorian Market on 16th December. George Willey wrote “... and the event was notable for the first appearance in an outside venue of the newly formed Swanage Town Band. Under conductors Eric Gosney and Eddie Wright, they were a huge success. I hope they momentum is kept up and they go onto play (in every sense) a great role in the life of the community.”
The next outing for the band was a short programme for the Chamber of Trade annual dinner at The Havenhurst Hotel on 8th February, 1996.
Some thought was then given to a Swanage Town Band uniform. Royal blue sweatshirts with a band logo in white designed by Eddie Chinchen was the final choice. The sweatshirts arrived in time for a photo call outside the Swanage Town Hall on Tuesday, 23rd April. That Tuesday was also the date of the first band AGM which was held in the Purbeck Room of the Royal British Legion Club. It was attended by 25 members and friends and a committee of the original steering committee, Margareta Causon and a junior band member was duly elected.
The band next played at All Saints Church on 23rd, May, 1996. Pieces included “Selections from Pocahontas” and “Trot de Cavalerie.” On 6th June, the Band shared a concert with The Southern Union Chorus at the Mowlem
In the Advertiser of 13th June, 1996, Eric Gosney reported that “Playing membership had reached 20.............We are being asked to play at numerous events; more than we are able to honour at present.”
Local people continued to be supportive and George Spickett presented a £75 cheque which he had raised by means of an Easter Raffle in his shop.
The Town Band played its first Swanage Carnival performance on 28th July at Sandpit Field before the judging of the Carnival Floats. Other summer venues included the bandstand on 18th August and the Studland Fete on 24th August. The collecting boxes for the bandstand totalled £77.13.
To raise more money for music and stands the band held a coffee morning in the Catholic Hall on 12th October. The Metrognomes Recorder Group played during the morning. There were lots of stalls selling plants, bric-a-brac etc. The event was very successful, raising a fantastic £331.
The band then held an open rehearsal in November in front an audience of friends and relatives who had supported them and made donations. Wine and light refreshments were served afterwards. One member of the audience donated a further £50.
The year ended with the band playing again at the Christmas Victorian Fair and at the Rotary Club’s “Music for Christmas” concert at St Mary’s Parish Church. Pieces at the concert included amongst others. Alexander’s Ragtime Band, Radetsky March and Amazing Grace.
Requests for 1997 Summer performances were continually rolling in. The Swanage Town Band was truly on its way!
