Formerly the Aldridge Colliery Silver Prize Band

Reference to Walsall Wood Olde Brass Band

Aldridge Colliery Silver Prize band formed when the Walsall Wood Temperance band went bankrupt.

Recollections of Mr. T Broadhurst of Castlefort Road Walsall Wood

"The Band was known as the Aldridge Colliery Silver Prize Band. They practised in a large garage in Brookland road. Mr tom Smith was the conductor in the 1920's . he left the Band in 1960. Arthur Reeves was the band secretary and also played the trombone. Other players were J Breeze, B Snape, Bradford, J Welsh, and E Westwood. I believe that they performed in a short radio concert on BBC radio in the 1930's

Recollections of Mrs. Ivy Llewellyn of Bloxwich

"Aldridge Silver Prize Band joined with The Bloxwich British Legion Band and The Bescot Band during the war to form the Walsall Home Guard Band. This was disbanded after the war.

My Husband Arthur Llewellyn played side drum in the Bloxwich Band when I first met him in March 1937. He was also learning the Cornet. He was 17 then and more interested in the bands than the girls! We were going out together for 3 years and were then engaged for 3 years 9 months so we got about to see plenty of Brass Bands mostly by cycling. Our son also has an interest in music and became a drummer but of course the 60's music is his era. He has his dad's cornet, his Grandad's trombone and his other Grandads violin. At the beginning of the War there were 6 Llewellyns in the Band.

Aldridge Colliery Band Ceases

The Aldridge Town Band is formed with the support from councilor A Owen and are promised uniforms and instruments.

The Band wins 1^st prize at the Leicester Band Festival - 22 Bands competing

The Band takes 5^th place at the National Brass Band championships of GB held at the Albert Hall Nottingham. 50 supporters attend and the youngest player is John Winsford of Walsall Road (cornet)

The council reneges on its promise of instruments and uniforms after its application to the government for a loan is declined. Councilor crisp stated that the band was proceeding well and that by not having the instruments promised the band was playing its part in the present economic squeeze. (Times do not change!)

The Aldridge cenotaph is rededicated following its removal from within the churchyard to its present site. Aldridge town Band plays at the service which is lead by the Rev. Cartmell

There is friction between the Band and the Horticultural Society following the bands request of a fee of £25.00 to play at the August flower show

Aldridge ratepayer's association object to the announcement that the council finance committee has agreed to finance instruments for the band at a cost of £1500. Uniforms had been provided by the bandsmen out of their own funds.

Problems with the Horticultural Society again. Aldridge Town Band has now earned a good reputation. Many of the regular bandsmen however are on holiday in August when the flower show is held and the band fears that to play at that event with depleted numbers could damage their hard won reputation. The band agrees to explore the possibility of borrowing bondsmen from other bands to make up the numbers.

A concert is held at the BRD when the chairman of the council presents new instruments

A young man drops in at the practice session of Aldridge Town Band and says he can play the double base. He is issued with the instrument and uniform. The man Robert Littleford attends two functions but then cannot be traced at the address he gave. He is traced to Whittington Barracks and it is established that he was "on the run " from the North Staffs Regiment where he was a bandsman. He pleaded guilty to theft of a double base and uniform and was sent to prison for 3 months

The band is practicing 3 times a week at the Swan Inn, but is without a drummer.

The Band now practices at the clinic in Leighswood Road

The Band makes national press headlines when the council allocates an ex police house earmarked for demolition to the band for the storage of instruments. This is at a time when there are 958 people on the local housing waiting list

The band wins 1^st prize in a section contest held by Birmingham and District Brass Band Association - Isaac Perrin Memorial trophy

The name of the Band changes to Aldridge Brownhills Brass Band when the two Authorities amalgamate.

New practice rooms to be sited at the playing fields Rushall

Aldridge Brownhills council purchases a full set of new instruments for the band at a cost of £5000 which were officially handed over at a concert at Tynings Lane School.

The name changes again to keep pace with local government boundary changes and becomes known as the Walsall Metropolitan Band. It is one of the few Bands in the country to enjoy the support of their local council

The band meets Coleshill Silver Band in round 2 of Birmingham Brass77, a BBC competition. The contest was transmitted on 14^th May

The Band wins Championship of Great Britain third section

January1987

Reception is held at the Town Hall in honour of the Band s success. Councillor Leadbetter praised the \band for their achievements and the honour they had brought to Walsall

The Band has now been promoted to the Championship section of the Nation Brass Band Championships. This calls for additional funding and sponsorship is sought. Service Domestic Appliances of Darlaston provide funding for three years and the name of the Band changes to Walsall Service Band

1983 The new sponsors of the |Band are Highgate Breweries and the name now becomes the Walsall Highgate Band in July 1983

The Band head quarters are damaged by car joy riders causing £400 worth of damage.

Musical director Ralph Hall leaves to take up a teaching post in Iceland. The Band playing standard had improved dramatically under his direction with a first prize won in a Dudley contest; his successor is Michael West.

The band wins 2^nd place in the London Brass Band contest

May 1987 the Band wins 1^st place in the City of Leicester Band concert

September 1987 The band is a member of the West Midlands and Anglia Brass Band Association As a result of its success in competitions it is promoted to the Champion section of the 1^st division of the Brass Band World.

The Band scoops 4 major prizes in Leamington Spa area Band Contest

August 1988 sees the sponsorship change again. For the next three years the band is to be known as the CI Band following the gaining of support from the Wolverhampton engineering group. The band continues to enjoy success under it s new name

December 1990The Band steels the show at the 21^st City of Leicester Annual Brass Band festival and takes 1^st place in the champion section

The Band wins a place in National Finals to be held at the Albert Hall London in the autumn

Appointment of Richard Evans musical Director and the announcement that the Staffordshire Building Society will be the new sponsors of the Band from January 1993