History

‘On Monday last the ancient Corporation of this Borough held their annual dinner at the Lamb Inn […] The Wells band was in attendance, and delighted the company during the evening’s festivity with a number of popular airs, played with exquisite taste’. This quote from a local newspaper of July 1839 begins Susan Elizabeth Caola’s new book, ‘ A HISTORY OF WELLS CITY BAND, 1839 – 2019’.

For three years, Mendip-based author and publisher, Sue Caola, has been researching and writing her book, and Wells City Band is excited to announce its launch. Sue has already produced a number of successful local history books, including ‘Hunstrete: Truth and Legend’. Illustrated throughout with numerous archive photographs, her latest book was complete and published in late 2019.

Wells City Band ex-chair and compère, Nick Poole, says “… In her painstaking research, Sue has discovered that our band traces its roots way back to the earliest days of ‘town’ bands. Back in the 1830’s it wasn’t even a brass band; there were all sorts of wind instruments – clarinets, bugles, flutes – really, whatever was available to play together. By the 1860’s our band, like many others across the country, had settled down to being all brass. Sue has found that the band went under various names over the years, but ever since 1907 it has been known as ‘Wells City Band’. We are proud to learn from this book that for 180 years our band and its predecessors have served the city and surrounding area by playing for many public occasions such as leading the carnival, giving bandstand concerts and accompanying the mayor-making ceremony.”

The book tells a truly engaging story of the enthusiasm, commitment and resilience of local musicians. Along the way, there are mishaps recorded – some rather unfortunate, some very comical!

A foreword by Wells City Band’s patron and current Musical Director, Paul Denegri, recognises the central place of local brass bands in our national musical life; an afterword by a current band member brings the story right up to date with news of the Band’s activities in 2019, and beyond.

Wells City Band’s history book first went on sale at our Christmas Concert in Wells Town Hall which took place at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday 14th December 2019.

Copies of our history book are now available as follows:
To buy copy/ies please contact GEOFF BAKER-HYTCH
Email: geoffbh@gmail.com
Mobile: 07951 333049 (PLEASE TEXT, NOT CALL)

Price per copy: £10 + £2.50 postage and packing (GB mainland)

Payments may be made by cheque payable to ‘Wells City Band’ (please write clearly ‘HISTORY BOOK’ on the reverse of the cheque) and post it to:-
Wells City Band History Book, ℅ Geoff Baker-Hytch,
44 St. Thomas Street, Wells, Somerset, BA5 2UZ.

Alternatively, you may pay by BACS directly to our bank account:
Sort code: 30-99-29, Account number: 00069717.
Please provide as payment reference: your initials or shortened surname + HISTBK

In either case, please allow time for payment clearance and posting and ensure you supply the full postal address with your order!