2013 has seen Aldbourne Band commemorate its 153rd anniversary with a lottery sponsored heritage project, collating stories, photographs, programmes and other memorabilia of the band to help document its long history.

Baton

With a special concert to come later this month, the band hopes to add to its collection, which now includes a brand new Christmas CD.

A recent treasured addition is a ceremonial conducting baton, presented to conductor Albert Stacey on 27th July 1910 from the Reverend W.A. Butler as a ‘token of appreciation for the Aldbourne Prize Band’.

The amazing historical connection (above) is that the Albert Stacey was also the great grandfather of James Sheppard, current Aldbourne Band Chairman.

The remarkable connection shows just how important brass banding has been in the Aldbourne community for over a century and a halfChairman, Harry Sheppard

Remarkable

Band President Harry Sheppard told 4BR: "The remarkable connection shows just how important brass banding has been in the Aldbourne community for over a century and a half.

The 2013 band is playing fantastically well and has just spent a whole weekend recording a new CD which will provide a musical record for future generations of supporters to enjoy."