*
banner

Tredegar Band

Conductor: Ian Porthouse
Aneurin Bevan Celebration Day
Bedwellty Park
Tredegar
Sunday 2nd July

The life and achievements of one of the great political figures of the 20th century were celebrated by the community of the Welsh valleys town of Tredegar - the centre piece of which was this outdoor concert in the ornate Victorian bandstand in the grounds of a former Ironmaster’s home.

It was an appropriate setting: The grand house occupying the local council chamber that saw Bevan take his first steps to eventually become a towering figure in the reforming 1945 Labour Government of Clement Attlee, whilst also being the home to Samuel Homfrey, who in 1849 opened the town’s new ironworks to a musical accompaniment provided by a fledgling Tredegar Band.

Speeches and poems

Rousing speeches and children’s poems provided pre-concert entertainment, before the band gave the audience, sat under the 200 year old trees to protect from the warm sun, plenty of easy listening music to enjoy.

Bold marches, solo features from Ian Roberts, Dewi Griffiths, Lowenna Taylor, Martyn Patterson, Danny Winder and Ryan Richards, film music, something Welsh and a little bit of musical heritage all played their part - the latter provided by the first performance by the band in 70 years of JA Greenwood’s ‘Cross of Diamonds’.

Tredegarise

The concert overture was played at the same venue in 1947- just months before Bevan had begun, in his words, to ‘Tredegarise the world’ with the introduction of the NHS - inspired by the town’s own Medical Welfare Society.  

Unearthed in the dusty recesses of its extensive library, it also provided a fitting link to that ground-breaking post War past, with the well-known conductor and adjudicator Brian Buckley sat in the audience to enjoy the timely musical revival almost 70 years to the day on which he played it as a youthful principal cornet under the baton of his father.

The piece may not have made the same worldwide impression in the intervening years as Bevan’s great gift to the nation, but it still held its own in celebrated company.  Old Nye would have been proud. 

Iwan Fox

Support us for less than a cup of coffee...

4BR wants to ensure that the brass band movement remains vibrant and relevant. We also want to be able to question, challenge and critically examine those who run and play in it, producing high quality journalism that informs as well as entertains our readers.

So if like us you value a strong, independent perspective on the brass band world - then why not consider becoming a supporter and help make our future and that of a burgeoning brass band movement more secure.

So one less cappuccino then?

Support us    



The Hepworth Band - A Summer Proms Concert

Sunday 20 July • Hepworth United Sports Club, Far Lane, Hepworth, Holmfirth. HD9 1RN


Petworth Town Band - Ebernoe Horn Fair

Friday 25 July • Ebernoe Cricket Ground GU28 9LD


Petworth Town Band - Dorset House School Fete

Saturday 26 July • Dorset House School RH20 1PB


Haverhill Silver Band - A Nightingale Sang... (an evening concert)

Saturday 2 August • Foakes Hall, Dunmow CM6 1DG


Haverhill Silver Band - East Anglian Beer & Cider Festival

Sunday 24 August • St Edmundsbury Cathedral, Bury St Edmunds IP33 1QX


Rushden Town Band

July 18 • Second Trombone vacancy. A friendly Midlands 1st Section Band, Rushden are looking for a Second Trombone player to come and join us. Great repertoire and concerts plus contests twice per year. Every other year, the band goes on tour.


Welwyn Garden City Band

July 18 • We are a friendly & sociable Second Section Band with an exciting and varied summer season of concerts. Due to an employment relocation, we have an immediate vacancy for a FRONT ROW CORNET player.


Bedford Town Band

July 18 • Bedford Town Band have vacancies for 1st trombone, 1st horn, EEb and BBb bass. We have several concerts and Wychavon contest in the Autumn. In the last few years the band won the Butlins 2nd section , been promoted to 1st section then 3rd at Wychavon


Sandy Smith


Conductor, teacher, adjudicator and arranger


               

 © 2025 4barsrest.com Ltd