Marshfield Band was formed in 1934 with about eighteen players including three percussionists. During World War 2 the band instruments were acquisitioned by the Aerodrome at Colerne for use by the RAF Band; these were returned afterwards in a poor condition.

The band had a break throughout the war, but in 1947, a few pre-war members (M. Deacon, N. Pullin, R. Purnell, D. Moules, P. Fuller and ex-RAF player T. Olden) started practising again, and then played carols to raise funds to help re-form the band.

The band as it was in the early 1980s

In Febuary 1948, Mr Herbert Sevior of Kingswood, Bristol, was engaged as Bandmaster. Quite a few men from the village joined and added to the few pre-war members, and the band started to develop over the next few years. The band began to perform at engagements such as fetes, shows and carnival processions throughout the years.

During these years Mr V. Cook started a learners' class for young boys and girls who would later join the main band. At this time the band had purchased quite a selection of instruments to make up the required strength for contesting purposes. Mr A. Hendy supplied his coach to take the band to all engagements free of charge (not many cars in those days), later becoming a bass player with the band.

When Mr Herbert Sevior resigned, for a short period Mr Stan Young became Bandmaster. The band had lost quite a few members to other bands at this time. In the year 1963 the band was down to just eight players!.

Mr Chris Hart then became Bandmaster, bringing with him quite a few young members that he had been teaching. The band gradually progressed over the next few years, during which time the word "Bandmaster" was changed to Musical Director. Owing to other commitments, Mr Hart resigned and Mr Daniel Weston took over.

To raise money to purchase new instruments for the band, we would collected unwanted paper from residents in the village and this would be sold to the local paper mill. The band started to become strong, enabling it to start contesting again. When Mr Weston resigned, the band had a number of Musical Directors for short periods until Mr Melvin Howe took over.

The band won the Fourth Section area contest, Weston Super Mare, Reading, Hanham and the Forest of Dean Contests over a two year period, and travelled to Holland to play in town centres and the surrounding areas, taking the Third Prize in the brass section of the Maastricht European Contest.

Like many bands, we have had ups and downs with the numbers of members, and in 2014 we decided to become a non-contesting band, playing for our own pleasure and performing in fetes, carnivals, Christmas activities and in local parks throughout the Marshfield area and beyond.

Thank you to Derrick Ruddell for the above article.