Wellington Memorial Silver

Wellington Memorial Silver Band are looking for more members to join their brass band which has struggled to retain members during the pandemic.

The band meets in Barnamaghery Orange Hall near Crossgar every Monday 8pm-10pm. If you are interested in learning an instrument you can come along on Mondays at 7pm till 8pm. The band provides instruments and tuition. Membership for working adults is £15 and free for under 18s. For more info contact Dawn Stewart: 07484228882.

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History

The band was originally called Wellington Memorial Flute Band, however, it changed to a silver band in 1945. The band was first formed in September 1903 under the control of Barnamaghery LOL 11 and was named Wellington Defenders Flute Band. It was named after Arthur Wellesley (1769-1852), 1st Duke of Wellington, who was the Prime Minister and Commander-in-Chief of the British Army. One of the band’s founding principles was total abstinence.

Band members over the years:

1937: Fred Gourley (conductor)

1944: Hugh Newell, Andrew Patterson (Sec)

1946: John Thompson, John Jackson (Sec)

1947: Hans Thompson, John Jackson (Sec)

1948: William Brown (new bandmaster)

1949: Leslie Hamilton, Jackie Hamilton, Norman Hamilton. John Jackson (Sec)

1950: William Brown (band’s first contest appearance and won)

1951: Adam Hamilton. J Cunningham (President), W Miller (Chairman), John Jackson of Clontinaglare (Sec), E Ellison (Treasurer). Committee: Messrs. G Jackson, J Woods, T Ringland, W Woods, T Cunningham, J Fleming. William Brown (bandmaster). Practicing for Brass Band League contest.

1952: H G Calvert (Pres), W Millar (Chairman), J Jackson (Sec), D Ellison (Treasurer). Committee: J Fleming, N Woods, W Woods, G Jackson, S Andrews, J Woods, S Andrews.

1953: H G Calvert (Pres), W Millar (Chairman), J Jackson (Sec), David Ellison (Treasurer), W Brown (conductor). Committee: B McClurg, G Jackson, D Dickson, H Andrews, J Fleming, E Woods.

1953: Hans Thompson sailed to Canada.

1956: William Brown resigned as conductor.

1958: Robert Stevenson, J Woods.

1959: Samuel Cunningham (President) died that year. Norman Hamilton (Chairman). Probably Thomas Cunningham and brother-in-law William Woods.

1960: Brothers William, Robert and David McClurg. Norman Hamilton (Chairman).

1961: Samuel McCleery (Vice-President) died that year. Thomas McCleery and Walter McCleery. Robert Dickson (Vice-President), David Dickson, Norman Hamilton (Chairman).

1963: William Woods (Treasurer), Norman Hamilton (Chairman).

1968: Drew Hamilton, Norman Hamilton (Chairman), Samuel Spratt (Vice-President). Robert Morrison (Vice-President).

1969: Band won the NI Brass Band League contest with 172 points.

1980: R Stewart (Sec), S Woods (Chairman), Mrs Iris Brown.

1982: William Woods (Vice-President), Tom Cunningham, R Stewart (Sec), S Woods (Chairman). Miss Jacqueline Wells.

1984: Won Intermediate Brass band at NIBA Championship.