Brass band’s golden year

They’re not ones to blow their own trumpets, or tubas and cornets – but the members of Taverham Band have plenty to celebrate as they mark a 50-year milestone.

Half a century after their first home “gig” at the village school gym in November 1974, the band has entertained audiences as diverse as royalty and cruise ship tourists.

They also took part in the poignant Last Post ceremony at the Menin Gate First World War Memorial.

After a successful 50th anniversary tour in Germany this spring, a special concert at Norwich Playhouse in October is sold out to a capacity 300-strong crowd – but there is a busy programme of events in December for people to enjoy before the golden year ends.

Musical director Ian Colman, who has played with the band for 48 years and led it for 32, put its continuing appeal down to evolving its programme of tunes.

“When I first played, bands were influenced by ex-military musicians so there were lots of marches and Gracie Fields songs,” he said. “Older audience members remembered World War One – now they remember Abba, so we keep our programme up to date, including current artists such as Taylor Swift.

“We are not a competition band. We are in the entertainment business and appeal to all ages. At some events we get the kids involved, conducting the band.”

Ian’s personal highlights included playing Hymn to the Fallen, from the Saving Private Ryan film, during the wreath laying at the Menin Gate in 2016.

“It was so emotional to be a part of that event, and seeing all the names on the walls of the people who lost their lives,” he said.

The 26-strong band is also believed to be the biggest act to play on a Fred Olsen cruise ship in the Norwegian fjords and has played for royalty at Windsor Castle, as well as the Sandringham flower show and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee garden party.

“After the Windsor concert, a member of staff came out and passed on the Queen’s thanks, so we know she was listening,” said Ian. “I was lucky enough to meet Charles and Camilla at the flower show – and he remembered us when I was invested as an MBE a couple of years later.”

The band’s humble beginnings came from a group of Taverham villagers who bought the original instruments from the folded Stibbard Band using donations and loans.

From 1995 to 2013, the band – working with the local Scouts – organised the popular outdoor Proms in the Park-style music and firework event Exploding Brass.

The event entertained 3,000-strong crowds and raised more than £120,000 for the band and local causes, but came to an end due to the rising costs.

The band’s members are now aged between 14 and 81. Its oldest and longest-serving member, Peter Almond – a former professional trumpeter whose work included the Morecambe and Wise and Des O’Connor shows – died in 2022 at the age of 94. He played up until two weeks before his death and the band played There’s No Business Like Showbusiness at his funeral.

Peter Almond

A training band for younger players was put on ice because of the pandemic, but there are hopes of reviving it.

Ian said he thought the band was the only one where teenagers and musicians in their 90s played and learned together.

“It’s not something you see anywhere else,” he said. “We pride ourselves on being a band with a wide range of experience and talent, working towards a shared goal of enjoying ourselves and entertaining the public.”

Anyone interested in booking or joining the band can visit taverhamband.org