The Band was formed originally of part-time musicians who played for the hymn singing in St James Church in Bratton. The village Band was started in 1859 as a result of a new organ being installed which meant that the musicians’ services were no longer required. 

Who else was born in the same year as the band?

• Kenneth Grahame (author of “The Wind In The Willows”)
• Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (author of the “Sherlock Holmes” books)
• Henry McCarty, better known as “Billy the Kid” or William H Bonney (Wild West outlaw).

Some of 1859’s other famous ‘happenings’

• Publishing of Darwin's "On the origin of species".
• “A Tale Of Two Cities” published by Charles Dickens.
• Big Ben and the other bells of the Great Clock of Westminster rang across London for the first time on 31st May 1859.

And who died in the year the band was born?

• Probably the West Country’s most famous son Isambard Kingdom Brunel (9/4/1806 to 15/9/1859).

Early History of Bratton Silver Band

Records show that, at first, the Band consisted of ten members, with Mr Arthur Smith as its first Bandmaster (the Smith family were to provide all Bandmasters up until 2003).

On the occasion of the Royal Wedding of Queen Victoria's son Edward (later King Edward VII) in 1863, the Band led a procession to the White Horse for a Bonfire and Fireworks celebration and later, in 1887, the Band performed at the celebrations of Queen Victoria's Jubilee - when the Jubilee Hall was opened in the centre of the village.

In 1890 each member of the Band was asked to buy his own uniform and brass instrument. The Band then still consisted of ten players - four cornets, one tenor horn, one baritone, one euphonium, one trombone, one Eb bass and one drummer. With their new uniforms and instruments the Band was asked to play at the Wilts Friendly Society Fete, held on Whit-Monday of that year.

In 1906, band member numbers had risen to fifteen. In 1907 new uniforms were purchased and became the property of the Band.  These were worn for the first time in 1910 when the Band entered a contest. They came second, which was a great honour.

By 1912 the Band had seventeen members and purchased a new set of instruments.  The Band became more proficient and provided musical entertainment for many functions held in the surrounding towns and villages.

The outbreak of the First World War saw many of its members called up for service.  The Band was therefore unable to continue until 1919 when Mr. Oliver Nash Smith took over as Bandmaster on the death of his father Mr. Nash Smith who had held the position from 1890 until 1919.

Expansion of the Band continued and was such that, in 1927, it was decided to buy new instruments. This was the beginning of the changeover to silver from brass, as 25 silver instruments were bought, some of which continued in use until the 1980's (a handful of the current players used these instruments when first joining the Band).

The new title of "Bratton Silver Band" became official.

The Second World War saw another break in proceedings until 1952 when the Band was once again reformed - through the efforts of Mr. Phil Smith. Until 1956 the Band consisted entirely of males but that changed when two females joined the Band, the first of many in later years. 

Norman Smith was elected Bandmaster in 1961. 

In 1977 the Band took the decision to replace its instruments over a period of years. A marathon 6-hour sponsored blow kicked-off the instrument replacement fund-raising. During this some of the original 1927 instruments were used. A second fund-raising sponsored blow was held in 1979.

A third, very successful, fund-raising venture was the creation of a German-style “oompah Band”. The Band played in a number of local clubs over a period of years bringing in plenty of much needed revenue.

John Annetts put forward many new ideas and drove the Band to follow them through. One such idea was for the Band to visit Soisy-sur-Seine (at that time Westbury’s Twin Town).This first overseas trip took place in May 1982 to France and was followed by two return trips over the May Bank Holiday weekends of 1984 and 1992, with a trip to Switzerland sandwiched in between.

Another of John Annetts’ ideas was to put on an annual concert with the “Yetties” folk group – one of his favourites. They were a financial success and contributed greatly to the Band’s instrument replacement fund-raising.

After a break of about 30 years the Band re-entered the contesting arena in 1985 and came 7th of 31 Bands in the West of England Regional Championships (Fourth Section) at The Victoria Rooms, Clifton, Bristol – playing Philip Sparke’s Malvern Suite. This firmly rooted Malvern Suite as a favourite of the Band.

Following on from this encouraging result the Band entered the South West Brass Band Association’s Annual Contest in Paignton in 1986 and came first on Denzil Stephens “West Sou’ West”.

In 1988, the Band had its first formal photograph taken with the new uniforms, but still with the old euphoniums, baritones and basses.  These were to be replaced in 1993.

Norman ended his tenure as Bandmaster in 1990.  For much of the period from 1961 Norman performed the dual role of Bandmaster and M.D. His son, Graham, then took over the mantle of Bandmaster from that time on. Since the Band’s formation in 1859 all its Bandmasters have been supplied by the Smith family - until 2003.  Some record!

Mel Howe took over as MD in 1990 and 1991/92 was the most successful contesting period in the Band’s history. The Band returned to Paignton on Saturday 2nd November 1991 to compete once more in the SWBBA Contest. It came first once again, playing its favourite “Malvern Suite” by Philip Sparke, with the bass section also picking up the “Best Basses” cup.

Saturday 21st March 1992 is the biggest day in the Band’s history to date – the Band wins the West of England Fourth Section Championships at the Colston Hall in Bristol and, with it, a place at the National Finals in October at Wembley Conference Centre.

The Band was to go on to win two more trophies in 1992 – 2nd place at the (then) annual Reading Contest and Best Instrumentalist of the day – awarded to Steve Smith, Principal Cornet.

Highlights of 1996 included a second qualification for the National Finals – this time held at the Cardiff International Arena. 

2003 saw the Band’s third qualification for the National Finals, this time held at the Caird Hall, Dundee on Saturday 20th September 2003. The chosen Test Piece was “Call of the Sea” by Eric Ball and the Band played under the baton of new MD Maria Fricker.  

The Band was back at the National Finals again in 2004 with Maria.  This time at the Harrogate International Conference Centre on Saturday 11th September 2004. The Band played “The Four Noble Truths” by Philip Sparke.

Another ‘first’ for the Band was the recording of its first CD “Immemerie” – recorded at All Saints Church, Westbury on Friday 22nd and Saturday 23rd April 2005. The following is taken from the booklet enclosed with each CD:

“The title of this CD has a dual meaning to the members of Bratton Silver Band.  First, the word Immemerie refers to the ghost village of Imber on the edge of Salisbury Plain, a short distance from the Band’s practice room.  Second, phonetically it sounds like In Memory and the Band wish to dedicate the track ‘Yesterday’ in loving memory of Claire Applegate, a member of the Band who tragically passed away at the end of 2004, aged just 32 years.”