Village band to celebrate 150 years with annual feast day

Its 2015 programme includes special events to celebrate its 150th anniversary.

The band’s roots can be traced back to the Marsh Gibbon Friendly Society, popularly known as The Club, which was founded by a group of bellringers in 1788 to help families in need.

The band leads the Marsh Gibbon Friendly Society march through the village at the 1982 Feast – under the rules, society members who failed to attend the service at St Mary’s Church were fined a shilling (5p). Marsh Gibbon Silver Band has close ties with the society, whose members re-formed it on a number of occasions

The Club is thought to have brought together local musicians to lead processions through the village on the annual Feast Day.

The first written reference to a village band is in 1820 when Mr Hastings, landlord of the Greyhound pub, noted in his diary that there was a parade of the Friendly Society “accompanied by a band”.

Memory Lane this week

Records show that in 1823, Club members gave £1 towards the cost of a drum.

This is believed to have been the start of musical activity in the village, although it was another 45 years before the band was formally established.

The band appears to have had its ups and downs over the years.

 The band in action in 1970, playing as they go past The Plough Inn in Marsh Gibbon

In 1905, it was reported that two teenagers, Will Herring and Marley Walker, “were at a loose end and decided to revive the village band”.

In 1906, the band was not rated good enough to play at the Feast Day, but the following year, it was said to have improved and was reinstated.

There were also two short spells of inactivity during the war years.

But since then, Marsh Gibbon Silver Band has flourished and now, under musical director Andy Allcock, is classed as a fourth section band with the UK Brass Band Registry.

Long service has become a strong feature of the band. Will Herring and Marley Walker spent many years as members – Will was bandmaster for 34 years.

Another devoted member is Dougie White, now aged 80, who has been playing since he was 11.

He recalls: “I was living in the village.

“As there was no Scout troop and the band was starting up again after the Second World War, I decided to join. They were looking for new young members.”

For many years, the band was all male, but since the early 1950s, women and girls have been welcome.

The band will again take its place at the head of the procession at the Friendly Society’s annual Feast Day on May 16, the nearest Saturday to Oak Apple Day, leading members to St Mary’s Church for a service and then to the village hall for their feast.

Other events are being organised to celebrate the anniversary, including a concert with neighbouring bands, among them Bletchingdon Silver Band, and another with Owen Farr, a tenor horn player from South Wales as a guest soloist.

To join or learn more about the band, go to its website or call at Marsh Gibbon United Reformed Church on practice nights on Thursdays at 7.30pm.