Camborne Town Band

Robert Cook

(Written for the Gwennap Parish Council newsletter)

When I played Tenor Horn with Camborne Town Band I was fortunate enough to be in the brass band, along with Barrie Trevena on Cornet, when we supported Brenda Wootton on her concert tour of Paris, back in May 1984.

I joined Camborne Town Band in December 1968 and gave 17 years service until December 1985 when work and family commitments left little time for such a demanding musical hobby. Over the years the band was engaged on many occasions to lead Sunday School Tea Treat marches at Frogpool which use to take place on the first Saturday in June. The “Tea Treat” and evening concert use to be held in the field opposite the Sunday School with the concert stage constructed of wood planks on straw bales for the band. I remember, one year during a concert, band members started itching and scratching while playing. We were all glad that evening to get off the stage when the concert ended, it turned out that the straw bales were full of insects! Playing a rendition of “Spanish Flea by Herb Alpert” was never mentioned again after that!

Brass Bands and Tea Treats use to go hand-in-hand in years gone by. This provided musical entertainment for the festivities and a valid income for band funds. Nowadays Teat Treats have become a day away at the seaside and Brass Bands have to look at other options to keep funds afloat. Players travel far and wide to become a member of a premiership band like Camborne.

To the best of my knowledge, members of Camborne Town Band who have resided in Gwennap parish whilst serving with the band are:-

The late Owen Richards Sunny Corner

Trombone

1960s

Roderick Facey

Bissoe

Euphonium

1960s

Ian Facey

Trevince

Tenor Horn 1970s

Alan Richards

Cusgarne

Baritone

1970s

Robert Cook

Frogpool

Tenor Horn Late 1960s to mid 1980s

Barrie Trevena

Trehaddle

Cornet

Late 1960s to mid 1980s

Steve Trelease

Crofthandy

Cornet

1990s

The late Sid Maidwell, Frogpool, was never a formal member of Camborne Town Band, he played Cornet and during the early 1970’s he regularly taught young learners how to play an instrument at the Camborne bandroom. Up until his death in December 1977, many players who started with Sid developed well and successfully made it through to become members of the main band.

The time I served with the band was busy, very enjoyable but time consuming which required dedication to practice, attendance and musical commitment in order to maintain championship standard and competitiveness with all the other top bands in the country.

The band has a book titled “Camborne Town Band” author Tony Mansell, published by Trelease Publications ISBN 0-9545583-5-9 that contains excellent history including many photographs and anecdotes of memorable events like Frogpool Tea Treat and the Brenda Wootton Tour of Paris. If anyone would like a book, please contact me on 01872 870114.

The 9 day tour of Paris with Brenda Wootton and the band in 1984 resulted in performances consisting of a live Television broadcast, concert aboard boat on River Seine, live Radio broadcast at 2 am, lunchtime concert outside a Laboratory, near Paris, concert in the “Casino De Paris”, an “Amnesty International” concert at midnight at the “Zenith” and 6 concerts at the famous “Bobino” theatre. The band had a busy schedule and played magnificently. Brenda’s singing was very popular in France and I remember seeing many posters of her all around Paris.

Brenda Wootton was well known in Cornwall as a folk singer and presenter for Radio Cornwall where she hosted a popular request show. Sadly Brenda died in 1994, after a long illness at the age of 66 at her home in Penzance but her singing lives on. Recently there has been a “live recording” found of one of the 1984 Paris tour concerts which may result in being released as a CD. I am also assisting the producer of the CD by providing historical information of the tour on behalf of the band. Further information can be found at the “Living in Cornwall” website www.livingincornwall.com

Camborne Town Band played with many talented professionals and celebrities over the years and Brenda Wootton was up there with the very best, she was talented, liked a laugh and was down to earth when having a chat, a pleasure to have worked with!