Main Band
The Aldershot Concert Band gave its very first performance in the Elders Club on 5 December 1971 with Wally Wilson
as Conductor. During the Band’s early stages, they played in the Aldershot Jubilee Carnival Procession. A handful
of musicians on the back of a lorry played their few suitable pieces over and over again!
In 1990 Len Tyler was the Band's conductor and also Director of Music at the Army School of Music at Pirbright.
Band members were mainly civilian but augmented by some Army students. We rehearsed at the Ascension Hall off Cranmore
Lane but in January 1990 due to terrorist activities it was considered inadvisable for the army section to travel on
a predictable route each week. The civilians agreed to rehearse at the Pirbright Camp instead. In Dec 1990 Len had to
relinquish his baton and the new 'authority' made it clear that the civilians were not welcome.
On that cold February evening like 'orphans of the storm,' we civilians stood outside to discuss matters after our
last rehearsal. We agreed that we did not want to lose touch and would become an entirely civilian body - albeit
with no conductor and no rehearsal venue. Jean Colley took the initiative and said that through her husband Philip she
thought she could organise a venue. As good as her word and better, on Monday 4th March 1991 we took up residence at
Union Buildings, Hospital Hill - with Jean's husband conducting us in order to give us a chance to establish ourselves.
In May 1991, Bruce Miller was appointed as temporary conductor and we gave our first performance as a civilian band.
In August 1993 Bruce realised his ambition to take up Bandmaster Training at Kneller Hall and had to resign the baton.
Providentially, Len retired from the Army at this time and he agreed to return as our conductor.
By January 1995 the Band had outgrown Union Buildings and so we moved to the West End Centre. We were now giving
regular concerts and still growing - causing a further relocation in September 1995, this time to a large hall which is
part of St Omer Barracks. In 1996, the Band celebrated its 25th Anniversary and felt that this was an appropriate time
to change its name to The Rushmoor Concert Band to better reflect its current and future membership and activities.
The Rushmoor Concert Band has over 40 members varying in age from teens to 70+. In recent years the Band has raised
funds for a number of local charities including Frimley Park Critical Care Appeal, the Mytchett Community Association,
the Children’s Society, the Terri Parrish Fund and St Michael's Hospice.
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