Foden's Band
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Foden's Band (originally Foden's Motor Works Band, and variants with sponsors' names) is a
brass band A brass band is a musical ensemble generally consisting primarily of brass instruments, most often with a percussion section. Ensembles that include brass and woodwind instruments can in certain traditions also be termed brass bands (particularl ...
from
Sandbach Sandbach (pronounced ) is a market town and civil parish in the Cheshire East borough of Cheshire, England. The civil parish contains four settlements: Sandbach, Elworth, Ettiley Heath and Wheelock, Cheshire, Wheelock. At the 2021 United Kingd ...
in Cheshire. The band derives its name from the Foden manufacturer of trucks in Sandbach. Foden's Band are one of the top
brass band A brass band is a musical ensemble generally consisting primarily of brass instruments, most often with a percussion section. Ensembles that include brass and woodwind instruments can in certain traditions also be termed brass bands (particularl ...
s in the world; regularly appearing at the top of the "World of Brass – World Rankings" In 2012, Foden's became double winners of both the National Championships and the British Open.


History


Origins

The origins of the band go back to 1900, when the village of
Elworth Elworth is a village in the county of Cheshire, located in the North West of England, and is a suburb of the town of Sandbach, located approximately one mile eastward. Elworth is known for its industrial past, having historically been the home ...
, near
Sandbach Sandbach (pronounced ) is a market town and civil parish in the Cheshire East borough of Cheshire, England. The civil parish contains four settlements: Sandbach, Elworth, Ettiley Heath and Wheelock, Cheshire, Wheelock. At the 2021 United Kingd ...
in Cheshire, formed its own band, having been let down in its attempt to secure the services of the nearby town band to feature in the celebrations marking the relief of Mafeking in the
Boer War The Second Boer War (, , 11 October 189931 May 1902), also known as the Boer War, Transvaal War, Anglo–Boer War, or South African War, was a conflict fought between the British Empire and the two Boer republics (the South African Republic an ...
. After a couple of years the village band was wound up, but from that base local industrialist Edwin Foden formed the Fodens Motor Works Band. For a few years the new band had modest ambitions, but in 1908 a fundamental reorganisation took place and, by the following year, it had achieved Championship Section status, a prestigious position that has been maintained ever since.


Fred and Harry Mortimer years

Conductor Fred Mortimer (1880–1953) led Fodens for 27 years from around 1927 until his death in 1953. During that time they won the national championships eight times, and according to Mortimer, had been broadcast around 250 times. On 9 November 1933, the band appeared in the
Lord Mayor's Show The Lord Mayor's Show is one of the best-known annual events in London as well as one of the longest-established, dating back to the 13th century. A new lord mayor is appointed every year, and the public parade that takes place as their inaugura ...
in London, billed as the Band of Foden Motor Works. In 1955, the musical director, Harry Mortimer (1902–1992), formed the ''Men O'Brass'', whereby selected members of the band combined with other players from the Fairey Band and
Morris Motors Morris Motors Limited was a British privately owned motor vehicle manufacturing company formed in 1919 to take over the assets of William Morris, 1st Viscount Nuffield, William Morris's WRM Motors Limited and continue production of the same ve ...
Band. In January 1983, the band was sponsored by Overseas Technical Services Ltd. from Harrow, being renamed the Foden OTS Band. In July 1986, it was sponsored by the
Britannia Building Society The Britannia Building Society was founded as the Leek & Moorlands Building Society in Leek in 1856. It expanded steadily as a regional society until the late 1950s when it began a major expansion drive, partly through branch openings but also s ...
to become the Britannia Building Society Foden Band, which became the Britannia Building Society Band. In September 1997, the band was sponsored by the
Antoine Courtois The Antoine Courtois () company, founded in Paris in 1789, is a renowned manufacturer of brass musical instruments. The company's name comes from the name of the founder's children who created the brand name in 1803. The company has been a leadin ...
company of France, to become the Fodens Courtois Band. In November 2004, the band was sponsored by Richardson Developments of Oldbury. Since 2008 the band has been without sponsorship and is currently known as the Foden's Band.


Honours

The band has been ordered to play by Royal Command on three occasions: in 1913 for
George V George V (George Frederick Ernest Albert; 3 June 1865 – 20 January 1936) was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 until Death and state funeral of George V, his death in 1936. George w ...
and Queen Mary, in 1938 at
Windsor Castle Windsor Castle is a List of British royal residences, royal residence at Windsor, Berkshire, Windsor in the English county of Berkshire, about west of central London. It is strongly associated with the Kingdom of England, English and succee ...
for
George VI George VI (Albert Frederick Arthur George; 14 December 1895 – 6 February 1952) was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth from 11 December 1936 until Death and state funeral of George VI, his death in 1952 ...
and
Queen Elizabeth Queen Elizabeth, Queen Elisabeth or Elizabeth the Queen may refer to: Queens regnant * Elizabeth I (1533–1603; ), Queen of England and Ireland * Elizabeth II (1926–2022; ), Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms * Queen B ...
, and in 1983 where the band had the honour of playing for
Elizabeth II Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; 21 April 19268 September 2022) was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 6 February 1952 until Death and state funeral of Elizabeth II, her death in 2022. ...
at
Buckingham Palace Buckingham Palace () is a royal official residence, residence in London, and the administrative headquarters of the monarch of the United Kingdom. Located in the City of Westminster, the palace is often at the centre of state occasions and r ...
. The band has won the National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain twelve times. In 2008 the band won the 156th British Open Championships. It was the 11th time that the Foden's Band had triumphed at the contest. 2009 saw further success for the band with a record-breaking 4th consecutive triumph at the North West Regionals, victory at the Cambridge International Masters and then winning the Brass in Concert Championships at the Sage Centre in Gateshead in November. In 2010, the band came 6th at the English Nationals, 4th at the British Open, 9th at the National Championships and 3rd at Brass in Concert.


Desert Island Discs

Foden's band have been featured on the BBC radio programme ''Desert Island Discs'' on several occasions: *1 August 1951,
Jimmy Edwards James Keith O'Neill Edwards, DFC (23 March 19207 July 1988) was an English comedy writer and actor of stage, radio, television and film, known for his roles as Pa Glum in '' Take It from Here'' and as headmaster "Professor" James Edwards in ' ...
(comedy actor, scriptwriter), The Fodens Motor Works Band: The Three Bears Suite *11 July 1960,
Eddie Calvert Albert Edward Calvert (15 March 1922 – 7 August 1978) was an English trumpeter successful in the 1950s. Between 1953 and 1958 he achieved seven instrumental hits on the UK Singles Chart, including the two chart-toppers " Oh, Mein Papa" in ...
(trumpeter), Fodens Motor Works Band: Zelda (Caprice) *16 April 1962,
Billy Butlin Sir William Heygate Edmund Colborne Butlin (29 September 189912 June 1980) was an entrepreneur whose name is synonymous with the British holiday camp.''#refRiverside, American Heritage Dictionary 2004'', p. 135.#refScott2001, Scott 2001, p. 5. ...
(holiday camp owner), The Fodens Motor Works Band: The March of the Herald *8 February 1965, Owen Brannigan (opera singer), Alec Mortimer & Foden's Motor Works Band: Drinking *16 January 1971,
Robert Bolt Robert Oxton Bolt (15 August 1924 – 20 February 1995) was an English playwright and a screenwriter, known for writing the screenplays for '' Lawrence of Arabia'', '' Doctor Zhivago'', and '' A Man for All Seasons'', the latter two of which w ...
(playwright), Fairey & Fodens Massed Bands:
The Stars and Stripes Forever "The Stars and Stripes Forever" is a patriotic American march written and composed by John Philip Sousa in 1896. By a 1987 act of the U.S. Congress, it is the official National March of the United States of America. History In his 1928 au ...


Contesting honours

*British Open Brass Band Championships – 13 Wins: 2023, 2012, 2008, 2004, 1964, 1928, 1927, 1926, 1915, 1913, 1912, 1910, 1909 *National Championships of Great Britain – 16 wins: 2022, 2021, 2018, 2012,Foden's brass band celebrates double win
, BBC News, 23 October 2012
1999, 1958, 1953, 1950, 1938, 1937, 1936, 1934, 1933, 1932, 1930, 1910 (barred 1935). :(Previously called the Crystal Palace 1000 Guinea Trophy) *North West Regional Championships – 16 wins, including: 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2003, 2002, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1989, 1988 *Brass in Concert Championships – 6 Wins: 2009, 2000, 1998, 1990, 1988, 1987. *All England Masters – 7 Wins: 2009, 2007, 2002, 1995, 1994, 1991, 1990. *English National Championships – Winners 2006 *European Championships – Winners 1992


Musical directors

The band's current conducting team is: *Michael Fowles *Russel Gray


Current Players

The band's current players as of 21st of January 2025 are: * Soprano Cornet: Richard Poole * Principal Cornet: Mark Wilkinson * Solo Cornets: Paul McDonald, Darren Lea and Jon Probert * Repiano Cornet: Paul White * 2nd Cornets: Robin Basu and Adrian Beresford * 3rd Cornets: Terri Yates and Andy Rolfe * Flugel Horn: Melanie Whyle * Solo Horn: Jonathan Bates * 1st Horn: Grace Jeffers * 2nd Horn: Andy Howard-Smith * Solo Euphonium: Gary Curtin * 2nd Euphonium: Mark Bousie * Solo Baritone: Ashley Dixon * 2nd Baritone: Mike Warriner * Principal Trombone: John Barber * 2nd Trombone: Ollie Webb * Bass Trombone: Shaun Farrington * E flat Tubas: Stewart Baglin and Paul Hughes * B flat Tubas: Andy Cattanach and George Mitchell * Percussionists: Mark Landon, Anthony Mann and Sam Iles


Bibliography

*F. D. Burgess, ''By royal command: the story of Fodens Motor Works Band'', Publisher Webberley, 1977 *Allan Littlemore, ''Fodens Band: One Hundred Years of Musical Excellence'', Edition 2, Publisher Caron Pubns, 2000. . 186 pages.


References


External links


Foden's Band
official website


Video clips


Armagh 2008
playing title music from '' The Children of Sanchez'' film. {{Authority control Musical groups established in 1902 British brass bands Culture in Cheshire People from Sandbach