SHREWTON VILLAGE
SHRIVINTON, SHRIVETON and SHRAWTON are all the names taken from maps of the early 19th Century which has now become SHREWTON a village set on the southern boundary of Salisbury Plain, the well known training area for the British Armed Forces. The nearest town, in this case a city, is Salisbury situated some 11 miles distant.
SHREWTON SILVER BAND
PAST
A village Band proud of its long history dating back to the middle of the last century, with records and newspaper reports showing evidence of the Band’s existence prior to the Crimean War (1854 - 56), which was capable of performing in public. To date the earliest knowledge, which we can prove, is scant perhaps, but according to the Salisbury Journal of 6 June 1833, a Band accompanied a group of farmers round the local hostelries of Shrewton. Subject to formal verification, this would place the Band as one of the oldest in the country.
Some bandsmen went with a Captain Heathcote, of Rollestone Manor, to Devizes to become part of the 3rd Wiltshire Militia. They were trooped to the Crimea, via Portsmouth, where as well as receiving military training were given instruments by the controllers of the Militias, to form a band for the Wiltshire Militia, one would therefore assume prior proficiency with instruments.
It appears that they failed to reach the Crimea in time, but eventually returned home in 1856, and back to “civvy street” where their Bandmaster, William Kilford, spent much time going round other villages in a pony and trap, training temperance bands. Unfortunately none of these appeared to have survived.
Photographs of that time show the name of the Band to be “Shrewton Amateur Band”, and we are not able to say with any certainty when the current name came into being, though it appeared in the minutes of the annual meeting of the Band in 1938.
Between the Crimea campaign and 1914 the Band played regularly locally, gradually moving further a field as transport and roads improved.
After a break for the “Great World War”, the Band continued without further breaks, right up to the present day, though its numbers were severely depleted during the “Second World War”. The calls of National Service and a general shortage of players, led to another quiet spell in 1955. By 1956 new members had been trained and the Band was a viable proposition once again. The first ladies were welcomed to the Band in 1949 and currently three play regularly.
Since the early 20's the Band has competed regularly in the Wessex Area mainly, and occasionally in London, with mixed success, and there are a number of certificates available to prove either the ability of the Band, or the talents of various individuals.
Also, looking through such records as are available, it can be clearly seen that the Band is a family one, the surnames appearing repeatedly throughout the years. Since the return from the Crimea, a number of these names continuing to be represented in the Band, together with newcomers in the now much larger village. The first known Bandmaster has a relative currently playing in the Band, and many families can show over 100 years continuous family membership. Styles of playing have changed much since those early days. Then, as well as concerts, the band used to be the source of music for dances in Shrewton and the surrounding villages.
PRESENT
Having survived two World Wars, though with reduced numbers and by sharing jobs with other local bands in similar situations, the Band now looks towards the next century.
The Band has a busy playing year with numerous fetes during the summer, and a selection of church services, concerts and contest rehearsals during the colder winter months. Members of the Band come from far and wide. On average members travel 30 miles return each practice night.
Current membership consists of some thirty-six regular adult players and nine junior players aged between 9 and 14 whom, it is hoped, will form the core of the Band in the future.
Christmas tends to be a particularly busy period, during which time the Band maintains its grass roots with the village with several nightly carol playing performances around the village which culminates on Christmas Eve.
In 1998 the Band, was successful in obtaining a lottery grant of £56,527.00. The grant was used to replace all the silver instruments and update the percussion inventory and after the purchase all the old instruments, valued at approximately £36,000.00, were loaned to:
Ø Upper Avon School, Durrington.
Ø The Stonehenge School, Amesbury.
Ø Shrewton C of E Primary School.
We are in the Championship Section of the Wessex Brass Band Association, which we played Paganni and come out with the Band BEST result in 150 years, 2nd place and also, winning Best Percussion of the day.
FUTURE
The members of the Band are keen, loyal and enthusiastic and wish to further themselves in the Brass Band world seeking first place in the Wessex Brass Band Association. They also wish to take the sound of brass further a field to other communities that do not have a brass band.
We are already cultivating a spirit of banding with three local schools: Upper Avon School, Durrington, Shrewton C of E Primary School and The Stonehenge School, Amesbury, and actively encouraging youth to join us. We believe that an investment in youth will help ensure that the band and the spirit of music, in the Salisbury area, will survive into the new century and beyond. With youngsters and more mature members coming together we are closing the “age gap” of understanding and, hopefully, all will come to understand: community spirit, self discipline, team spirit, commitment and loyalty.
MUSIC
Our repertoire is of considerable age, which we are continuing updating wish in order that our young musicians and the communities, for whom we play, will be able to identify. This would, hopefully, improve the image of brass bands from that of Maypoles and other quaint ideas.
FUNDING
The Band is totally amateur, and yet manages to be self-supporting, thanks to the generosity of the villagers and other supporters who give moral support to the Band at these engagements and contests. Another source is the “Century Club” in which all adult members of the Band and interested villagers and supporters are encouraged to join. Additionally all players pay an annual subscription that is decide at the Annual General Meeting and, finally, fees from engagements of all types complete the fund raising as the means for maintaining instruments, uniforms, music, hire of practice room, insurance and other essentials.