Totnes Brass in danger of closing down after over 50 years?

***A nice update to this story previosly from last November is at the end of the story below ***

Totnes Brass, long known as Totnes Band or, originally, Totnes Town Band, has warned of the end of half a century of sweet music…

The band has instruments, an extensive library of music, including unique pieces written especially for them, secure rehearsal and storage space – but only a handful of players.

Band chairman Bob Mann, who first joined at thirteen in 1972, explains that since the Covid lock-down, members have disappeared, not through falling out with anyone, but because of age, health, work or just moving away. But the remaining members are determined to rebuild, and anyone who has ever played a brass band instrument, including percussion, or who would like to, is invited to get in touch.

The band was founded in 1971 by a number of local musicians, notably the Cleave family from Harberton, who had been playing with bands in Newton Abbot or Kingsbridge. They soon became a familiar and much-loved feature in fetes and carnivals around the area, and attracted a large number of youthful and enthusiastic members.

Brass bands thrive on competing against each other in contests, and Totnes’ first successes came in 1974, under the well-known Cornish conductor V. J. Willcock, who remained their Musical Director for many years. In 1975 they qualified for the National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain in London for the first time.  Their fortunes have been up and down since then, but the band has always been one to watch; the online band magazine 4 Bars Rest has, on more than one occasion, described them as the ‘dark horse.’ Several young players who started in the band have gone on the enjoy successful musical careers.

Bob points out that, historically, brass bands have flourished in times of economic hardship, and this is the case nationally at the moment, with many bands around the country successfully reviving. ‘I’m sure there must be many people in the area who don’t want to see us disappear,’ he said. ‘If enough people get in touch, they will be invited to a meeting/open rehearsal early in the New Year.’

*** Update 25th February 2026***

New members have come forward from this article and the band are meeting up again for open rehearsals/meetings in March, to see if they can attract some new players, former players or aspiring players.  They will be in the Meeting Room, upstairs at St John’s church, in Bridgetown, on Tuesday 3rd, Wednesday 11th, Tuesday 17th and Wednesday 25th, between 7.30 and 9pm. Bring an instrument and stand if you have them, or just turn up!

For more information, contact Bob on 07530026575 or bobmann9360@gmail.com