Markham and District Brass Band
Location: Blackwood Caerphilly
Founded:
Member: Past Players
Cornets
Philip Buckley ,Hywel Fox, Ellen Waite, Neil Robson, Neil Roberts, Ian Roberts, Dave Roberts, Ian Richards, Helen Padfield, Marek Ceigelski, Richard Colquhoun.
Horns
Lynne Evans, Ruth Pinney, John Evans, Hywel Wood, Charlotte Thompson, Claire Richards.
Trombones
Brian Reynolds, Edward Kelly, Rob Samuel, Steve Legge, Dave Lockley, Ron Simmonds, Martin Adams, Trevor Grey.
Euphonium & Baritones
Tracey Phillips, Rob Burnett, Sarah Wareham, Ian Morgan, Rob Powell, Paul Bray, Jonathan Bevan.
Basses
Mark Jenkins, Terry Prosser, Ian Morris, Chris Baker, Stephen Harris, Kate Powell, Dave Meredith, Andy Jones, Malcolm Perry, Chris Stokes.
Percussionists
Kerry Davies, Henley Ceigelski, Tracey Parker, Matt Tovey, Ron Jenkins, Mark Allcock, Dale Jones
If your name is missing from this list and wish to be added please let me know and I'll update.
Markham Band
Markham British Legion Band was formed in 1928 and held its first rehearsals in a tin shed behind a cafe at Markham. It became the Markham and District Colliery Band in 1930 and, by the time the Second World War had started, had achieved considerable success. After the war it took a long time to get going again but by 1958 the band had achieved Championship standard. In 1967 the band moved into its own band room and in 1968 was the Champion Band of Wales. The following year they were the only civilian band to play at the Investiture of H.R.H. Prince Charles.
A freak storm in January 1976 completely destroyed the bandroom, all the music and uniforms. The long haul back started with the formation of a Junior Band atBlackwood Comprehensive School and gradually things improved. The culmination was the opening of a new band room at the Showfield, Blackwood. Since then they have gone from strength to strength. They now have a full complement of bandsmen and are in the 1st section of the South Wales Band Registry. The band has competed in numerous National Brass Band competitions, winning many first prizes, and have performed at The Albert Hall, Pontins and the Royal Eisteddfod.
In 2003 , under the leadership of Nigel Seaman and assisted by Andrew Jones, the band were the Second Section Welsh Champions and were promoted to the First Section. In 2004 the band represented Wales at the National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain held in Harrogate.
