Very little is known about the ‘Ton Temperance Band’ and its conductor Mr. John Treharne. There is only one surviving photograph of the Band. It was taken outside Ystrad railway station. The actual date the Band was formed is not known, however records show that initially, rehearsals took place in a draughty shed behind the Blacksmith’s shop in Gelli. The Band later moved to a large building in Ton Pentre. The ‘Ton Temperance Band’ was a competitive band and although records show that they did not realise any premier honours at major competitions in South Wales, they were listed as prizewinners at several local competitions.
In 1895, the ‘Ton Temperance Band’ was invited to play at the official opening of Gelli Colliery Library in Ystrad. Sir Clifford Cory, the highly influential son of John Cory performed the ceremony. He was so impressed by the standard of the Band’s performance that he offered to provide financial assistance and provide suitable employment to enable the Band to engage a first class conductor. The ‘Ton Temperance Band’ changed its name to reflect the generous financial assistance from Sir Clifford Cory and his family business, ‘Cory Brothers’. Consequently, from 1895, the Band became known as ‘Cory Workmen’s Band’.
Mr John Treharne was the first conductor of the Band known today as the Cory Band. He was the conductor of the Ton Temperance Band from 1884 to 1895. Over this period, Mr Treharne developed his band, but despite taking them to a small number of contests in the South Wales and Monmouthshire area, the fledgling Ton Temperance Band rarely featured in the prizes.
Web: http://coryband.com/
Location: Wales, UK
Founded: 1884
Member: Musical Director: Philip Harper
Principal Cornet: Tom Hutchinson
Assistant Principal Cornet: Carl Saunders
Solo Cornet: Ian Williams
Solo Cornet: Neil Blockley
Soprano Cornet: Steve Stewart
Repiano Cornet: Stephanie Wilkins
Second Cornet: Gareth Johnson
Second Cornet: Andrew Evans
Third Cornet: Phillip Harris
Third Cornet: Daniel Sharpe
Flugel Horn: Richard Davies
Solo Horn: Owen Farr
First Horn: Ailsa Russell
Second Horn: Lucy Griffiths
First Baritone: Steve Kane
Second Baritone: Susan Thomas
Solo Trombone: Christopher Thomas
Second Trombone: Gareth 'Harry Potter' Robinson
Bass Trombone: Andrew Williams
Solo Euphonium: Martyn Patterson
Second Euphonium: Matthew Fletcher
Solo Eb Tuba: Simon Howell
Eb Tuba: Kate James
Solo BBb Tuba: Rob Nicholson
BBb Tuba: Timothy Evans
Principal Percussionist: Alun Horgan
Percussion: Jamie Nuss
Percussion: James Andrews
Band Manager: Austin Davies
Contest Secretary: Gwyn Thomas
Librarian: John Trotman
The Cory Band
