Winsham Coronation Band was founded in 1902, its founding members having been members of the Winsham Drum & Fife Band, which had existed for many years. References to this earlier group can be found in the Winsham School Log as early as the 1860s ,and the picture below was taken in1857.
Over
the next hundred years or so, the Winsham Coronation Band was always
present at major village events, and old photographs indicate that
during much of that time it had between twenty & thirty members. Its
standards of performance were high, and from the mid-1930s frequently
entered Brass Band competitions held in the South West, when it’s
playing won recognition from time to time, and always earned the respect
of judges and the other competitors. The Band also gave, over many
years, concerts that invariably delighted its village audience.
Sadly the Winsham Band ended its activities in 2010, due to its failure to attract younger members. Although the Band tradition is continued in Chard and Lyme Regis, younger members drifted away either to join other bands or because other commitments in a changing world made demands on their spare time.
The early years
The Band’s first concert was given in June 1902, quickly followed by
another on the 9th August 1902 to celebrate the Coronation of King
Edward VII. It was to be this event that was to give the newly formed
band its name. The celebration started with a march through the streets
of Winsham, and the performance continued throughout the rest of the
day, as part of the wider celebrations. In 1910, when the King died, the
Band played outside St. Stephen’s before and after the memorial service,
to a background of muffled bells.
The Winsham Friendly Society was an important village organisation,
and for many years, its Annual Club Day was started with the Coronation
Band leading its annual parade, which set out from Whatley. It would
also play while the members enjoyed the repast that was an important
part of the day out. Today, in the early twenty-first century, plagued
by obesity and soft living, one wonders how the band members were able
to march up the steep hill that separates Whatley from Winsham while
playing their instruments!
The Coronation Band is much in evidence at this Annual
gathering of the Winsham Friendly Society, often referred to as the
Winsham 'Club'. This picture was taken at Whatley Farm.
Encouraging the children
From the earliest days the band encouraged children, boys in the early
years to learn an instrument to a level of proficiency that would earn
them a place in the band. It was not until after the Second World War
those women began to make an appearance in the Band. Membership was
often a family affair. Bert Spurdle, who joined the Band in 1918 was
joined in the 1930s by his son, Gilbert, and his son-in-law. Later his
grand-children, Ian Monckton, Gillian Grabham and Carole Marshall became
members. The Frecknall family were also represented in strength-Roy
Frecknall and his brother Clifford joined in the mid 1930s, followed by
their sons, Peter and David respectively.
This picture taken around 1937,shows two youngster playing
their part
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Key to Names 1.F.Down; 2. M. Dore; 3. R.Frecknall;4. B. Lewis 5. F.Chick 6. C.Phelps; 7.J.Hill; 8. C.Churchill; 9. R. Dore; 10. B.Lacey; 11. L. Churchill; 12.F.Phelps; 13.R.Singleton; 14. E. Broomfield; 15.F.Butler; 16.B.Spurdle; 17.E.Forsey |
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 Winsham Coronation Band 1939 Taken in George Peadon's Orchard, Back Street Key:1. Stan Lacey 2.Charlie Churchill 3.W.Lewis 4.A.Lewis 5.E.Larcombe 6.C.Culverwell 7. P. Trott 8.A. Manning 8. F. Meech 9. C. Lines 10. R. Frecknall 11. G. Lewis 12. A. Loaring 13. B.Lacey 14. A. Phelps 15. ?? 16.C.Sawyer 17.E.Broomfield 18.E.Forsey 19. L. Staples 20. F. Phelps 21. L. Chaffney 22. Neddy Churchill 23. J. Heal 24. J.Rowsell 25. E. Lambert 26. F. Down 27. W. White 28. F. Butler 29.Bert Spurdle (Band Master) |
| Sometimes the Band felt in light hearted mood! |
 Circa 1949 |
 In the 1950s there was a promising crop of youngsters! |
 Key: 1.David Griffin; 2.Godfrey House; 3. Alan Ackhurst 4. Robert Warren; 5.David Evans?; 6. Michael Evans; 7. Peter Evans; 8.Pat Loaring?; 9. Victor Chubb; 10. Mervyn Turner; 11. Bert Spurdle |
 Another generation in1968 |
 Back: Bert Spurdle, Susan Loaring, Anne Sear, Margaret Griffin, Andrew Bishop,Kevin Sear, Marilyn Bone, Ian Monckton. Front: Elaine Apsey, Timothy Down, Janice Apsey, David Grabham, Christopher Apsey, Colin Bishop |
Bert
Spurdle was especially keen on encouraging children, and formed a ‘Boy
band’ in the1950s, an example that has been followed in modern ‘pop
culture’!
On the right they are seen performing at the Jubilee Hall.
Over the years the Loarings have also been strongly represented. Starting with James and Charles, they were followed by Charles’s sons Arthur, John & Percy in the 1950s.The grandchildren then followed-Malcolm, Jane, Martin Susan, Margaret & David.
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WINSHAM BAND,1950 Key to Band Members:(Back
Row)1.Tom Bond,2.Harold Spurdle (Chairman) 3.John Loaring
4.Clifford Frecknall 5.Charles Churchill 6.Charles Hawker 7.Roy
Frecknall 8.Wilf Byron 9.Charles Holcombe Phelps 10.Monty Dore
11.Percy Trott |
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| Winsham Band - 1964 |
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| KEY:1.George Grabham 2.Ernest Partridge 3.John Loaring
4.Monty Dore 5.Michael Evans 6. Alan Spurdle 7.Myra Evans 8. Malcolm Loaring 9. David Griffin 10.Clifford Frecknall 11.Arthur Loaring 12.Peter Frecknall 13.Ian Monckton 14.Kevin Sear 15.Shirley Bone 16.Averil Rowe 17.Roger Newton 18.Ronald Evans 19. Susanna Hebditch |
Fifty years of achievement
To celebrate the Band’s Golden Jubilee, a Fete was held in the summer
of 1952 on the Recreation Ground. After a group photograph which
included many past members ,the Band paraded through West Street (now
Western Way),Back Street, Fore Street, Court Hill and then to the end of
Church Street, where the children of the village were assembling in all
manner of Fancy Dress. The whole lot then combined, including the past
members of the Band then processed to the Recreation Ground.
The Fete was then officially opened by Mrs Warren of Knapp House, one of the longest serving Vice Presidents of the Band. After that the fete got under way, with the judging of the Fancy Dress and many other activities to make it a very memorable day, which included an exhibition of the many photographs of the Band from earlier years, and a display of Prize Cards and other memorabilia. The Band played throughout the event.
Centennial Celebration
In 2002 the Coronation Band celebrated its 100th Anniversary. The year, coincidentally that also marked the Golden Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II.
The celebration event was held in the Jubilee Hall,
and spread over the greater part of the day. In the afternoon an
exhibition was staged filling the hall with many people from the parish.
It included displays of memorabilia, including instruments going back over the hundred years of the Bands existence. It included one hundred and seventy photographs. One interesting element that emerged from the photographs was the manner in which the style of uniform had changed over the years. In the early days they were distinctly military in style, but as the century progressed a more relaxed style became the fashion.
In the evening the partying began, with some eighty people joining the revels, including past band members, a few of which having travelled considerable distances to attend.
The conversation was of times past. The Band had lived through two World Wars, and although depleted during those times it still managed to perform at concerts and events during those difficult times. After enjoying a wonderful buffet and many convivial glasses of wine, it was time for just a few formalities.
James Goddard then spoke, supporting the points made by Roy Frecknall, expressing the hope that the exhibition held in the afternoon and seen by many of the younger members of the village might ignite a flame of interest in them that would lead to the regeneration of the Band and its spirit.
Chairman of the Parish Council, Colin Slade then underlined the importance of the Band to the Winsham community over the previous hundred years, and how proud the village was of its band and the manner in which it had supported and made more enjoyable many village events over the years
Roy Frecknall and Colin Slade |
 James
Goddard |
The end of this more formal part of the evening was
marked by Cliff Frecknall, on behalf of the present Band, making a
presentation to Margaret & Roger Tett as a mark of the Band’s
appreciation for the tremendous effort they had made in organising the
day’s events.
To see more pictures of the Centennial Event click
HERE
Years of change
Despite a rapidly changing world, the Coronation Band remained vigorous for most of the second half of the twentieth century. It completed the building of its own Band Hut in 1952, and was playing regularly at Village events until the 1990s.
 Winsham Coronation Band at the South West Band Association 28th Annual Championships at Paignton in 1974 |
 1. Percy. Loaring; 2. Arthur .Loaring; 3. B. Pavey; 4. B. Filby; 5. D. Griffen; 6. A. Bishop; 7. R.Newton 8.Ann Bevis; 9. C. Bishop; 10. A. Spurdle; 11. Janet Ebdon; 12. J. Loaring; 13. Mike Ebdon; 14. Bridget Larcombe; 15.Margaret Tett; 16. Sue Loaring; 17. Ernest Partridge; 18. G.Grabham; 19.Cliff Frecknall; 20.Roy Frecknall; 21.Peter Frecknall; 22.J.Woods; 23. H. Newberry; 24. Bert Spurdle; 25. M. Evans; 26. Jane Loaring |
 The Band marching down Church Street C.1950 |
 The Band attracting quite a following C.1950 |
 Into the 21C. the band went carolling |
 In demand to play when the Christmas Tree lights-up. |
Sadly, as the old Millennium came to a close, it was becoming increasingly difficult to attract young people into the Band. The Band played at the Street Fair in 2002, but for this it was necessary to borrow musicians from other bands in the area to make up the necessary numbers. Since then it has played at a few smaller events, and has played at the of the Winsham Christmas Tree lighting–up ceremony each year, but with the death of John Loaring in 2009, the numbers are now down to five, making recovery unlikely.
List of Band Masters
1902 Mr Davey
1903 Mr Lovell
1907 Mr G.Higgins
1910 Mr C.Phelps
1922 Mr C.W.Phelps
1937 Mr J.Heal
1943 Mr C.Churchill
1946 Mr R.Dunster
1951 Mr G.E.Spurdle
1965 Mr S.Carter
1967 Mr H.Newbery
1970 Mr J. Lennon
1971 Mr G.E.Spurdle
1972 Mr R.Filby
1975 Mr P.Scriven
1977 Mr C.Frecknall
Supporting Bandleaders
1939-1943 Mr C.Pinney
1952-1953 Mr G.Cooper
Acknowledgements: Especial thanks are due to Roger and Margaret Tett, and Cliff Frecknall, whose research and knowledge of the Bands history made this record possible. There is also available from Roger Tett an excellent Photo Story on DVD, containing a good deal of information not included on this Web site.
 The Band marching at the opening of a Village Fete-1970s |