HISTORY OF ST ALBAN'S CONCERT BAND CARDIFF
The story of St Alban's Band, Cardiff, began in 1896 when blast furnace men from East Moors Steelworks or "Dowlais by the sea" as it was known, formed a drum and fife band. In the next year, second hand instruments were bought by parishioners’ subscriptions and a brass band was formed under the tutorship of Mr. Merry, a parishioner of St. Peter’s Church. In 1913, woodwind players were added to form a military band under the direction of Mr. Jeremiah Scanlon.
In 1919 the Band began playing at soccer matches in Ninian Park, but, being rugby enthusiasts, were soon playing at matches at Cardiff Arms Park.
In the inter-war years, the band not only won a band competition at Fairford, Gloucestershire, but is also recorded as having broadcast on the ‘Cardiff Station’.
In the Second World War the band became known as Band of the 22nd. Battalion Home Guard Unit of Guest Keen Iron Works.
In 1919 the Band began playing at soccer matches in Ninian Park, but, being rugby enthusiasts, were soon playing at matches at Cardiff Arms Park.
In the inter-war years, the band not only won a band competition at Fairford, Gloucestershire, but is also recorded as having broadcast on the ‘Cardiff Station’.
In the Second World War the band became known as Band of the 22nd. Battalion Home Guard Unit of Guest Keen Iron Works.
In 1944 a boy’s band was formed mainly from pupils of the schools of St. Alban's and St. Illtyd's, leading to the current name of the band. They received instruction on Tuesday evenings and rapidly became a very good music ensemble finding themselves under the lights of street lamps entertaining the citizens of Splott with Christmas carols.
In the years following the Second World War the band played a prominent part in the Corpus Christi Day parades in Cardiff. The photograph on the left above was taken on the day of the 1967 parade. The band also continued to play at both club and international rugby matches at Cardiff Arms Park until 1987.
The concert band now regards itself as a community band and is proud to contain members of all ages, including more than one generation of some families.