Welcome to the Downton Band Website
The band (with some guest players) at Torquay before the contest on 8 March 2008 (click photo to see names)
Updated 5 October -
Photos from the New Forest Show and Church Fete this summer
New selection of photos from the 1980s
We meet on Wednesdays at our band room in Gravel Close in Downton at 8pm. If you are a brass or percussion player with
an evening to spare, email us and we can give you some fuller details, or just turn up!! If you're a young
player looking for a first band we have a Junior Band meeting at 7pm Wednesdays
at the same venue.
Our "gigs" vary from formal mess dinners, to carol playing in the village (even
Christmas morning at 4am - honest), and include the usual run of fetes and
village events. A special annual engagement in the past few years has been a 3
day stint at the New Forest Show (always close to the refreshment tent,
thankfully!). In 2003 we did a joint concert with a Welsh choir and made
a return visit in 2006. Our village is important to us
and we pride ourself on being able to support many local events!
We are regular participents in the Wessex Area contest (First section) and
Regionally, in the West of England region (4th Section). See you in
Torquay in March.
Our Musical Director, Roland Wright, has a patient and enthusiastic approach to
leading us and can often be seen weeping outside the band hall late Wednesday
evenings. His consistent approach has improved the general playing and ensured a
regular team has stayed together across all departments of the band - some
travelling from Southampton and Bournemouth - and long may that continue.
Please use the links - especially those for our photos and news section. This
will hopefully give you a "flavour" of the band's style and activities!
Senior Band
The Senior Band rehearses on a Wednesday night at the Band Hall in Gravel Close,
Downton from 8pm to 10pm. The membership fees for the Band is £2 per week.
Training Band
The Training Band meets at the Band Hall on a Wednesday evening at 7pm. All
are welcome to come along and learn to play an instrument. The membership fee
is 50p a week.
If you are interested in booking the band or to hire the band hall, please email the Secretary, Danny Silver, or the Chairman, Andrew Faulkner.
Any suggestions or comments about the website, please email the Webmaster, Greg Allain.