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Pitt Rivers Trophy |
The Wessex Brass Band Association was formed prior to 1922, but as records are unavailable the exact date is not known, although one of it's trophies was presented in 1930 for a Jubilee celebration.
Many of the bands currently involved in the association have been actively involved from the commencement, however certain bands have unfortunately disbanded namely Wellworthy Works, Southsea Silver, Fovant Silver, Mere Manor and Glastonbury Town.
The association is open to all Brass Bands in Wiltshire, Hampshire, Dorset & Somerset although bands in other counties may apply and have successfully competed at contest's run by the association.
In 1950, the then chairman, Mr H J Stockwell said "The objectives of the Association are to improve the standard of playing in all Brass Bands in the area by promoting contests, and to make them favourable to all competitors, to create a feeling of friendship amongst bandsmen and to bring us all together as one body of comrades." These sentiments have been retained by the current committee who have tried to encourage the improvement and formation of Youth Brass Bands.
39 Bands are currently members of the Association with an average of 27 competing at the Winter Festival, which has been held at Weymouth Pavilion since 2003 and previously at The Poole Arts Centre for 23 years and the Winter Gardens, Bournemouth for 22 years, without any major sponsorship. Until 1976 all bands only competed for trophies, and currently the top prize is only £120.00, when you consider that coach hire for the day alone is in excess of £200.00 it gives you an insight into the dedication of the bandsmen and the acclaim in which the Wessex Contest is held.
The Winter Festival is held on the first Saturday in December every year. This year the content is on Saturday 01 December 2007. Since 2000 the Winter Contest has been in association with Wessex Heartbeat and Mr David Hills who now runs the evening concert promoting the county premiership bands and raising money for cardiac care in the Wessex region.
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