Why future of 'homeless' brass band is so important

Foden's Band started in 1902 and has won multiple championships

In the early 1900s, a community brass band was formed in the south Cheshire market town of Sandbach, with the backing of local truck manufacturer Foden's.

More than 120 years later, Foden's Band has become one of the best brass bands in the world, winning multiple national and international championships.

But recently it hit a stumbling block after members learned they would need to move out of their rehearsal space in February, which could derail preparations for the European championships in May.

Band manager Mark Wilkinson said they had become "more or less homeless", and has called for the community's help in finding them space.

"We've been around for a long time and hopefully we'll be around for a lot more time to come," he told BBC Radio Stoke.

How the band was formed

The history of Foden's Band stretches back to when the Sandbach Volunteer Band and Wheelock Temperance Society Band existed at the beginning of the 20th Century.

In May 1900, both refused to march to the town's suburb of Elworth at the end of a procession celebrating the Relief of Mafeking.

The band, pictured in 1904, started life as Foden's Motor Works Band

This led to the disgruntled people of Elworth forming their own brass band, which became the Elworth Silver Band.

But its activity halted in 1902 because of a row over a performance to mark the coronation of King Edward VII.

Amid the dispute, Edwin Foden, of Elworth-based Foden's Trucks, made an offer of about £58 to buy the band's instruments, but it was rejected.

After the Elworth Silver Band disbanded and its instruments were sold, Mr Foden bought a set of replacements for the band-less musicians, heralding the start of Foden Motor Works Band.

The band has performed across the world during its history

The band's success

Foden's Band is now regularly top of the brass band world rankings and has won multiple competitions.

It has won the British Open Brass Band Championships 13 times, most recently in 2023, as well as the National Championships of Great Britain 16 times.

In the latter, the band has twice achieved an "unparalleled" hat-trick – winning three times in a row from 1932 to 1934 and 1936 to 1938.

It also holds the record for the number of area contest wins, with 26 titles in the north west region, and came out on top in the European Championships in 1992.

The band, pictured outside Buckingham Palace, has performed by Royal Command four times

Foden's Band has performed by Royal Command on four occasions – for King George V in 1913, King George VI in 1938 and 1940, and Queen Elizabeth II in 1983.

"I've been in the band 32 years and even since then, we've won every major title," Mr Wilkinson said.

The musicians have also travelled across the world, including successful performances at American and Swiss brass band championships.

Recent issues and the future

Foden's Band relocated to its current home at Bradwall Village Hall after its former premises was gutted by a fire in 2016.

But this year, members were told its rehearsal space would be "adopted for other uses" from February 2025 and they would need to move out.

Foden's Band said it was determined to stay in Sandbach

Mr Wilkinson said the decision would impact rehearsals for May's European Championships in Norway.

Despite offers from other bands to use their spaces, he said the musicians were determined to remain in Sandbach.

"This is where our roots are so we want to stay in Sandbach. We don't want to move out," Mr Wilkinson said.

Anyone with suggestions has been encouraged to contact the band through its website.