The Wroughton Silver Band is a long-established band based in the Wiltshire village of Wroughton, which nestles below the ancient Ridgeway path and Iron Age hill fort of Barbury Castle. It is just 2 mile south of Swindon and the M4. We are a friendly, social band and after a very long break we made a successful return to the contest stage in 2019 and in the process earning a invitation to the National Finals but also promotion to the 3rd section. With our 3rd placing at the Areas in 2022, we again received an invitation to the National Finals, were promoted from the top spot into the 2nd section. This is our second year in this section and whilst we are enjoying the challenges contesting brings, we remain at heart a community band and are both lucky and proud at this level to be able to put the same band out for the rigours of the contest stage to those that sit outside supermarkets Carolling during the Christmas season. We have a full and varied list of engagements primarily in our locality including Bandstand concerts, Fetes, Weddings, Christmas and Remembrance Day events. We occasionally venture out of our area and since 2016 have participated in the famous Whit Friday Marches event held in Saddleworth. We support many charities not limited to but including the Poppy Appeal, Help for Heroes, Parkinsons, and local charities including the Prospect Hospice. We are so fortunate to have our own Band room at nearby Burderop Park, which was generously provided by the late Sir Henry Calley, whose great nephew Oliver Langton has recently taking on the role of Band President and in doing so continues his family association with the band.
A year in the life of the Band:-
On our return to contesting, for the first first few weeks of the year we focus our rehearsal time on the test piece for the West of England Regional Championships held in Torquay in the month of March, depending on the results, we could, as we did in 2019 & 2022, be invited to participate in the National Finals held at the Cheltenham racecourse during September. Immediately following this, the Band holds it AGM at a local hostelry where following the business element of the meeting we have an evening of food, beer and skittles.
Engagements
Engagements during the summer would normally include bandstand concerts, typically Swindon Town Gardens, Chippenham John Coles Park and Victoria Gardens in Newbury. We also regularly perform at Garden Fetes, more recently including Chiseldon Church Fete, the Prospect Hospice Fete and the Prospect Fundraising Cream Tea event held at Wroughton Catholic Church. We have of late held a Charity Concert at Wroughton Parish Church with the local Parkinson’s Support group, Prospect Hospice, Greatwood Charity and Springboard a specialist preschool in Chippenham. We also occasionally get invited to play for private parties, and weddings.
During October we have regular engagements at Christ Church with the Hillier Funeral Bereavement Service and for the Palestine Police Association reunion and service of remembrance at the Blundson House Hotel.
November sees us giving Remembrance concerts in Malmesbury Abbey and in Wroughton, together with our participation in the Remembrance Day Service at the Parish Church and leading the parade to the War Memorial for the service there incorporating the two minute silence. We have of late provided the music for the remembrance service at Radnor Street Cemetery.
December, of course, is devoted to carols; we are regularly invited to provided music in support of the Swindon male Voice Choir Christmas Concert in Christchurch, Swindon, and this last year had the pleasure of supporting the Swindon Choral Society at their Christmas Concert, again in Christchurch. You will also find us playing outside Waitrose, Wroughton Ellendune shops and Wroughton Pubs with our carols around Wroughton village on Christmas Morning rounding off another year with the Wroughton Silver Band.