The Band was founded on 5 September 1977. A number of parents of Derek Wilson's pupils, and parents of pupils at the Amersham Music Centre Band, which Derek conducted, and which included Gordon Rogers' children and Annabel Curry's children, asked Derek about starting a community band. Mrs Curry gave £100 to buy music without which the band could not have started. After two years Mrs Curry, who was a teacher at Chalfont St Peter Secondary School moved away and Mr Crane a Band member, took her place to make a three-man committee with Gordon Rogers and Derek, until the Rogers family moved away in the early 80's. Roy Castle brought his daughter Antonia to the junior band in late 1979 before she moved into the senior band where she remained until moving away to college. Roy was made Band President in the early 80's until his death in 1994. The Band started rehearsals at the National Society for Epilepsy, Chalfont St. Peter. It then moved to St Joseph's RC School, also in Chalfont St Peter, staying there for fourteen years before returning to the NSE for another five years. The next venue was the beautiful historic Barn at the Princess Marina Centre, Seer Green. Here a very happy six year relationship was established with SCOPE. This building then closed down for redevelopment, and the residents moved to Heritage House, Chesham. From 1 March 2004 rehearsals have been held at Robertswood School, Chalfont St. Peter, thus returning the Band to the area where it began. From 2004 until 2010 the Band was under the Musical Directorship of Cliff Rowley during which time it went from strength to strength. An Assistant MD, Dwight Pile- Gray, was added to the team in October 2010 and following Cliff’s retirement at the end of that year Dwight took over as Director of Music. Keith Bramich joined as Assistant DM until 2016 when David Batsman was appointed Assistant DM having previously been a Band member. At the end of March 2019 David Batsman left the Band having successfully developed the Academy Band and following auditions Ryan Bunce was appointed Assistant Director of Music. In December 2019, following just over nine very successful years, Dwight Pile-Gray retired and Ryan assumed the position of Director of Music, taking on both Bands with the Assistant position being vacant. Derek Wilson (1931-2023) became President in 2004 and given the title of ‘Conductor Emeritus’ in 2010. He was awarded the MBE in the 2007 Queen's Birthday Honours for Services to Music and the Community. He died on 10 December 2023. Training Band renamed to Academy Band in April 2018.

History

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