User:Boiband/City of Cardiff "Melingriffith" Brass Band

The City of Cardiff "Melingriffith" Brass Band can justifiably claim to be the oldest band in Wales. Not because of the age of its members, many of whom are only in their teens, but because its history dates from Napoleonic times. A Drum and Fife Band was formed in Whitchurch, Cardiff in 1798 to assist the recruitment of a Company of Volunteers to fight against the French, who were threatening to invade Britain.

It was frequently referred to as 'Booker's Band' in the 1860's and 1870's and played at Club Feasts and semi-public occasions. In 1878 the Bandmaster was French Davies and in 1886 Evan Owen.

At this time, the Booker undertaking appears to have failed and connection with the Works was broken. However, the Band continued to function and, for a time, there were three different combinations running simultaneously, 'The Volunteer Band', 'The Temperance Band' and 'The Drum and Fife Band'. The first two combined to form a village band known as 'The Whitchurch Brass Band', conducted by F. Chivers. In 1913 the Whitchurch Brass Band was incorporated with the Melingriffith Cadet Corps through the influence of Hubert Spence-Thomas, Managing Director of the Melingriffith Tin Plate Works. It was reorganised, in 1919, as 'The Melingriffith Volunteer and Cadet Corps Band' under Frank Morgan.

T.J. Powell was appointed conductor in 1920, heralding a new era for the Band. 'T.J.' as he became affectionately known throughout the Brass Band world, was a former Salvation Army Bandsman who had graduated as a Bandmaster in the Royal Marines, serving at H.M.S. Nelson, in Portsmouth. His wealth of knowledge, experience and enthusiasm were an inspiration to the bandsmen who responded well to his coaching. The Band entered contests organised by the South Wales and Monmouthshire Brass Band Association and, under his guidance, rose from Class 'C' to Class 'A' (Championship) status in 1932.

The Band's headquarters, until the mid 1930's, was a tiny hall at the end of Velindre Road, just above the Melingriffith Works. It was condemned in 1937 and the Band moved to a building on company land between the River Taff and the Glamorganshire Canal. It changed its name to 'The Melingriffith Works Band' in 1941 - still under the direction of T.J. Powell. These were the days of military-style tunics with high collars and brass buttons and 'T.J', with his Royal Marines background, was a stickler for turnout and discipline. A former member recalls that anyone turning up with brown socks or unpolished buttons would be severely reprimanded - or even sent home! T.J. Powell was the composer of many original works and arrangements for brass band. He was often referred to as 'The Welsh Sousa' and probably best-known for his series of marches named after the Castles of Wales; Castell Caerdydd, Caerphilly Castle, Caernarfon Castle and 'Castell Coch' - which he dedicated to 'The Melingriffith Works Band' - being his and, naturally, our favourite. It is now the Band's signature tune and played regularly.

The closure of the Works in 1957 came as a great shock to the local community and it took a while for the Band to adjust to being a civilian organisation, rather than a semi-sponsored Works Band. However, the Band continued to function with help from The Steel Company of Wales, who provided rehearsal facilities at the former Melingriffith Drill Hall.

Tragedy struck on Friday 29th January 1965. The Band was assembled in the Cardiff Orchestral Studio - a converted church in Charles Street - the Cory Band were competing in the BBC Radio series 'Challenging Brass' with opponents Luton Band in a London Studio. 'T.J.' was guest conductor for Cory and was drawn to play first. As he sprang to his feet ready to accept the challenge, he was taken with what transpired to be a fatal heart attack and collapsed in front of the Band. True to tradition, and just as he would have wanted, a Solo Cornet player left the bench, took up the baton and conducted the Band's performance. 'T.J.' never heard the result, that Luton had won - he died in the studio as the Band was playing. This was the end of an era. A glorious passage in the history of the Band, which had spanned 45 years and had given the band its richly deserved reputation, had come to an end.

In March 1965 the Band was given a new home and new life as 'The Excelsior Ropes Works Band'. Several bandsmen worked at the Excelsior Ropes Works in Cardiff, where Halfords now stands, near Tesco Extra superstore, and it received the enthusiastic support of the Works' Managing Director, L.C. Davies and Manager Lt. Col. Gwyn Gay. Haydn White took over as conductor and the Band's standard progressed once more, leading to further success on the contest stage.

The Band competed in the National Finals as Wales Regional Champions and became winners of the Wales National Eisteddfod on several occasions. It participated in the St. David's Day Celebrations in the Royal Albert Hall and devised the Excelsior Festival of Music - an annual gala held at the Sophia Gardens Pavilion until it collapsed under heavy snow in 1982. An Invitation Contest throughout the day was followed by a Gala Concert graced by the finest of Britain's brass bands and Wales' male choirs.

The Band's association with The Excelsior Ropes Works lasted for eight years and when their sponsorship ended in 1973, the Band reverted to its former and much respected title of 'Melingriffith'.

George Wimpey, the world-wide construction company, then provided rehearsal facilities and it continued to succeed in both the concert and contest fields, but, with the lack of any real sponsorship and the gradual loss of players to other bands, it became impossible to maintain the high standard of the Championship Section. After 45 years 'at the top', the Band was relegated to the Second Section of the National Registry in 1977. Regrettably, the Band was eventually relegated to the Fourth Section - a sad reflection of past glories!

The Band returned to Whitchurch in the early 1980's on the invitation of the Whitchurch Community Centre and rehearsed in the former Welsh School Building in Old Church Road. When it was sold in 1988, the Band moved to Tabernacle Church, Merthyr Road, Whitchurch where it remained until 1992.

Unfortunately, the Band's membership continued to dwindle until there were only five playing members and to put on a performance, guest players had to be imported. Key musicians from all the top bands in Wales were willing to turn out for 'Melingriffith', but it proved impossible to attract players on a permanent basis and Band withdrew from competitions.

The remaining players were determined that the Band should not be allowed to die and efforts were made to find a new home and identity to achieve a resurgence of interest. The Radyr and Morganstown Community Council, one of Cardiff's villages across the River Taff from Whitchurch, offered the Band a home in the Old Church Rooms, on the corner of Park Road and Heol Isaf.

The Radyr and Morganstown Band was formed in 1992 and the intrepid five; Arthur Atkins, Norman Collins, John Davies, Terry Short and Lee Swallow, moved the library and equipment to Radyr, where they began recruiting new members.

By 1994 the Band was performing concerts once more and its reputation had started to re-establish, although during these years it endured a number of transient conductors - some with brass band experience, and others without! The Millennium dawned and the Band felt it could justifiably re-instate the much-loved name 'Melingriffith' to its title. It became known as 'The Radyr and Morganstown (Melingriffith) Band' as a fitting tribute to the Band's heritage and the determination and fortitude of those five players who would not give up on the Band they had loved and served for so long.

The Band re-entered the contest arena in March 2004 and won first prize in the Fourth Section Regional Finals at the Brangwyn Hall in Swansea. Competing against 14 other bands they gained a massive 176 points.

Then at the 2004 National Eisteddfod in Newport, the Band came second in the Fourth Section.

As a result of their success at Swansea, the Band then took part in the National Finals in Harrogate in September and then, in November, gained first place in the third section at the Treorchy Contest.

There have subsequently been a succession of conterst wins under the baton of current conductor Gareth Ritter culminating in winning the Second Section at the National Finals in Harrogate in 2009. In 2010 the band will contest in the First Section. Melingriffith 2 (M2) which has evolved from the City of Cardiff Training Band will also be competing in the Fourth Section.