Band History

Brass music was thriving in Dawley as early as the mid-19th century. One of the earliest recorded ensembles, Dawley Brass Band, was active from 1856 to 1872, with Henry Jones noted as conductor in 1871. Around the same time, Dawley Green Band, founded in 1856, helped establish a strong local banding culture. Under the direction of Thomas Chirm, this group later evolved and became associated with the Wellington Rifle Volunteers, reflecting the close ties between brass bands, community life, and civic pride during that era.

By the late 19th and early 20th centuries, banding in Dawley had grown in both scale and character. A later formation, often referred to as Dawley Town Silver Prize Band, remained active into the mid-20th century. Local tradition even recalls a pig being placed on a wall to watch the band march past,  a small but vivid reminder of how central these bands were to everyday life and entertainment in the town.

The 20th century brought further change and development to brass banding in Dawley and the surrounding area. Dawley New Town Band, formed around 1961, drew players from earlier groups such as the Hadley Sankeys Castle Band. As Telford New Town grew, so too did its musical identity, with the band evolving alongside the community.In time, this ensemble became Telford Concert Band, and later Telford Brass Band. It achieved notable competitive success, including reaching the Second Section of the National Championships and performing within the Birmingham & District Association. Although the band became inactive in the late 1980s, its legacy endured.

Following this period, Dawley (Telford) Brass Band emerged, active from sometime after the 1970s and continuing into the 1990s. This group formed an important bridge between the earlier Dawley and Telford bands and the modern era, helping to sustain the local brass band tradition during a time of significant change.

Alongside these larger organisations were smaller community groups such as Dawley Wesleyan Brass Band, active as early as 1892, highlighting just how deeply embedded brass banding was within the community. While individual bands have come and gone, the spirit of brass music in Dawley and Telford has remained constant.That connection is still very much alive today. Several current members, Steve Smith, Rhian Thomas, Hazel Keir, Keith Cosby, and Neil Armstrong, were part of Dawley Brass Band, providing a direct and living link between past and present. Their experience and memories help preserve the traditions and identity of the original band.