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A brief history of the band

Last Updated 13 March 2015 11:14

Image 1 for A brief history of the band

The Kings Korner Band was established at the time of the first Pewsey Carnival Procession in 1898 and consisted of people from the village playing tin whistles, mouth organs, even comb and paper. Anybody who could play anything was welcome to join in and make music and that is how it has remained.

Times of war saw little change, although in some years only three managed to make the carnival route - bass drum, side drum and melodeon ... but make it they did and the band and carnival lived on.

After more than a century the Kings Korner Band still heads the famous carnival procession each September. Originally based at the Coopers Arms near King’s Corner, a junction where King Alfred is reputed to have stopped en route to Winchester, the band moved to The Phoenix in the centre of Pewsey where it remained for twenty years. Since the closure and subsequent redevelopment of that site the band has used the Royal Oak as its base.

Always colourful in appearance the band has members of all ages and capabilities. Their music is produced on a wide variety of brass, wind and percussion instruments and also includes penny whistle, accordion, tambourine, mouth organ and maracas, but there is always room for more!

In February 2003 the band returned to its former home to record it’s first CD aptly named ‘Back to the Coopers’ and a tribute to band members past and present who have dedicated their time and talents to making the Kings Korner Band unique.

The photo shows the band's old banner which mysteriously disappeared a few years ago. The banner had been paid for by collections made at the funerals of three members of the local Goddard family in the 1970s. It's replacement was made in 2015 by a Hampshire sailmaker and paid for from KKB funds (see Index page).