Wellington Silver Band’s 80th anniversary concert

Wellington Silver Band’s 80th anniversary concert

10 September 2025

WELLINGTON Memorial Silver Band celebrated their 80th anniversary with a charity concert in Crossgar War Memorial Hall on Saturday evening.

The band played to a full hall and raised over £1,000 for their chosen charity, Air Ambulance NI.

A range of music from down through the decades was played, reflecting the eight decades of the band’s performances.

Conducted by Stephen Cairns, the band opened Saturday’s performance with ‘The Sparkler’, a piece of music played by the band in 1950 when they experienced their first contesting success, winning at the annual Championship Contest in the Ulster Hall.

There was a memorabilia display showing a collection of old photographs, instruments and uniforms used by the band over the years.

A programme memento was also made listing 230 past players including the 18 founding players from 1945: David Ellison, John Woods, Willy Woods, Tom Cunningham, Jim Cunningham, Sam Cunningham, Robert Jackson, Stuart Andrews, Norman Woods, Will Pentland, Tom Ringland, Gordon Jackson, Stewart Thompson, William Miller, Eddie Ringland, John Jackson, Stanley Johnston and Robert Stevenson.

Nine former conductors were also listed: Clifford Lennon, Ken Brown, Ken Martin, Frank Moore, Bobby Davidson, Jimmy Kitchen, Gary Proctor, David Hawthorne and Stephen Cairns.

Amongst the audience on Saturday were three past conductors and numerous past players, seven of whom performed with the band again on stage.

Wellington Memorial Silver Band began as a flute band in 1903. Band president and founding member David Dickson recalled being only 10 years of age in 1945 when it was decided that a new band would be formed, replacing Wellington Defenders Flute Band.

Mr Dickson said: “As president of Wellington Memorial Silver Band it gives me great pleasure to welcome everyone to a celebration of 80 years of the band.

“As one of the longest serving members, I am proud of all the band’s achievements over the years.”

He continued: “I love nothing more than encouraging the young players and to see them develop and progress as musicians. I want to thank every member for the dedication and wish the band every success for another 80 years.”

In his chairman’s remarks, Thomas Woods said: “I would like to pay tribute to those who decided to start a brass band just after the Second World War in 1945 and thank the numerous past members and officers for their dedication and commitment for many years.

“As the band celebrates its 80th anniversary, it gives me an opportunity to thank the present members for their continued support and keeping the Wellington Memorial Silver Band alive and well in the local community.”

Mr Woods also thanked committee members and office bearers for helping to make the organisation a success.

He said: “Special thanks also to Dawn Stewart who has spent many hours with David Dickson, Robert McClurg and Norman Hamilton gathering information and memorabilia which is on display tonight and will hopefully bring back many happy memories.

“Also, a special mention to our present conductor Mr Stephen Cairns who is well known and highly respected in the banding movement, both in the province and further afield.

“We are fortunate to have the services of such a talented person to improve the standard of the band.”

Over the years the band has nurtured many talented players who have gone on to play in senior bands, but they “never forget their roots and still help out when they can”, Mr Woods continued.

“Going forward, like any organisation, we need new members, young or not so young, to keep the band in existence, which can be very difficult to achieve in the current environment. However, we hope that we can celebrate many more landmark occasions in the future,” he said.

For those interested in joining, Mr Woods said “our beginners class normally meets on Mondays at 7-8pm at Barnamaghery” and that the organisation “provide an instrument and are currently offering the first 10 weeks for free, and only £2.50 per week afterwards”.

The band has practised in Barnamaghery Orange Hall since its inception with the support of Barnamaghery Orange Lodge and Barnamaghery Ladies’ Committee.

Avril Carse, founding member of the Ladies’ Committee, said the committee “was formed 61 years ago when it was realised there was a need for new instruments for Wellington Memorial Silver Band”.

She continued: “After a meeting between David Ellison, Norman Hamilton, Mary Ellison and Maisie Ross it was decided to hold a guest tea party in Raffrey Church Hall on October 27, 1964.

“Many other ladies were recruited to help and since then the Ladies’ Committee has continued to support both the band and the lodge through many other fundraising events.”

Avril also shared the significance of one particular lady in the committee, Mrs Ringland, who, with her family, was a familiar face in the band and in the hall.

“Mrs Ringland, with her husband, moved from the Spa and brought up a family of four in the Orange Hall downstairs while the band played upstairs,” she said.