Wadhurst Brass Band is a group of friends from all walks of life who share a love of music-making and entertaining local communities.  A brass band has thrived in Wadhurst village since the late 1800’s.

The present band owes its’ life to Algy Hoare.  As a teacher at the Secondary School, now Uplands Community College, he introduced brass lessons in the fifties.  He formed a school band in 1957 and he and his players became great ambassadors for the school.  Success led naturally into the “Youth Band” that evolved in 1974 into the “Wadhurst Brass Band” that we know.

Under Algy’s, baton, the band developed a friendly and welcoming style in which players both young and old were able to develop their musicianship.  Most of all he encouraged his band to enjoy their music and playing for others.  Locals came to love the easy wit with which he provided little snippets of introduction to each piece.  In 1998, Algy hung up his baton, which was taken up by Ken Rich.

Ken’s association with brass bands goes back over 50 years. He has conducted since 1965 and has taught many a young person to play brass instruments.  Ken has won prizes for his conducting and has appeared at famous venues such as the Royal Albert Hall for the National Brass Band Finals.  During his six years as Music Director he helped to develop Wadhurst Brass Band into the successful Band that it is today

Ken retired at the end of 2003 and Paul Gardiner, our talented solo cornet player, took up the baton and his youthful enthusiasm  - further enhanced the reputation of the Band.

In January 2007 the band was delighted that Ken Rich took up his baton once more as the Band’s Music Director. Ken is well known to all our audiences and players alike and we are particularly pleased to see him in charge again during our 50^th Anniversary year. The band performed a Jubilee concert in July 07 to celebrate its anniversary at which Algy was presented the Founders award for his contribution to Wadhurst Brass Band.

We give three concerts in Wadhurst; autumn, Christmas and spring each year and we frequently play for church services where the acoustics can add a special poignancy. A busy summer outdoor programme means that fetes and festivals feel just right with the mellow tones of brass.

The band has developed a friendly and welcoming style that encourages players both young and old to develop their musicianship.  We continue to attract talented players and we are particularly proud of our growing Youth section, eight of whom are full members of the Band.

Summer venues include Hever Castle, Chartwell, Chevening House, Penshurst Place, Tonbridge Castle, Eastbourne, Hastings and Tunbridge Wells Pantiles Bandstands     are perfect backdrops on a summer’s day, to introduce overseas and home visitors to the very English sound of a brass band.

 Further afield WBB has made three highly acclaimed concert tours of the Rhine / Moselle area of Germany. A Tour of the Lille area of France was a highlight of 2006. The band has good links with Wadhursts  twin village of Aubers in France. In 2007 the band played at the opening of Aubers New Sports hall. Our repertoire varies over the summer to include light classical, themes from film, musicals and TV and of course traditional brass band music.

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