History

The band has a long history that can be traced back to the 1800’s and a Military Band called the Winterbourne Wind Band, the band later changed to an all brass format.

Thornbury has a long association with Brass Bands; the first recorded band was The Thornbury Baptist Church Band which was set up by Baptist Minister Walter Reed who was appointed in 1903 and purchased out of his own pocket the instruments needed to form a Band. In 1909/1910 the Band was known as the Thornbury Baptist Prize Band but ceased during the 1st World War and never reformed.

Records show that around 1915 Thornbury Town Brass Band existed with some of these members having previously belonged to The Thornbury Baptist Prize Band but it did not exist for long.

During the 1920’s was known as the Hambrook Prize Band a.k.a Hambrook Silver Band whose few remaining members in 1974 reformed as a brass band in Thornbury. The band flourished and in December 1974 it was announced that the Band would change its name to The Thornbury Band.

The Thornbury Band became very successful winning regional and national competitions and was a consistent Championship section band for many years until it disbanded in 2004.

The present band was first formed as the junior band for The Thornbury Band in 1980.  However, after a while the band wanted its own identity and changed its name initially to the Thornbury Castle Band.

The change allowed both young and old members of the local community to join the band with the emphasis being on community banding rather than contesting.

In 2011, the Thornbury Castle Band was renamed as Thornbury Town Band to foster closer links with the town. The band has continued to work in the local community performing concerts at Fetes, Carnivals and Church functions to aid local worthy causes.