Toddington Town Band
Music For Pleasure, Music For Us, Music for the Enjoyment of Others
Musical Director: Mr Mick Atkins
Bandmaster: Mr Ian Smith
Secretary: Mr Derek Jones
Toddington Town Band has a long and proud tradition of music making in
Bedfordshire.
The first reference to the Toddington Brass Band was in an 1856 issue
of The Dunstable Chronicle. In 1910 the first reference to the Band's
current name appears, Toddington Town Band, when it was under the baton
Mr James Hyde. Mr Hyde conducted the band for 41 years until his death
in 1951. Under his leadership Toddington Town Band achieved competition
success many times including a contest win at Reading in 1937, a second
in the Area Contest in 1947and a 3rd in the Belle Vue Contest, Manchester.
When James Hyde died, his son Dennis took up the baton and led the band
until his death in 1982.
There was then a 5-year interval until the formation of the current Toddington
Town Band in 1987. Players from other local bands became bored with contesting,
and approached Beryl Hyde, Dennis' widow with the idea of reforming the
Band.Together approached a local brass teacher, Mr Kevin Nicholls. Kevin
took the Junior and Senior bands until John Farmer, our current conductor,
took up the baton.
Currently the Band has 30-40 members and is growing still. The engagements
list includes fixtures like fetes, concerts and private events.