The History of Croft Silver Band until 1946

The Band started as Croft Brass and Reed Band and consisted of 12/14 players, each providing his own instrument and having responsibility of his entire library of music. The Band appeared at village fetes, club feasts and dances. At the outbreak of war in 1914, it was not possible to continue due to conscription to the forces and so the group were disbanded.

After the First World War a group of the former players got together and worked hard to raise funds. By 1923 they had raised £240, a considerable sum in those days, and so the group known as Croft Brass Band were formed.

At Christmas 1924, the Band played Christmas carols at Croft and Huncote for the first time. The Band met at 10pm on Christmas eve and after doing a complete tour of the village then met on the village green at 3am on Christmas morning although it has to be said that before that unsurprisingly many players had dropped out with exhaustion. At 3pm the Band would meet again to complete the tour of the village before finally disbanding around 5pm.

Once again in 1939 war intervened with the running of the Band. Due to the blackout and other problems the Band was forced to close that year not to open again until 1946.

(We are indebted to Mr Richard S Warren who has allowed quotation from his publication 'The History of Croft Silver Band' )