by Carl Llewellyn
While in conversation with a fellow Dowlais choir chorister Richard Cole, we began to reminisce about our time together in the Merthyr Tydfil Brass Band. Next choir rehearsal Richard brought along a photograph of the band in the 60’s, between both of us we managed to piece together all but one of the band’s assemblages.
About 1965 members of the Georgetown and Gellifaelog School Brass Bands combined to form the Merthyr Tydfil Brass Band under the directorship of Mr Elwyn Farrell. Mr Farrell was a teacher of mathematics at Georgetown School and an accomplished cornet player, whose family had strong ties with the local Salvation Army corps.
The band membership increased quickly with other players who had originally joined the brass bands before their transfer to Quakers Yard Technical School in Treharris.
Despite the band’s formation Georgetown and Gellifaelog school bands still retained their own identity in assisting their school assemblies’ accompaniment of school hymns, with Mr Farrell taking up the baton for Georgetown School Band while Mr Richard Pendry conducting the Gellifaelog School Band.
To help young instrumentalists the band membership were grateful to older players who gave their time to help nurture young brass band musicians.
Most of the rehearsals were held at the old YMCA sports room located on the upper level of the YMCA. In the short history of the brass band, they appeared at local charity events including the Christmas tree ceremony outside the town hall. The Brass Band entered a number of competitions such as the Park and Dare Hall in Treorchy, and the Brangwyn Hall in Swansea.
I believe the Merthyr Tydfil Brass Band finished about 1968, when the older band members of school leaving age left their schools, with fewer school pupils pursuing an interest in their school Brass Bands and the Youth band, the numbers dwindled leaving no option but for the band conductor Mr Farrell to disband the musical organisation. After Mr Farrell’s retirement from the teaching profession, he moved to Libanus, Brecon then moved to Sweden where he died.
Back row (l-r): Ivor Roberts, Ernie Lanchesbury, Gareth Oates, Derek Williams, Joyce Rubery, Michael Rees, Martin Carey, Alvin Head, Cyril Williams, Richard Owens
Middle row (l-r): Richard Cole, Alan Evans, Carl Llewellyn, Maldwyn Williams, John Lenard, Peter Lozano, Michael Baldwin, Ieuan Harris
Front row (l-r): Anthony Williams, Gail Bartlett, Dayton Griffiths, Elva Thomas, Gwyn James, Elwyn Farrell (conductor), Raymond Hancock, Jane Thomas, Philip Kinsey, Allan Davies, Philip Fly
Wow I was there in the middle top row Wonderful to see that photo and read that marvelous account of the history of the band.Such lovely memories.I do remember being in lessons and Mr Farrell sending a message there was a practice and away we would go . It would be nice to have a reunion.Worth a thought ?