There are records of the Band going back to 1925, when it was directed by John Hohmann Chantler. The Band was taking part in Brass Band contests and won the Challenge Cup at Hanwell in 1926.
Early records are patchy, but in May 1935 the Band played all afternoon in Orpington Recreation Ground for the local celebrations of King George V’s Silver Jubilee.
The Band has been known by a number of names over the last 100 years:-
- Orpington Railway Prize Band (1926)
- Orpington Home Guard Band (1942)
- Orpington and Crays British Legion Band (After WWII)
- Orpington Silver Band (1961)
- Orpington Concert Band (1975)
- Orpington Band (2017)
The Band had a number of conductors in its early years, and in 1971 it came under the baton of Roy Garman who was its music director for over 50 years. Under Roy’s leadership the Band grew from only 6 regular players to as many as 45 – 50. We now have about 30 committed players.
The Covid Pandemic did not stop Roy from rehearsing with the Band. The Government’s decision in 2020 to allow groups of six to meet outdoors gave Roy the opportunity to hold rehearsals in Goddington Park in “socially distant sixes”.
The Band’s role has adapted to reflect changing times. Band contests declined, but the Band had many summer engagements in London Parks in the 1960’s, 1970’s and 1980’s. It briefly operated as an Adult Education Evening Class, and was a Marching Band for a number of years.
Under Roy’s direction the Band played at Dartford and Sevenoaks bandstands, at fetes and fairs, Indian Weddings and performed musical quizzes for fund raising events. We have also played in numerous care homes, for the Bexley Churches Together Week of Music, and at the annual Christmas Carol event on the Green at Westerham.
We currently play Christmas music in Orpington High Street on Saturdays in December to raise money for local charities, and also play carols in Tesco Orpington and in the Glades Bromley for the Kent Association for the Blind, as Roy began to lose his own sight.
Roy Garman
Roy was a professional musician, a multi-instrumentalist with a passion for the trumpet (his primary instrument), and was for many years a popular peripatetic music teacher for the London Borough of Bexley. He spent a considerable amount of time arranging, composing and publishing band music for all abilities. He introduced younger players to Orpington Band, and later provided sessions for adult beginners, arranging the music so that all members of the Band could enjoy playing together.
Roy’s legacy lives on in the current players, in the music he wrote and arranged, and in the many players he taught over the years. His gift for teaching and encouraging players to enjoy learning to play an instrument was infectious, and there are so many who are grateful to him for the joy they have found through playing in the Band.