History

The Early Days

The Severn Tunnel Band was formed back in 1923. The practice room was an old barn situated in the old cattle market in Rogiet. Seating was planks of wood and lighting was from oil lamps as there were no windows. In the 1940s the band resituated in an ex-army hut, where it stayed until the 1960s. Many of the members were railway-men and because of shift hours rehearsals sometimes had to be 11pm until midnight!

Twinning With Germany

It was in 1982 that the Severn Tunnel Band began their twinning association with the AKK 1936, which is an Accordian Orchestra from Weisental in Germany. The first exchange visit took place in the spring of 1983 when first the AKK came to Caldicot. In October of the same year Severn Tunnel Band went to Weisental. This was the beginning of very many happy exchange visits between the AKK and Severn Tunnel Band.

The most recent visit to Germany by Severn Tunnel Bandwas in 1997 when we went to Weisental take part in the town's 700th anniversary celebrations. The celebrations went on for a week and started with a pageant of 4000 people including the Mayor of Caldicot, Bill Edwards and of course Severn Tunnel Band. The celebrations culminated in a concert and huge firework display. The concert, in which STB also took part, was in an enormous marquee, to an audience of 3000 people.

In 1998 the AKK came to Caldicot for a week and joined in the Severn Tunnel Band's 75th Anniversary celebrations. The next planned visit by Severn Tunnel Band to Weisental is hopefully going to be in 2002.

Current Day

Over the years the playing improved and the band started entering contests. Today the band is a thriving community and has a very busy calendar throughout out the year, including contests, fetes, concerts and carol playing. The Severn Tunnel Band is a valuable entertainment source for the community of Caldicot and is often called upon to lighten up occasions and march through the streets. Last year saw the band achieve a great promotion to the third section, where they will meet harder competition and will hopefully have a chance at improving further!

You can view images of the band and its past in our gallery, or you can see who is currently in our band by viewing the meet the band section.