Wantage Silver Band

New Band Hall

More News January 2012

Below are the final drawings of the Tugwell Field Band Hall.

The main hall has large windows and French doors opening onto the patio - an ideal setting for summer concerts and parties.

We hope to announce the completion date shortly!

News 2010

We are now celebrating after the quest for our new home took a giant leap with the signing of an agreement to build and lease the plot of land on Tugwell Field, Wantage.

The deal allows the Band to lease the land from the Vale of White Horse District Council so that we will be able to build our new community hall headquarters as soon as funding is in place.

The band, with over 160 playing members, has been fundraising for several years, and are halfway to the target  required for the first half of the Hall. It is hoped that with the signing of the agreement, the remainder will be obtainable from grants, loans and special fund-raising activities to enable construction to start soon..

Eileen Sykes, Bandmaster, said "we much appreciate the support of local and Vale Councillors and officers who have worked hard to secure this excellent plot of land for us. We look forward to having a permanent home for the Band, and providing a useful facility for the community".

Councillor Richard Gibson, Executive Member for Property and Estates at the Vale, said " This is a huge step forward for Wantage Silver Band and the culmination of many months of hard work to achieve legal and planning agreements. Wantage is now much closer to seeing this vital community facility becoming a reality".

Our picture shows Eleanor Turner (Chairman) and Eileen Sykes (Bandmaster) following the signing of the Agreement to Build and Lease.

Previous News

It was announced at the Annual General Meeting of the band in March 2009 that, pending the success of grant applications, it is hoped that a start can be made on building in 2010. Because of the modular design, this may comprise just the practice hall and essential peripherals or a more complete skeleton, awaiting later internal finishing. Meanwhile, access from the A417 road (funded by the County Council) was completed in July 2009. A celebration was held on 4th July, 2009 to mark the completion of the entrance, with an official cutting of the ribbon by Eleanor Turner, Band Chairman, heralded by a brass fanfare.  Following a feast of burgers and beer (and soft drinks) all present joined hands and marked the perimeter of the hall which had been marked out on the grass.  The celebration was brought to a close by an enthusiastic game of rounders.

Band Hall History

From 1978, WSB had use of the former kitchens of the Newbury Street C of E Primary School, in an arrangement with the Oxfordshire Education Authority. New ceiling, walls, floor, toilets, heating, lighting, kitchen and store-rooms were installed by the Band, to create the "Doug Brand Hall", named after our founder. It was a wrench to have to vacate it when the school was pulled down in 2001 to make way for a new building. We were then allowed use of the dining hall at Garston Lane school (former vacant premises, to which school activities were transferred), but no provision could be made for accommodating WSB when the school moved back to Newbury Street in mid 2003.

Since February 2003, the Band has been "homeless" and practices are currently split between Grove C. of E. School, East and West Challow Village Halls, Charlton Centre, Childrey Methodist Church and other local facilities. Clearly, this is not ideal and our aim has been to find suitable premises to call our own.

Our Aim

After years of negotiation between WSB, Oxfordshire County, and Vale of the White Horse district authorities, the Band has been offered a 99-year lease on "Tugwell Field", to build a Band Hall together with football pitches and changing rooms for Wantage Concords junior football club (to be funded and built separately by them). The location is on the eastern edge of Wantage, alongside the A417 road, near the 'Lord Nelson' pub. The Plans were enthusiastically reviewed at the Vale Planning Meeting on 26th November, 2007 and official Approval was granted soon after.