The Beginning - 1973

The band was formed in 1973 at the East Anglian School Gorleston-on-Sea, consisting of a small group of visually impaired students with two associate students from outside the school with one other adult. In June of that year the school's Annual Fete needed a band and after hasty preparation of hand written music allowing the band to play for about one hour, the East Anglian School band was born. Many concerts by the school band were then give to local clubs and Societies in great Yarmouth and Gorleston, with membership quickly growing to sixteen.

1977

All those years ago

The band played a prominent part in the 1977 Prince Charles Jubilee Trust programme on Anglia T.V and Prince Charles himself was "very impressed with the musicianship of the band". In the same year the members of the band were invited to Rambouillet, the French twin town of Great Yarmouth and played at the "Fete de Muget" to a crowd of 50,000 people, including ambassadors from all of the European nations, thus carrying on the tradition oset by the the old Great Yarmouth and Gorleston Silver Band who attended the first twinning celebration in 1957.

1981

In 1981, the band was renamed as "The East Anglian Band" and with the closure in 1985 of the East Anglian School, the band then became known as "The Great Yarmouth Band Gorleston Silver Band" and membership became increasingly of all ages and in 1990- the band assumed the title of the "Holmesquest Holding Band, under the patronage of the late Francis Holmes, a loyal supporter of the band for many years.

1991

In 1991 the band had its first success in the East Anglian Spring festival contest at the St. Andrews Hall, Norwich, in "B" section. In that year the band entertained Princess Alexandra at Caister at the launch of the new lifeboat, the Bernard Matthews. In 1995 the band returned to contest at St. Andrews Hall, winning the four trophies for that section and subsequently protion to "A" section for 1996, going on to win the Hymn Tune change cup in that year and a fourth placing for the test piece.

1991

1995 proved to be an all round winning year, not just for the charities supported by the band but also by the acceptance of a lottery grant of £43,600 to purchase all new instruments and allowing the existing instruments to be distributed to several schools in the area, for local children to be taught to play brass with the intention of forming a Junior Band in 1997.

1996

In September 1996, the conductor and founder member of the band Colin Godfrey resigned his membership. The band quickly appointed Mrs. Marilyn Zipfel to the position of Musical Director and on Sunday 4th May 1997, competing in the "A" class section of the competition, winning the Test Piece section with "Hollywood" and third placing for the Hymn Tune "From heaven He came", arranged specially by Marilyn for the occasion.

1997

On Saturday 17th May 1997, at 10.30 a.m. the band entered a new era, when thirty five young people answered the call to attend our Junior Fun Day Workshop for Brass and forming the Youth Band. On 8th December 1997 the Youth band made their very first public appearance in the village of Foulsham, Norfolk and to a packed Parish church contributed to a Carol concert.

1998

On the 1st April 1998, the committee and membership of the band voted in favour of a new name and image for the band, renaming to "GREAT YARMOUTH BRASS". On 4th May 1998, both the Seviour and Junior bands took part in the 60th East Anglian brass Band Festival . The Junior Band had their first taste of contesting, with prizees all round. A Hymn tune third placing and second placing for the test piece "Flintknappers" for the youth band and a second position for the senior band for both the Hymn Tune and test piece. Later the same year, Great Yarmouth Brass put on a Jubilee Concert featuring the internationally renowned tuba player Steve Sykes.

1999

On 24th March 1999 the great Yarmouth brass travelled to Stevenage for their first showing at the London and Southern counties Championships and competing against thirty three other bands achieved a credible seventh placing. On Sunday 2nd May 1999, once again both bands were at the Norwich Brass Band Festival, hitting the jackpot by becoming "EAST ANGLIAN CHAMPIONSHIP WINNERS" under musical direction of Marilyn Zipfel and the youth band, under their founder conductor Fred Wells, won the youth section. Sadly, on June 13th 1999, Great Yarmouth Brass lost one of its founder members, Mr Derek Horace Hacon, or "Uncle Derek" as he was affectionately known who continues to be greatly missed by the members of the band who had the privilege of knowing him.

2002

Sadly, due to work pressures, Marilyn Zipfel was forced to resign from the position of Musical Director and Principal Euphonium Stuart Philpot temporarily took the baton until the position could be filled. Advertisements were sent out and later that year Mark Gibson, from the band of the Dragoon Guards was formally invited to the position of Musical Director. However in the Autumn of that year, he was called to army duty in the gulf, leaving the band without a conductor for the forthcoming annual contest at Stevenage.

2003

Stuart Philpot again took the baton and in March 2003 saw the band's first regional success, becoming "4th section London and Southern counties Champions 2003" with the test piece "Lydian Pictures" and securing promotion to National 3rd Section. Gaining a prestigious invitation to the National Finals held in Dundee, Scotland and Mark Gibson returning from his military duties, he once again took the baton for the finals. However, after a disappointing result for the band, Mr Gibson tendered his resignation and once again Stuart Philpot was appointed to the position of Musical Director. With the support of local tourist attraction "Fritton Countryworld", a new type of event was established for Great Yarmouth Brass with "Brass in the Park", raising over £700 to fund the Youth Band and a gala concert in the unusual location of the Strumpshaw Steam Museum for "Brass meets Steam". Youth Band conductor Fred Wells and vice president Ray Welch announce their retirement.

2006

Local peripatetic Brass Teacher Richard Ward was appointed to the position of Youth Band Musical Director.

2007

March 18th Great Yarmouth Brass achieved an astounding Runner up placing at London and Southern counties Championships and Great Yarmouth Brass qualify as National Finalists 2007 in Harrogate at the end of September 2007. The band was drawn ninth in order of play, performing the musical suite "The Seasons", specially written by Philip Wilby, in the main hall of the Stevenage Arts and Leisure Centre,. The adjudicator for the day, with the mammoth task of judging all the performances of the twenty three competing bands, was Steve Pritchard-Jones

Great Yarmouth Brass continues to be predominantly a concert band, performing concerts around the region in aid of many different charities and good causes, forging links with other groups, providing enjoyment and fundraising opportunities for them. The most successful of these has been the partnership with the Lowestoft Gateway Club, for people with learning disabilities.

A number of members from Great Yarmouth Brass have progressed through the Youth Band and on into the senior band, then taking on a musical career. Great Yarmouth Brass have seen many of their former members, when they have moved away from the area, play with 4th to Championship Sections band, including former Youth Band member Tom Poulson who, in 2006, was offered the principal cornet seat on the National Youth Brass Band and the European Youth Brass Band.