About Helston Town Band

It will always be for their association with the world- famous Flora Day, when band members lead the dancers through the streets, shops and houses of Helston, for which the Town Band is best known.

Helston Town Band has an extremely rich heritage, which can be traced back to the turn of the century.

Long Service
It is family ties and the unusual life- long service of many of the players that makes the feel of the Band unique. Of today's line- up, Life Members Martin Pascoe (Cornet), Paul Jenkin (Solo Baritone) and Ian Harvey (Cornet/ former Principal Cornet) have all been associated with Helston Town Band for over 50 years and indeed since a young age. In 2025, both Kevin Johns (Deputy Musical Director/ Bandmaster) and Philip Bennetts (Principal Cornet) will mark 40 years with the Band.

However, it remains to be seen if they can match the distinguished record of undisputed band veteran, cornet player Russell Harvey, who in 2014, received an unprecedented special award from Brass Bands England and the Cornwall Brass Band Association in recognition of his remarkable 70 years of service to the organisation. In September 2016, Russell was recognised by Gorsedh Cornwall for his services to local music. In 2024, in his 90^th year, the Band marked Russell’s 80 years of continuous service- quite an achievement!

Former long- serving player and Bandmaster and current Musical Director of the Concert Band, Keith Busby, has had a lifelong association with the organisation and first played in the Band in the 1950’s. His Grandfather had conducted, while his Father and Uncles were all players.

In March 2025, Band Members were honoured to be able to give the late Mark Williams the send- off he deserved, accompanying his funeral cortege through the town. Mark had been a constant in the Band for an incredible 55 years and is very much missed.

The Band is also especially grateful to its dedicated Committee Members, including former player and Chairman of 19 years, John Penaluna, who has been associated with the organisation for nearly 70 years and remains a mainstay of all that we do.

Post- war Musical Directors
In 1946, player numbers were consolidated when most of Helston’s pre-war members returned from active service and Helston pork butcher, Leonard Hender, previously a member of the band for some 28 years, became Bandmaster. The band enjoyed steady progress, which culminated in them reaching the National 3rd Section Finals, held at Belle Vue, Manchester, in 1951.

Following the sudden and premature death of Mr Hender, whilst rehearsing for a live recording of the BBC's Songs of Praise at Mullion Cove, in August 1967, the Band came under the direction of former player, Edward Ashton, with whom they gained much success and a reputation for consistently playing music to a high standard. Edward, who had joined the band at the end of the war, before leaving to play at Camborne, led them to numerous successes in both local and regional contests, over a period of 35 years, until his retirement in November 2002. He remained a much-respected Life Member until his passing in 2023, at the age of 95. Edward’s lifelong connection with Helston Town Band was reflected in his Bardic Title, Ylewyth Brest Hellys- Brass Musician of Helston. Edward’s son, Lester, was the Band’s Solo Trombone player for many years.

The Band appointed top Euphonium player, John Hitchens, as their new Musical Director and flourished under his direction. In 2003, they were crowned Cornish First Section Champions and in 2004 they gained promotion to the National First Section. 2006 saw the band win the First Section West of England Championships, earning a qualification place at the National Finals. The band continued this success in 2007, with a 3rd place finish, before going on to regain the First Section title once again, in 2008.

With two wins and a third placing, Helston Town Band earned promotion to the Championship Section, in 2009, and this was the first time in the band's entire history that they had competed in the top tier of brass banding. The band remained in the Championship section until 2012, where a commendable seventh place at the Regional Championships in 2011 was not quite enough; once again, they returned to the First Section. By 2016, they competed in the Second Section.

Following over a decade of success, John Hitchens stood down from his position in June 2013. The Band is indebted to John for his dedication, drive and enthusiasm over a long period. John returned to playing and is once again Solo Euphonium with Camborne Town Band.

Following John's departure, Derek Johnston came to Helston at a time of great change and oversaw the formation of the Helston Town Concert Band. Then, former RAF musician, Jimmy Gribben, took over the band on a temporary basis in January 2014, before heading off to take up a new post with the RAF, in Oman. Following Flora Day 2014, talented former Camborne Principal Cornet and local businessman, Darren Hendy, took up the reigns.

From November 2014, Deputy Musical Director, Kevin Johns, who had been Solo Euphonium for nearly 30 years, took the majority of the Band's rehearsals and prepared them for visits from Professional Conductor, David Johnson. Kevin was subsequently appointed as Musical Director, in January 2016, bringing the band great stability.

Later that year, the band were delighted to become acquainted with new Professional Conductor, the legendary John Berryman, who took them to the Area Contest, at Torquay, the following March. Third place led to a subsequent performance at the National Finals, in Cheltenham, where the band came twelfth. An exciting win at Torquay, in March 2018, brought about promotion to the First Section and a further invitation to Cheltenham. The band continue to enjoy a great friendship with John, looking forward to his visits to Helston, as he prepares them for contests.

Present day
With Kevin looking to return predominantly to playing, the Band has been able to once again benefit from his skills as an instrumentalist and also from the relocation of Andrew Berryman (son of John) to Cornwall; effectively, the best of both worlds. A master on the trombone, Andy has played in brass bands since the tender age of 8. When he was 16, he joined the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain, before heading to the Guildhall School of Music and Drama where he began his professional performing career.

The former Principal Trombonist of the Ulster and Halle Orchestras, Andy has a worldwide reputation as a performer, teacher and conductor, working at the renowned Manhattan School of Music, Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts, Royal Northern College of Music and Chethams School of Music. He was the Musical Director and Senior Advisor to the Abu Dhabi Police Band and is the Musical Director with the NSO Symphony Orchestra in Abu Dhabi. He also leads a big band in Germany.

Andy brings a fresh outlook, encouraging the band to have the confidence to try different things, such as the sell- out performance of “Wallace & Gromit,” at Easter 2025. The band are so lucky to have a fine musician of Andy’s calibre leading them and look forward to more good times ahead…