Our History

The Burtle Silver Band was Founded in 1905 and celebrate our 120th Anniversary in 2025

Earliest Known Photograph of Burtle Silver Band

Early Beginnings

The founder of Burtle Silver Band, Allan Moxey, was born in Catcott Burtle in 1876 and spent most of his life farming. For a while, in about 1900, he worked as a signalman at West Pennard Station on the Somerset and Dorset Line. This was not a large mainline station and there were many quiet hours with little going on so, to pass the time away, Allan bought a cornet which he taught himself to play. Such was his enthusiasm that when he returned to Burtle in 1901 to marry Lucy Norris and help on his father’s farm, he persuaded a group of his and his wife’s friends and relations to take up brass instruments. Most of these players were, at that time, employed locally as farmers, peat diggers, or railway workers.

By 1905, with the help of the village schoolmaster, an able amateur musician, this group had developed into a band. The following July the band purchased a drum so that it could play at the house of Mr. Hugh Carver at Chilton Polden to celebrate his success in the local elections.

The Journey

Allan Moxey continued to conduct the band for many years, the baton then being taken up by his sons Vivian and Norman followed subsequently by Norman’s son Jim, who led the Band as Conductor for almost 50 years which included the celebrations to mark the band’s centenary in 2005.

Burtle Silver Band’s community reputation has become known throughout Somerset and the southwest throughout the years, playing at a whole host of events including Harvest Homes, Flower shows, Steam Rallies, Fetes, Beachfront and Town Bandstands, Remembrance and Christmas Services as well as Community Fundraisers. The band has even had the opportunity to perform on the Pyramid Stage at the iconic Glastonbury Festival, which subsequently led to Sir Michael Eavis becoming the Patron President of Burtle Silver Band.

Burtle Band with Chilton Polden Friendly Society c.1928

Burtle Band with the Burtle Community

The 21st Century

In more recent years, two major changes have taken place. The first is that a member of the Moxey family is no longer at the helm. The second is that the bands' players come from farther afield than the village of Burtle; ranging from Cheddar to Glastonbury, and Bridgwater to Watchet.

Burtle Silver Band has retained its original founding community image as a family-friendly village band, and continues to welcome players of any age, background, and ability to join us, even someone wishing to learn. Anyone interested should contact the Band Manager through our Contact Us page.

We are a non-contesting band with our performance calendarmain intention being to serve the village of Burtle and surrounding community events.

The Band practices on Thursday evenings from 7:30pm to 9:30pm at Burtle Village Hall, in Burtle. Our repertoire of traditional Brass Band music to film and popular artist's music is rehearsed in a purposeful and relaxed atmosphere.