RESPLENDENT in their uniforms, their highly-polished instruments glinting in the sun as they entertained the tourists and shoppers in Bonn Square last month, the City of Oxford Silver Band (COSB) gave no clue as to how close they had come to the scrapheap in recent years.

Established in 1887, the COSB is now Oxfordshire’s longest running brass band and boasts members aged five to 84. From RAF helicopter pilots to school children, university students to retired people.

But two years ago the band was facing closure.

Band manager Kate Banks, below, said: “Player numbers dropped to just five and there was a real threat the band would have to stop playing altogether.

“Thankfully, a new conductor, Rob Flemming, managed to build the band up to a full set of players and set us competing again. And this March we came back to the London Southern Counties regional competition after several years away.”

She continued: “Rob recently left us to have a baby with his partner Annie, but as of May we welcomed professional musician Lewis Edney to take up the post.

“Having played for countless professional orchestras and several brass bands we are very excited about where he will take us in the future.”

Ms Banks, from Oxford, is a prime example of the enchanting ‘draw’ the Oxford Silver Band has on its listeners – and its players.

She explained: “I played the trumpet at school but stopped playing when I left school. Then 25 years later, I found the Silver Band Hall in Cowley. I have been a part of the band ever since.”

Oxford’s oldest brass band, the COSB’s focus is to nurture and train new players as well as being the best it can in the banding world.

New players, whatever their age, start off in the ‘beginners’ band as soon as they can play enough notes, and individual tuition is provided by experienced members of the organisation to get them to that stage.

All players are offered the loan of a quality instrument free of charge, and a grounding in playing and musical theory.

The second band – the ‘training’ band, plays at summer fetes and school events, and is made up of players of all ages from five to 84.

Players then filter into the main COSB when they have reached a sufficient standard, or carry on playing for fun in the training band if they prefer.

Ms Banks said: “We have players who have been a part of the organisation for over four decades, and players whose young children are now learning a brass instrument.

“The City of Oxford Silver Band competes in both local and national contests, plays at concerts and is the main fundraiser for the organisation.

“We are interested in hearing from anyone – even those who have never played before.”

  • For more information on the COSB visit: www.cosb.co.uk or call: 07913 853804