Conductors
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Below can be found a list of conductors who have worked with Lewis-Merthyr Band from its origins through to present day.
For the biography of present Musical Director, Craig Roberts, click here The history of Lewis-Merthyr Band is currently in research. If you have any information, documents or artefacts related to the history of the band, please contact us here |
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Post-Second World War to Present Day
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2015 to Present 2015 to Present Craig Roberts 2015 to 2020 Guest Conductor: Dr. Haydn James 2016 to 2019 Guest Conductor: Owain Arwel Hughes CBE 2018 Guest Conductor Alun F Williams 2016 / 2018 Guest Conductor Denis Mahoney 2017 Guest Conductor Rob Burnett 2016 Guest Conductor Major Denis Burton |
1996 to 2015 2014 to 2015 Guest Conductor Gavin Pritchard 2008 Guest Conductor Fred Nicholas 2007 to 2015 Gareth Pritchard 2005 to 2007 Lyndon Price 2003 to 2004 C. Brian Buckley 2003 Guest Conductor Mike Faro 1999 to 2003 Laurence Harries 1998 Colin Toghill 1996 to 1998 Nigel Seaman 1996 Colin Toghill |
1980 to 1995 1995 Denis Mahoney 1994 Laurence Harries 1994 Andy Austin 1992 to 1993 Nigel Seaman 1992 Guest Conductor Melvyn White 1992 Gareth Key 1990 to 1991 Major A. H. Kenney 1989 Robin Morgan 1986 Guest Conductor Nigel Seaman 1986 Guest Conductor Gareth Key 1985 to 1988 C. Brian Buckley 1984 to 1985 Denzil Stephens 1984 Martin McHale 1983 Lyndon Baglin |
1970 to 1980 1980 Guest Conductor Gilbert Cook 1977 to 1983 Nigel Seaman 1976 to 1977 Lt Col George Evans 1976 to 1977 Richard Evans 1976 to 1977 Evan Richards 1974 to 1975 David Walton 1974 Guest Conductor Dennis Masters 1974 Stanley Williams 1973 to 1976 John Harrison 1973 Guest Conductor Oliver Jones 1972 D. D. Jones 1971 to 1972 P. G. Richards 1971 Guest Conductor W. B. Hargreaves (Mansel Thomas) 1970 Guest Conductor G. Pritchard |
1939 to 1970 1967 to 1971 Stanley Williams 1965 to 1967 Oliver Jones 1964 to 1965 Ieuan Morgan 1961 to 1962 H. Morgan 1949 to 1964 Oliver Jones 1942 to 1949 Charles Victor Woosnam |
Pre-Second World War and Merger
The current Lewis Merthyr Band is descended from a number of bands in the Porth area of Rhondda, principally Cymmer Colliery (founded in or before 1855) and Lewis Merthyr Colliery, formerly Lewis Merthyr Temperance, and prior to that Trehafod or Hafod Rechabites Band (founded pre-1893).
We know that Lewis Merthyr and Cymmer were both simultaneously active up to the Second World War. Cymmer Colliery itself closed in 1939, and become an adjunct of the Lewis Merthyr Colliery. It is now confirmed that the bands themselves merged soon after (for the full account, visit the History section of the website here)
Based on historical records, it appears that Lewis Merthyr Colliery may have originally been founded as Trehafod Rechabite Band, later becoming Lewis Merthyr Temperance Band, Lewis Merthyr Colliery Band and finally Lewis Merthyr. Research into the history of the band is ongoing. Any information anyone may have in relation to the history of the band is always of great interest. If you have any information, please contact us here
The known bands and conductors before 1939 are listed below
We know that Lewis Merthyr and Cymmer were both simultaneously active up to the Second World War. Cymmer Colliery itself closed in 1939, and become an adjunct of the Lewis Merthyr Colliery. It is now confirmed that the bands themselves merged soon after (for the full account, visit the History section of the website here)
Based on historical records, it appears that Lewis Merthyr Colliery may have originally been founded as Trehafod Rechabite Band, later becoming Lewis Merthyr Temperance Band, Lewis Merthyr Colliery Band and finally Lewis Merthyr. Research into the history of the band is ongoing. Any information anyone may have in relation to the history of the band is always of great interest. If you have any information, please contact us here
The known bands and conductors before 1939 are listed below
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Cymmer Band 1939/40 to 1942 James V. Martyn Cymmer Colliery Military Band 1926 to 1939/40 Percie G. Smith Cymmer Colliery Military Band 1905 to 1926 George F. Martyn Cymmer Military Band 1882 to 1905 Richard Martyn Cymmer Colliery Band 1879(-) to 1882 James Prestwood Cymmer Colliery Brass Band 1870 +/- Samuel Fudge Cymmer Band 1855 Conductor Unknown Cymmer Brass Band |
Lewis Merthyr Band 1914 Gus Foxhall Lewis Merthyr Band 1912 to 1913 A. O. Foxhall Lewis Merthyr Band 1912 Gus Foxhall Lewis Merthyr Band 1905 to 1908 J. Locker Lewis Merthyr Band 1901 R. Davies Lewis Merthyr Colliery 1900 to 1903 W. R. Dawson Lewis Merthyr Band Founded 1879? Source: IBEW |
Trehafod Rechabites 1898 M. Emanuel Trehafod Rechabite Band 1895 to 1897 W. D. Williams Trehafod Rechabite Band Founded 1893? Conductor: D. Williams Source: IBEW |
Drum & Fife Band 1897 Mr. J. Boundy Porth Drum & Fife Band 1894 Mr Lewis Davies Cymmer Drum & Fife Band 1878 W. L Hughes Porth Drum & Fife Band 1878 Unknown Porth Drum & Fife Band 1877 Unknown Porth School Drum & Fife Band 1869 Unknown Porth School Drum & Fife Band 1869 Mr Oke Porth School Drum & Fife Band 1866 Unknown Drum & Fife Band |
Porth Brass Band 1899 John Brown Active 1870 Samuel Fudge |
*Links to historical sources containing references to early conductors of the Lewis-Merthyr and related bands can be found in the History section of the website here
