Historical Images
Below can be found a series of historical images from the archives of Lewis Merthyr Band and Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council. Images of the current band can be found here with additional video and audio galleries also available in their respective sections of the site. We are always keen to receive new images of the band, its antecedents and the collieries where the band was founded. If you have any images or information associated with the band and its history, please contact us here
The Early Years
The band definitely dates back to 1855 or possibly earlier. A newspaper report of the period reveals there was definitely a brass band in existence in Cymmer and performing publicly in May of that year (source).
Over time the instrumentation of the Cymmer Band altered, with the band becoming a military (wind) band in or around 1908 (source). At one time there was clearly more than one band operating in Porth concurrently, including the Cymmer Military Band, Lewis-Merthyr Brass Band and the Porth Drum & Fife Band. Images of all three bands, with the different types of instrumentation clearly visible, can be found below
The band definitely dates back to 1855 or possibly earlier. A newspaper report of the period reveals there was definitely a brass band in existence in Cymmer and performing publicly in May of that year (source).
Over time the instrumentation of the Cymmer Band altered, with the band becoming a military (wind) band in or around 1908 (source). At one time there was clearly more than one band operating in Porth concurrently, including the Cymmer Military Band, Lewis-Merthyr Brass Band and the Porth Drum & Fife Band. Images of all three bands, with the different types of instrumentation clearly visible, can be found below
Cymmer Colliery Brass Band
Conductor: Mr Richard Martyn
1898
Conductor: Mr Richard Martyn
1898
Cymmer Colliery Band
Original bandroom plan
1907
Original bandroom plan
1907
Lewis Merthyr Silver Band
Conductor: Mr J. Locker
1908
Conductor: Mr J. Locker
1908
Cymmer Colliery Brass Band
Conductor: Mr. George F. Martyn
1910
Conductor: Mr. George F. Martyn
1910
Lewis Merthyr Band
Porth Carnival
1910
Porth Carnival
1910
Royal Visit of King George V & Queen Mary
Cymmer Colliery Band leads the parade for the royal visit of newly crowned King George & Queen Mary in 1912
Cymmer Colliery Band leads the parade for the royal visit of newly crowned King George & Queen Mary in 1912
The Royal Train
Porth Station
1912
Porth Station
1912
Arch of Coal to commemorate the Royal Visit
Trehafod
1912
Trehafod
1912
Visit by King George V and Queen Mary to Lewis Merthyr Colliery in 1912
Standing to the left of King George is Mr. J.W. Hutchinson, general manager, Lewis Merthyr Consolidated Collieries Ltd. and on the right is Sir W.T. Lewis, chairman of the company and behind him, Queen Mary (obscured from view)
Standing to the left of King George is Mr. J.W. Hutchinson, general manager, Lewis Merthyr Consolidated Collieries Ltd. and on the right is Sir W.T. Lewis, chairman of the company and behind him, Queen Mary (obscured from view)
The Queen and the Shy Colliery Boy
Following their coronation King George V and Queen Mary toured the South Wales coalfield and paid a visit to Lewis Merthyr pit. A special tram was built for the Queen and drawn by a colliery pony. The collier boy in the bottom right (R. Morris) is due to make a presentation, and is overcome by shyness
Following their coronation King George V and Queen Mary toured the South Wales coalfield and paid a visit to Lewis Merthyr pit. A special tram was built for the Queen and drawn by a colliery pony. The collier boy in the bottom right (R. Morris) is due to make a presentation, and is overcome by shyness
A Royal Tram Ride
Queen Mary rides in the special tram built for the occasion, which is pulled by a Lewis Merthyr colliery pit pony. The Lewis Merthyr coal wagons are visible on the tracks
Queen Mary rides in the special tram built for the occasion, which is pulled by a Lewis Merthyr colliery pit pony. The Lewis Merthyr coal wagons are visible on the tracks
Porth Drum & Fife Band
Porth Carnival
1913
Porth Carnival
1913
War Memorial Stone
Cymmer Colliery Band
1919
The Cymmer Band performed for the unveiling of the War Memorial Stone in 1919, which lies between the former Lewis Merthyr Colliery - now Rhondda Heritage Park - and Trebanog. After years of neglect, the stone was rediscovered and restored by Trustee Ivor England in 2012 (source). The photographs connecting the band to the stone were rediscovered in the Rhondda Cynon Taf archives by Lewis-Merthyr Musical Director Craig Roberts in 2018.
Cymmer Colliery Band
1919
The Cymmer Band performed for the unveiling of the War Memorial Stone in 1919, which lies between the former Lewis Merthyr Colliery - now Rhondda Heritage Park - and Trebanog. After years of neglect, the stone was rediscovered and restored by Trustee Ivor England in 2012 (source). The photographs connecting the band to the stone were rediscovered in the Rhondda Cynon Taf archives by Lewis-Merthyr Musical Director Craig Roberts in 2018.
Cymmer Military Band
Conductor: Mr. George F. Martyn
c.1926
Conductor: Mr. George F. Martyn
c.1926
Cymmer Colliery Band
Royal Visit of HRH Edward, Prince of Wales (later King Edward VIII)
Porth, Rhondda
Conductor: Percie G. Smith
1932
*A link to video footage of the band parading before HRH can be found in the Video Gallery section of the website here
Royal Visit of HRH Edward, Prince of Wales (later King Edward VIII)
Porth, Rhondda
Conductor: Percie G. Smith
1932
*A link to video footage of the band parading before HRH can be found in the Video Gallery section of the website here
The Collieries and Merger
Below can be found images of the Cymmer Colliery, Lewis Merthyr Collieries and the Lewis Merthyr Colliery as it stands today, the Welsh Mining Experience - Rhondda Heritage Park
Cymmer Colliery closed in 1939/40 and became an adjunct to the Lewis Merthyr Colliery. Shortly after, the Cymmer Colliery and Lewis Merthyr Bands also merged.
A detailed account of the merger of the bands is available here
Additional images of The Collieries can be found here
Below can be found images of the Cymmer Colliery, Lewis Merthyr Collieries and the Lewis Merthyr Colliery as it stands today, the Welsh Mining Experience - Rhondda Heritage Park
Cymmer Colliery closed in 1939/40 and became an adjunct to the Lewis Merthyr Colliery. Shortly after, the Cymmer Colliery and Lewis Merthyr Bands also merged.
A detailed account of the merger of the bands is available here
Additional images of The Collieries can be found here
Lewis Merthyr Band
Bronwydd House, Cymmer, Porth
Conductor: Mr Oliver Jones
1951
Bronwydd House, Cymmer, Porth
Conductor: Mr Oliver Jones
1951
Lewis Merthyr Band
c.1950 / 1951
Conductor: Mr Oliver Jones
Photograph provided by Phil Redding
c.1950 / 1951
Conductor: Mr Oliver Jones
Photograph provided by Phil Redding
Group of bandmembers c.1959
L> R: David Evans; Frank Prosser; Colin Stokes; Les Roberts; George Lewis
Photograph provided by Phil Redding
L> R: David Evans; Frank Prosser; Colin Stokes; Les Roberts; George Lewis
Photograph provided by Phil Redding
Lewis Merthyr Band
The National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain
Royal Albert Hall, London
Conductor: Mr. Stanley Williams
1969
The National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain
Royal Albert Hall, London
Conductor: Mr. Stanley Williams
1969
Lewis Merthyr Band
St David's Day Festival
Royal Albert Hall, London
Conductor: Mr. Stanley Williams
1970
St David's Day Festival
Royal Albert Hall, London
Conductor: Mr. Stanley Williams
1970
Lewis Merthyr Band
BBC Studios, Llandaff
Conductor: Mr. Nigel Seaman
1980
*Excerpts of the band's recordings from 1980 and earlier can be found in the Audio Gallery of the website here
BBC Studios, Llandaff
Conductor: Mr. Nigel Seaman
1980
*Excerpts of the band's recordings from 1980 and earlier can be found in the Audio Gallery of the website here
Lewis Merthyr Band
BBC Television "Best of Brass"
Horn Soloist: Jeff Thomas
Conductor: Mr. Nigel Seaman
1986
*A link to video footage of the band parading before HRH can be found in the Video Gallery section of the website here
BBC Television "Best of Brass"
Horn Soloist: Jeff Thomas
Conductor: Mr. Nigel Seaman
1986
*A link to video footage of the band parading before HRH can be found in the Video Gallery section of the website here
Additional Images
If you have any images of the band not included above, and would like to donate copies to the band archives, and see them featured on the site above, please contact us here
A gallery of images of the current Lewis Merthyr Band featured in recent events, including the Rugby World Cup, Roald Dahl 100 celebrations and more, is available here
