Elworth Silver Band - 1902

Fodens - 1913

Edwin Firth

The origins of the band go back to 1900 when the village of Elworth near Sandbach in Cheshire formed its own band, having been let down in its attempts to secure the services of a local town band, to feature in the celebrations marking the relief of Mafeking in the Boer War. Two years later the original village band was dissolved but from this base, local industrialist Edwin Foden formed the Foden Motor Works Band.

From modest beginnings, the band achieved Championship status in 1908. A prestigious position which has been maintained since. Success followed shortly after with a win in the British Open Championship in 1909 at Belle Vue and second place in the National Championships. In 1910 the band went one stage further and completed the coveted "double" by winning both the British Open and National Championships in the same year.

With contest success came a growing number of public engagements and by 1912 the band was no longer able to attend minor contests. This same year the band won its third British Open Contest. On the 23rd April 1913 the band were invited to give a concert at Crewe Hall, home of the Marquess of Crewe, in the presence of King George V and Queen Mary. After the concert the King spoke to the conductor, E. Wormald, inviting the band to play the very next morning before the royal party returned to London.

During the 1914 - 1918 war the National Championships was abandoned. However, the British Open continued to be staged with the band winning for the fifth time in 1915. A tragic event was suffered during this period with the loss of the band's principal cornet Edwin Firth to the Great War.