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 attempt to secure the services of the nearby town band to feature in the celebrations marking the relief of Mafeking in the Boer War.

After a couple of years the village band was wound up, but from that base local industrialist Edwin Foden formed the Fodens Motor Works Band.

For a few years the new band has modest ambitions, but in 1908 a fundamental reorganization took place and, by the following year, it had achieved Championship Section status, a prestigious position that has been maintained ever since.

Thirty-two times the band has been a prizewinner at the coveted British Open Championships, winning nine times outright - including a hat-trick in 1926-'27-'28. Thirty-seven times a prizewinner at the National Championships of Great Britain, twelve times as winner, including an unparalleled double hattrick in 1932-'33-'34 and 1936-'37-'38.

Under its former title, the band was ordered to play by Royal Command on three occasions: in 1913 for King George V and Queen Mary, in 1938 at Windsor Castle for King George V1 and Queen Elizabeth, and most recently in 1983 where the band had the honor of playing for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace.

In wartime the band toured Europe for ENSA and in peacetime it ha toured Canada, South Africa and Israel.

In July 1986 the band accepted sponsorship from the Britannia Building Society.

The band has maintained its position as one of the countries leading bands, becoming BBC Band of the Year in 1990 and 1992, and European Champions in 1992.

Becoming All England Masters Champions in 1990, 1991, 1994 and 1995, the band emerged as the most consistent band in this field, and in 1993 it became the first British band to win the Swiss Open Championships.

In 1997 the band accepted new sponsorship from the French Instrument manufacturer Antoine Courtois that also allowed the band to go back to its original name of Fodens. With this fresh impetus the band again experienced major Championship success, winning the coveted title Champion Band of Great Britain in October 1999. More recently, the band became the North West Area Champions in March 2002, a title it previously won in 1998, 1999 and 2000. In May 2002 Fodens became the All England Masters Champions and in September 2002 the band were runners up at the British Open Championships.

Following on from a successful contest and concert season in 2002 the band become the 2003 North West Champions and runners up at the 2003 All England Masters Championships. 2003 ended with a highly successful tour of Chicago where the band entered and won the US Open Championships. 2004 saw the band win the British Open contest which is regarded as the major brass band contest in the world.

In March 2006 Fodens became the North West Area Champions and in July made history by becoming the first inaugural English National Champions.

2007 has been a very successful contest year for the band with victories at the North West Area Championship for a record breaking 14th time, being crowned the International Master Champions and victory at the Tameside Whit Friday March Contest for a 6th consecutive year. Fodens were runners up at the National Finals, at Brass in Concert held at the Sage in Gateshead as well as receiving a 3rd prize at the British Open.

(For a condensed version go here)