From the beginnings to now……………
The band has evolved over the years, led by ex-professional musical directors (pictured left to right) Tom Prior, Vic Sandoe, Kevin Mayhew (not pictured), Paddy Grey, Jeff Anderson and Ian Hooper.
Our current Musical Director is Kemuel Spence and our Assistant Musical Director is Paul Speed.
2006 saw our 30th anniversary which we celebrated with a fantastic concert at the Newbury Corn Exchange.
Aldermaston, Mortimer, Caversham, Theale, Tilehurst and now Englefield have all been home to the band over the past three decades.
The band has entered the Community Band section of the National Concert Band Festival and has gained two Silver and one Bronze Award, the last - Silver - in 2007.
Easter 1995 saw South Berks embark on their first European tour. An extended weekend in the Netherlands and Germany proved to be a great success. May 1997 saw the second tour, this time to Germany and in May 2001, the band celebrated its 25th anniverary with a third tour - this time playing in and around Paris and including a concert at Disneyland Resort. The band returned to the Netherlands in May 2003, this time playing concerts in the area around Amsterdam.
Our highlights of recent years have been our summer Prom-style concerts, where we have teamed up with local charities and performed to an outdoor crowd in some beautiful settings and played into the dark whilst our audience relaxed with picnics and champagne and then joined us in full voice for our finale of "Jerusalem" and "Land of Hope and Glory".
We have a mix of players of different ages, experience and abilities and we pride ourselves on our commitment to our Band and each other.