The Gadsden Band from Stewartby in Bedfordshire is celebrating its centenary this year.

Hymn singers

Formed in 1910 as a brass quartet by four brothers to provide accompaniment for hymn-singing at open air services, over subsequent years more family members and friends were encouraged to join and it soon became a full brass band.

The band recently held a centenary celebration cocnert where four generations of the Gadsden family members were present4BR

Generations

The band recently held a centenary celebration cocnert where four generations of the Gadsden family members were present.

These included Fred Gadsden, the elder statesman of the band and the son of one of the founder members, right down to three great, great, grandchildren of another founder member.

Heroes

The concert, which proved a wonderful occasion, raised £767 for the 'Help for Heroes' campaign.

The band is hoping to take part in this year’s Whit Friday contests for the first time in its history, whilst they will be holding a reunion concert later in the year.