Foden's Band (originally Foden's Motor Works Band, and variants with sponsors' names) is a brass band from Sandbach in Cheshire. The band derives its name from the Foden manufacturer of trucks in Sandbach. Foden's Band are one of the top brass bands in the world; regularly appearing at the top of the "World of Brass – World Rankings"World Rankings at World of Brass"Brass Band on top of the world", Crewe Chronicle, 20 October 2008 In 2012, Foden's became double winners of both the National Championships and the British Open.
History
Origins 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 had modest ambitions, but in 1908 a fundamental reorganisation took place and, by the following year, it had achieved Championship Section status, a prestigious position that has been maintained ever since.
Fred and Harry Mortimer years Conductor Fred Mortimer (1880–1953) led Fodens for 27 years from around 1927 until his death in 1953. During that time they won the national championships eight times, and according to Mortimer, had been broadcast around 250 times."The brass band world loses a leading light", The Guardian, Monday 22 June 1953
On 9 November 1933, the band appeared in the Lord Mayor's Show in London, billed as the Band of Foden Motor Works.The Times (London, England), Friday, 3 November 1933; page 9, column 1; Issue 46592.
In 1955, the musical director, Harry Mortimer (1902–1992), formed the Men O'Brass, whereby selected members of the band combined with other players from the Fairey Band and Morris Motors Band. In January 1983, the band was sponsored by Overseas Technical Services Ltd. from Harrow, being renamed the Foden OTS Band.
In July 1986, it was sponsored by the Britannia Building Society to become the Britannia Building Society Foden Band, which became the Britannia Building Society Band. In September 1997, the band was sponsored by the Antoine Courtois company of France, to become the Fodens Courtois Band. In November 2004, the band was sponsored by Richardson Developments of Oldbury. Since 2008 the band has been without sponsorship and is currently known as the Foden's Band.
Honours The band has been ordered to play by Royal Command on three occasions: in 1913 for George V and Queen Mary, in 1938 at Windsor Castle for George VI and Queen Elizabeth, and in 1983 where the band had the honour of playing for Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace.
The band has won the National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain twelve times."The National Brass Band Championships" , The Harrogate Band, retrieved 10 January 2009 In 2008 the band won the 156th British Open Championships. It was the 11th time that the Foden's Band had triumphed at the contest.Results: 2008 British Open, at 4barsrest.com, 13 September 2008 2009 saw further success for the band with a record-breaking 4th consecutive triumph at the North West Regionals, victory at the Cambridge International Masters and then winning the Brass in Concert Championships at the Sage Centre in Gateshead in November.Results: 2009 Brass in Concert Championships at 4barsrest.com, 15 November 2009 In 2010, the band came 6th at the English Nationals, 4th at the British Open, 9th at the National Championships and 3rd at Brass in Concert.
Desert Island Discs Foden's band have been featured on the BBC radio programme Desert Island Discs on several occasions:"Desert Island Discs, BBC Radio 4, 8 February 1965
1 August 1951, Jimmy Edwards (comedy actor, scriptwriter), The Fodens Motor Works Band: The Three Bears Suite 11 July 1960, Eddie Calvert (trumpeter), Fodens Motor Works Band: Zelda (Caprice) 16 April 1962, Billy Butlin (holiday camp owner), The Fodens Motor Works Band: The March of the Herald 8 February 1965, Owen Brannigan (opera singer), Alec Mortimer & Foden's Motor Works Band: Drinking 16 January 1971, Robert Bolt (playwright), Fairey & Fodens Massed Bands: The Stars and Stripes Forever
Contesting honours British Open Brass Band Championships – 13 Wins: 2023,"Results: 2023 British Open Championships " 4Barsrest.com British Open 2023 results 2012,"Report & Results: 2012 British Open Championships " 4Barsrest.com British Open 2012 results 2008,"British Open previous result ", at British Open Brass Band Championships 2004, 1964, 1928, 1927, 1926, 1915, 1913, 1912, 1910, 1909 National Championships of Great Britain – 16 wins: 2022, 2021, 2018, 2012,"Foden's brass band celebrates double win", BBC News, 23 October 2012 1999, 1958, 1953, 1950, 1938, 1937,"National Band Festival At Alexandra Palace 1937", British Pathé. Retrieved 25 January 2015 1936, 1934, 1933, 1932, 1930, 1910 (barred 1935). (Previously called the Crystal Palace 1000 Guinea Trophy) North West Regional Championships – 16 wins, including: 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2003, 2002, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1989, 1988 Brass in Concert Championships – 7 Wins: 2023, 2009, 2000, 1998, 1990, 1988, 1987. All England Masters – 7 Wins: 2009, 2007, 2002, 1995, 1994, 1991, 1990. English National Championships – Winners 2006 European Championships – Winners 1992
Musical directors The band's current conducting team is: Michael Fowles Russel Gray
Current Players The band's current players as of 8th of August 2026 are:
Soprano Cornet: Richard Poole Principal Cornet: Mark Wilkinson Solo Cornets: Jon Probert, Darren Lea and Darcie Dewhurst Repiano Cornet: Paul White 2nd Cornets: Adrian Lacey and Adrian Beresford 3rd Cornets: Robin Basu and Terri Handley Flugel Horn: Mike Eccles Solo Horn: Grace Jeffers 1st Horn: Eloisa Donovan 2nd Horn: Andy Howard-Smith Solo Euphonium: Gary Curtin 2nd Euphonium: Mark Bousie Solo Baritone: Ashley Dixon 2nd Baritone: Mike Warriner Principal Trombone: John Barber 2nd Trombone: Ollie Webb Bass Trombone: Shaun Farrington E flat Tubas: Stewart Baglin and Paul Hughes B flat Tubas: Andy Cattanach and George Mitchell Percussionists: Sam Iles, Ollie Jackson and Rimika Umetsu
Bibliography F. D. Burgess, By royal command: the story of Fodens Motor Works Band, Publisher Webberley, 1977 Allan Littlemore, Fodens Band: One Hundred Years of Musical Excellence, Edition 2, Publisher Caron Pubns, 2000. . 186 pages.
References
External links Foden's Band official website
Video clips Armagh 2008 playing title music from The Children of Sanchez film.