The concept of a company having its own ‘…works band…’ is something that has long since been confined to the history books. Sponsorship, however, from industry and commerce, has provided valuable support to many bands and has gone some way to filling the void after the works band era came to an end.

Let me take you back to the 1950s and the Ferodo Works Band, a name that will mean little to younger brass band followers but those of us, well, let us say of a certain age will remember.

The Ferodo Works Band, based in Chapel-en-le-Frith was created during the early 1950s. It was hoped that it would become the third ‘F’ in the North West and join the illustrious Fairey Aviation Works Band at Stockport and the Foden Motors Works Band at Sandbach, who were the first two ‘F’s.

In 1951 Frank Moss was Musical Director of the then 2^nd Section Chapel-en-le-Frith Band and was employed at the local Ferodo factory and was tasked by the Ferodo management to recruit suitable brass players to form a new company band. Frank and the new band held their first rehearsal in October 1951.

In 1953 George W. Hespe (1915 – 1979) LRAM ARCM was appointed the new Musical Director, who after a successful career in the services decided to leave and turn his hand to conducting brass bands. In his early years, these included the Sheffield Police Military Band, and the Sheffield Transport Band. He rose to prominence conducting Ferodo in 1955 when the band became British Open Champions, playing Erik Leidzen’s ‘…Sinfonietta for Brass Band….‘

That day finally arrived in 1955 when the band was awarded first place and crowned British Open Champions

By 1957, a number of problems had arisen in the band, in 1958 the company decided to close the band down following its last performance at New Brighton.