Figure 1.--This 1966 photograph shosw the older Church Lads Brigade band members wearing peaked caps while the younger boys wear campaign caps. All of the boys except for one wears long pants. Click on the image to see the entire group.

Universally recognised as one of the largest and finest musical bodies in the world of Youth Military Bands, the National Band of the Church Lads' & Church Girls' Brigade have been providing musical support for any type of occasion since 1979. Their repertoire covers a wide category of music, including jazz, pop, light concert music, and the big band sound, as well as the very popular marches, and always to the highest standard. They will be playing at the Millennium Dome on Saturday July 8, 2000--look out for them there!

The Band

Universally recognised as one of the largest and finest musical bodies in the world of Youth Military Bands, the National Band of the Church Lads' & Church Girls' Brigade have been providing musical support for any type of occasion since 1979. Their repertoire covers a wide category of music, including jazz, pop, light concert music, and the big band sound, as well as the very popular marches, and always to the highest standard.

Today's National Band is a unique musical blend of versatility, talent and tradition, on top of which all of it's members have a key role as members of their own Churches, Brigade Companies, Battalions or Regiments. Working as members of the National Band is both physically and professionally demanding - whether it's playing in "big band" concerts or leading a parade, the training is unbeatable and the rewards immense.

Uniform

The Church Lad Brigade Band has traditionally worn the same uniform as the regular members. The younger members would wear the same uniform as the lder boys, with two exceptions. Older boys wore peaked military caps while younger boys campaign caps. Also often the younger boys would wear short rather than long pants. By the 1990s the boys less commnly wore the formal uniform with oeaked cap, but the caps were still worn by the band. Ties were an important part of the uniform for all the band members. The ties wore with blue shirts in 1966 look to be red. The modern ties are blue.

Figure 2.--The Church Lads Brigade band is a very highly regarded one.

Training

Training weekends are held 7 times a year at Darlaston Community School in the West Midlands. National Band members live together in Squads, sharing a room with fellow musicians. Each Squad is under the control of an experienced Squad Leader who has "come up" through the ranks of the band to this position. The band also has a mix of civilian and Military instructors--professional musicians who come in on weekends and work with the various sections, as do past members of the National Band who are now serving members of Her Majesty's Royal Marines Band Service. The benefit of working with these professional musicians to each member of the band is invaluable.