Pillowell Silver Band
Pillowell Silver Band recently celebrated their 135 year anniversary. Formed by a group of villagers in 1889 the band’s first concert was performed on 19th April 1889 in the adjoining village of Whitecroft. Pillowell is a tiny village of 100 houses in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire. As a mineworking area the Forest of Dean is a hotbed of brass bands and the little village of Pillowell is no exception.
The band still rehearses in the band room built by the band members several years ago in the woods overlooking the village of Pillowell. Amongst the bands former conductors is TJ Powell, the Welsh march wizard, who composed many of his famous marches in the pubs in Whitecroft and Pillowell on his way to, or from band practice at Pillowell. Several of the current members of the band have ancestors that previously played in the band, some of which were founder members. The band has always had a reputation for entertaining and is still much in demand in and around the Forest of Dean area.