Andrew Jones 2018 (Current)
His early musical education starting with the Royal Buckley Town Band, Andrew Jones quickly established himself to become a soloist with the North Wales Youth Orchestra and co-principal trumpet of the National Youth Orchestra of Wales. He has performed with many highly respected bands across Wales, the Northwest, Yorkshire and the Midlands including Northop, Point of Ayr Colliery, Besses o’ th’ Barn, Yorkshire Imperial Metals, Milnrow, Rhos Silver and Rainsford Band predominantly as principal cornet or solo cornet. His conducting career began with Deeside Silver Band followed by the Royal Buckley Town Band, Greenalls Band and Rainford Band winning contest prizes with each. He has spent over thirty years working in the field of music education and holds postgraduate qualifications from the Universities of Cambridge and Surrey. He became musical director of the Llandudno Town Band in 2018.
Clive E. Wolfendale 2003 – 2014
A clarinet player from the age of nine, Clive Wolfendale’s musical background had previously been in ‘military’ or wind bands rather than brass bands and he had been musical director of the Adamson Military Band in Dukinfield, Manchester for twelve years before moving to further his career in North Wales (serving as Deputy Chief Constable). On his appointment as musical director of the Llandudno Town Band, he sought to revitalise the bandstand concerts with more up to date and popular music. He also introduced themed concerts in the Town Hall during the summer season and under his baton the band produced three further CDs including one recorded in the famous Abbey Road Studios, London. In 2010 he conducted the band as it celebrated its centenary with a gala concert. Because of increasing work commitments, he stepped down in 2014.
Michael D. Jones 1999 – 2002
A talented cornet player from the age of nine, Michael Jones is from a musical family in Beaumaris and as a youth had a distinguished career as principal cornet of several brass bands eventually joining the Championship section Yorkshire Building Society Band. Still in his twenties, he returned to North Wales and took up the position of musical director of the Llandudno Town Band. Under his leadership the band achieved successes in several contests and recorded its first CD. After taking the band for three years he resigned in 2002 to resume his playing career.
James A. Roberts 1992 – 1998 and 2014 – 2018
Originally from Blaenau Ffestiniog where he started his brass band career playing with the Royal Oakeley Band, ‘Jim’ Roberts had moved to Llandudno as a police constable. As principal euphonium and then conductor of the Conwy Town Band in the 1980s, he eventually took up the position of bandmaster of Llandudno Town Band in 1992. Despite falling membership and other difficulties he and George Brookes worked tirelessly to keep the band going with many successes including being awarded a National Lottery grant towards the cost of a new set of instruments. He resigned as bandmaster in 1998 on becoming Mayor of Llandudno. From 2014 he returned to lead the band again, but he retired due to ill health in 2018.
George H. Brookes MBE 1981 – 1992
One of Mr Traversi’s pupils from 1940 (see below) and a naturally gifted musician, George Brookes had quickly risen to the position of principal cornet which he held for 30 years. He left in 1976 to conduct the Conwy Town Band but returned to lead the Llandudno Town Band as musical director in 1981. A period of difficulties for the band had occurred before his return and his priority was to build up the band membership particularly by training and encouraging new young learners. He continued to lead the learner’s band after he stepped down as musical director in 1992 and some of his pupils still play in the band to this day. He also continued to play cornet and euphonium in the band (and held the title of ‘bandmaster’) until he retired from brass banding in 2010. In 2000 he received official recognition for his many years of selfless service to the band and the town of Llandudno when he was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire.
Jack Beardmore 1972 – 1976
In 1972 the position of bandmaster and musical director was taken up by Jack Beardmore a former musician with the Royal Marines who had served as principal cornet on the Royal Yacht Britannia. After leaving the service, he worked as a peripatetic brass tutor with the Gwynedd County Education Department. He continued with the traditional format of bandstand concerts established by his predecessor which in the early 1970s were still as popular as ever.
Robin H Williams 1952 – 1972
The first bandmaster to have been born in Llandudno (in 1903), Robin Williams first joined the band to learn the cornet aged 10. Eventually becoming solo euphonium, he additionally took on the role of compere during bandstand concerts from the 1930s onwards. On becoming bandmaster, he further developed the format of promenade concerts to include more audience participation and hit upon a winning formula which was to remain virtually unchanged for the next 25 years, a period which could be regarded as the peak of the band’s popularity and success.
William Skelton 1947 – 1952
Following the retirement of his predecessor (Mr Traversi) due to failing health, William Skelton was selected from about 140 applicants to fill the vacancy. A renowned tenor horn player, he was previously also conductor of several brass bands in the Staffordshire area. He entered the band in various brass band contests and formed a prize-winning quartet which achieved successes in several competitions. He left Llandudno in 1952 to take up a post with the Falmouth Town Band, at that time a Championship section band.
Francis Lucio Traversi 1910 –1947
The first bandmaster appointed by the Urban District Council to lead the newly established ‘Llandudno Town Band’. Mr Traversi set down foundations for the future success of the band not only as musical director and conductor, but also as a teacher and mentor with many of his pupils becoming key players in the band who made a significant contribution well into the following century. Originally from New Zealand, he arrived in the UK in 1901 and prior to settling in Llandudno, as an accomplished cornet player and conductor he directed the Barrow Shipyard Band at Barrow in Furness. He was not only the first but is also the longest serving bandmaster to date (for nearly 37 years).
Note : From the band archives it is evident that the titles ‘bandmaster’, ‘conductor’ and ‘musical director’ have variously been used throughout the history of the band, perhaps changing as the fashion of the day dictated. This list attempts to use the title current at the time, but in essence those named above were the individuals responsible for directing the musical output of the band and, perhaps most importantly, standing in front waving the stick!