Soham Comrades Band was officially formed in 1921 with the amalgamation of the Excelsior Prize Band and the Town Band (formed in 1890). The first bandmaster was Mr Frederick J Talbot and he was to hold this post for around fifty years. Under his leadership the band competed in major competitions in venues such as Alexandra Palace, Belle Vue and Crystal Palace. Locally the Band was also very successful in various competitions, including the title "Champions of East Anglia", which the Band has to date won on fifteen occasions.
More recently the Band has continued to perform concert work and to compete both locally and nationally with great success. During the last few years, the Band has reached the finals of the National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain, plus being awarded runner up at two or three key national competitions. In 2019 we were promoted to the First Section in the brass band league tables and also gained a third place at the Leicester Contest.
The band have also taken part in two very successful productions of ‘Brassed Off’ one in Soham and another at the ADC Theatre in Cambridge. This was in collaboration with the accomplished Viva Arts and Community Group, a charity for performing arts in Soham.