The Market Rasen RPC Band

The Market Rasen Band is located in the small town of Market Rasen.  The town of Market Rasen lies on the cross roads of the A46, Lincoln to Grimsby road and the A631 the Gainsborough to Skegness road.  The river Rase runs through the town hence the name. 
 
The town has a population of about 5000 which is in rural Lincolnshire.  Players are therefore not only from Market Rasen but drawn from the surrounding areas of Grimsby, Cleethorpes, Louth, Boston, Lincoln and other areas of East and West Lindsey.

The Market Rasen Band is currently in the 4th Section of the North East Midlands Area. The band has its own band room with toilets, kitchen and storeroom facilities which is located in the secure grounds of the Junior School off Kilnwell Road.  

Rehearsals are twice a week on Wednesdays 7.30pm to 9.30pm and on Sundays 7pm to 9pm.  Additional rehearsals are arranged for special concerts, trips and contests.

The band currently has some vacancies. We are looking for front row cornets, an Eb and Bb Bass and a baritone player.

Anyone wishing to join the band should contact the Band Sergeant. You will be sure of a warm welcome.


Market Rasen is twinned with Mamers in France some 30 kilometres from Le Mans.  The band regularly visits Mamers and for the last two years has joined the Musique de Saint Vincent Des Près  in a carnival procession (Fêtè Des Oeufs Durs) in Coulaines, a suburb of Le Mans.

The History of the Market Rasen RPC Band
 
The Market Rasen Town Band, as it was previously known, goes back a very long way. Unfortunately early records are sketchy and so it is difficult to piece together a precise history of the early period. However there are references to the band in the press as far back as the 1880s.

As was the case for many Brass Bands, activities ceased with the onset of the Second World War and lapsed for 25 years. In 1966 the band started up again using existing instruments that had been left in storage since the war. It soon became apparent that as more players joined the band new instruments and uniforms would be needed. The money for these was raised by playing at concerts and the generosity of the people in Market Rasen and its surrounding areas who supported the band through its fund raising events.

1	2
3	4  1.Pre-1939 2 At the Market Rasen Race Course         Dr Jon Hall MD 3 Market Rasen in Concert LP 1971 4 In Concert Circa 1980's       Kieth Edwards Conducting

Since its reformation the band has enjoyed a tremendous amount of success not only at sell out concerts but as a contesting band as well. Over the years the band’s popularity grew not only locally but also nationally and internationally, playing at concerts in Holland, France & Germany. Television appearances and radio broadcasts have been made about the band and a long-playing record was also produced.

In 1986 the band became sponsored by AW, Rhoades and Son, a family saddler in Market Rasen who still maintains interest in the band today. In 1996 the band was awarded grants from the Lottery and the Sports and Arts Council for a set of new instruments and its own practice room.

With an Arts Fund Lottery grant the band was able to set up a junior band using the old instruments that had now been replaced. This has become a great success with several of the youngsters working through into the senior band.

In 2003 the sponsorship was taken over by RPC an international containers firm but with strong links with Market Rasen. Previosly known as Mckecknie and before that The Metal Box Company. New banners and uniform was purchased to reflect our association with the company

Previous Musical Directors of the band are Mr Malcolm Skeels, Mr Geoff Moralee. Mr Derick Ward. Mr Keith Edwards, Mr Robert Hanson, Dr Jon Hall and Barry Mathews

 Site Editor: John Ritchie  j.ritchie@dunholmelincs.wanadoo.co.uk