The possibility of setting up a Brass Band was first made in the winter of 1876-77 when a subscription was made to provide the Instruments necessary. Hungerford had previously been reliant on the bands from neighbouring towns and villages for providing the "enlivening strains as are thought indispensable at Club Anniversaries and other such festivities". Several local people made donations, including Mr Cherry, who donated £3 of the £17 total. This sum allowed the purchase of "2 Cornets, a Tenor, an Euphonium, a Baritone and a Bombardon. To these instruments, the tones of which it is to be hoped are more euphonius than their names, it is desired to add another Baritone, Euphonium and Cornet at an additional cost of £6; and in process of time a Drum." Further donations were invited.

It is said that at times the Town Band took the form of a wind band and a military band, but the Town Band is again a brass band. During the 130+ years history, the Town Band has been central to life in Hungerford and has performed regularly at important community occasions. At a reunion of past members of the Band in c2004, one of the more senior past members recalled that his first public performance with the Band was at Hungerford Railway Station welcoming home troops from the Second World War.

The records show that the involvement of local youngsters in the Band has been a significant feature for many years. Indeed in 1977, the youth band from Hungerford was selected to lead a parade in Windsor Great Park in celebration of the Silver Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II. There is a separate junior band that meets once a week for tuition and rehearsal and it gives regular public performances.

The Hungerford Town Brass and Reed Band, 1912. These two photographs show the Town Band at Denford Park on the occasion of their first concert with new instruments.
The then owner of the house, Captain Sawbridge (standing in the formal group in the back row, just to the left of centre), had loaned the finance to purchase the instruments, music and music pouches.

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