Founded on 15th October 1944 by a group of railway workers, the band originally formed as a sub-section of the Southern Railway Recreation Club, who lent them £100 to buy their initial set of secondhand instruments. Holding our first official practice on 12th January 1945 in the Passimeter Room, rehearsals have taken place nearly every Tuesday evening ever since.

 

We quickly embedded ourselves into local community life, playing for charity events, leading carnival processions down Sidwell Street, and performing at Exeter City Football Club home matches for 15 seasons. As national rail control evolved over the decades, our name shifted from the Exeter & District Southern Railway Band to the British Rail (Western Region) Band, eventually settling on our current, simpler title: Exeter Railway Band.

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Over our eight-decade history, we have built up a rich tradition of performance and achievement across Devon and beyond. We are believed to be the first brass band to perform inside Exeter Guildhall back in 1976, and have routinely filled venues such as Exeter Cathedral, the Northcott Theatre, and the Barnfield Theatre. Guided over the years by long-standing conductors from the Huxham family and guest conductors like Eric Ball and Harry Mortimer, the band rose through the contesting ranks to reach the prestigious Championship Section in the 1950s. Alongside our musical milestones, our history is full of local folklore, including the famous story of a pasty accidentally dropped into a tuba just before a contest performance, only to be retrieved in time by a bandsman with a long arm!

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Today, we remain an active, thriving part of the local community while keeping our working-class heritage alive. Affiliated to Brass Band England and the South West Brass Band Association, we currently compete as a Third Section band, taking part in two major contests a year, including the annual regional championships held each March in Torquay. Outside of contesting, our schedule stays busy year-round with a variety of performances, from summer village fêtes, food festivals, and concerts on the Exeter Quayside, to private bookings such as weddings, birthdays, and civic town events.

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The festive season is always our busiest time, as we take to the streets for traditional Christmas caroling and host seasonal concerts throughout the region. Whether performing on the contest stage, playing a summer fête, or bringing holiday cheer to the high street, our core mission remains unchanged since 1944: bringing high-quality brass music and community spirit to Exeter and the surrounding area.