Newent Orchestral Society

History of the Newent Orchestra

The orchestra was formed in 1940 by Clem Thurston, who ran a grocery business in Newent.  He was supported by others, including the Rev. C.J.K. Burnell and his family, who were virtually a small orchestra in themselves.  Viola player, Carline Crampton, joined the company and became the Newent Orchestra's first conductor.  The orchestra has been rehearsing and presenting concerts since this time - a remarkable achievement for the product of such a relatively small community.

Carline Crampton was the orchestra's conductor for 48 years, handing the baton over to Adrian Courteny for a period and then to the present conductor, George Taylor, in 1992.

The orchestra is fortunate to own an extensive collection of music scores, many of these being old and of historic interest.  Exploring this musical treasure trove is always a pleasure at rehearsals and the collection provides much of the music for creating orginal and entertaining concert programmes.

A little piece of orchestra history: during the concert given in Newent's St Mary's church during the Jubilee Year, the late Winsom Wittingham was awarded a life-long membership by the then secretary, June Maddox, watched by the orchestra's president, Cllr. Fred Passant and Mrs Pleass with the flowers.

The Newent Orchestra in 1986, photographed in Dymock Church, with
legendary conductor, Carline Crampton.

And the Orchestra in 2004, with conductor, George Taylor - two faces
(Elizabeth Desmond, violin, and Liz Wreford, flute) remain the same...

New 2008 photo coming soon, with quite a few new members...