Stalybridge Old Band was formed in 1809 with Thomas Avison as it's first conductor and used a garret above Avison's father's shoe shop as a band room. The first public engagement for the band came on 24th June 1815 at the procession and foundation stone laying of Chapel St Sunday schools. On Easter Monday 1816 the band proudly displayed their brand new sky-blue unforms in an Oddfellows' procession in Glossop, Derbyshire.
On 14th January 1819 the band was involved in the 'Peterloo massacre' in Manchester. The meeting had been organised by the Manchester Patriotic Union Society, a political group that agitated for radical parliamentary reform and the repeal of the corn laws. They had invited a number of speakers, including Richard Carlile, John Cartwright and Henry Hunt, to a public meeting.
A considerable crowd from all around the county of Lancashire had gathered for the meeting; modern estimates are around 60,000 or 80,000. People expected a peaceful meeting and many were wearing their Sunday clothes. Some carried banners with texts like "No Corn Laws", "Annual Parliaments", "Universal suffrage" and "Vote By Ballot."
The magistrates observing the meeting decided to stop it, but when the reading of the Riot Act did not help, they gave orders to arrest the leaders. Military aid was requested and magistrates sent for the Manchester and Salford Yeomanry.
Sixty Yeomanry cavalrymen entered the field brandishing their cavalry sabres and charging towards the cart that served as the speakers' stand. When some demonstrators tried to stop them by linking their hands, they began to attack them with their sabres. When the cavalry reached the cart, they arrested a number of people.
The Yeomanry then began to strike down the flags and banners of the crowd with their sabres.
Eleven people were killed and about 500, including 100 women, injured, many trampled by horses.
However, local legend has it that the band were already in the pub by the time fighting broke out and avoided most of the action!!!
Thomas Avison retired in 1832 and under the baton of J Melling the band took part in the Crystal Palace - Great National Brass Band Contest held 10th and 11th July 1860. Over 100 bands took part with the best 12 chosen to compete for the prizes one of which was the Stalybridge band. Unfortunately, they weren't in the prizes at the and of the day, first prize being taken by the Black Dyke Mills Band.
In 1868 the famous Alexander Owen joined the band as principal cornet and conductor at the age of 16. Alex made his debut at the British Open Championships with the band in 1870, although he didn't achieve a prize until 1879 with the Boarshurst Band. Stalybridge band still own the cornet and baton he won in 1874.
By 1880, John Gladney - eventually to be know as the 'Father of Brass Bands' - was conductor at Stalybridge.