BAND HISTORY
The band was formed in 1990 by the
Amalgamation of the Reid Memorial Silver Band and Hillsborough
Silver Band, two of the oldest bands in Ireland at that time. The name
Downshire originated from the members themselves as they wanted a new name for
the new amalgamated band even though they were proud of the history of both
bands. The amalgamation has been very successful and many of the band are
original members.
 The Reid Memorial Flute Band was formed in
1912 from the members of Dr. Haire's Bible Class belonging to Malone
Presbyterian Church. It always maintained it's link with Malone although not all
it's members were church members. The band maintained a high standard of
music making until in 1933 the price of Flutes forced the members to change
to Brass Instruments which meant that they had to begin again. In 1939
rehearsals and contests curtailed, resuming again in 1945 and from then on
the Reid Memorial Silver Band became one of the leading Senior Brass
bands in Ireland and maintained this standard for many years until the civil
unrest caused the band to suspend it's activities for approx a year. During
this time members kept the machinery ticking over and the instruments, until
membership had been recruited enabling the band to reform at Second Section
level. The band continued to compete in contests and progressed to the
Championship Section. The band carried out a busy programme of concerts and
park engagements until the amalgamation with Hillsborough Silver Band to
become Downshire Brass in 1990. The name "Downshire " in Downshire
Brass has links going back to Hillsborough with the Marquis of Downshire.
 Hillsborough Silver Band was founded in 1850 and was the Official band at the opening of
the Banbridge Railway Station in 1859. The band was founded by Lord William
Hills who whilst visiting his estates in England observed bands at work and
decided to bring instruments back to Hillsborough for it's own band. The band
like all bands in that period started of as a flute band due to the low
startup costs of instruments but progressed over the years to Brass and then
Silver providing a service to the local community disrupted only by the first
world war as was the case throughout the country at that time. The band held
it's rehearsals in the upstairs rooms of the old Market House (which later
became the Courthouse) where it remained until the "troubles" in
the Province and the close proximity to the Hillsborough Castle (where the Secretary of State for NI resided) forced the band to seek other
accommodation in the village. The band carried out a great number of
engagements locally and successfully contested in the BBL, NIBA and further a
field over the years. Sadly due to a combination of lack of financial support
and a decline in members, the band finally had to call it a day in 1990 and
amalgamated with the Reid Memorial Silver Band to form Downshire Brass. |
