This is the earliest surviving image of the band. If you have any early images you would like to share with us, please contact us.

The band continued until the second world war. In February 1950 a public meeting was held where it was decided the district should again have a brass band of its own. Sumner Silver Band was formed under bandmaster G.F Sauer (the father of John Sauer who still plays cornet with the band to this day). By June 1951 a new set of instruments had been purchased and the band fitted with new uniforms.

Marching Practice in 1951

The band entered the contest field soon after.

Under conductors Louis Fox (a former New Zealand cornet champion), Dave Christensen (NZ champion of champions in 1953 and principal cornet for the National Band of NZ) and Noel Taylor the band thrived, reaching its peak in 1954 and again in 1959 when they won the national D grade championships.

Sadly, after these successes Noel Taylor left and the membership gradually dwindled until finally folding in the late 1960s. The trustees sold the band uniforms, music and most of the instruments. The rest being donated to the local museum.

However this was not the end of the band. In the mid-late 1990s the Sumner Foundation decided to promote a small group of brass musicians to teach local children. Instruments were gathered and Ken Smith (three times NZ national cornet champion) was hired to teach and conduct the group. Ken left to go to Australia and Robbie Fisher took over. Sumner Foundation bowed out and left Robbie to look after the group. Peter Croft (our current bass player) became involved and gathered up some more experienced players, some of whom had played with the band in the 50s, to sit in with the students. The band grew from there. The drums were reclaimed from the Sumner Museum and Geoff Butler, who had previously conducted New Brighton Silver Band, took the helm for a year. After the Police Band folded, Sumner inherited Ray Blampied who conducted the band for a further nine years. During Ray’s time, the band’s biggest success was winning 1st place in the provincial D Grade Championships in Timaru in 2011 for the test piece.

Moving on from 2011 and the Christchurch earthquakes, the band was lucky to retain most of its players, but sadly not its rehearsal space at Redcliffs School. We were accommodated at the Union Church on Augusta Street with the Sumner Bays Union Trust kindly paying our hall hire.

Steve Griffin from Canterbury Brass took the helm for a year, followed by Shane Foster who determinedly whipped the band into shape for its first foray for several years into “National Contest territory”.
The 30 odd members headed off to Invercargill in July 2014 to compete on stage against Roxburgh, New Brighton and Rangiora in the D grade. Peter McCallum also spent every Sunday morning for 8 weeks shouting at the band in the car park of the Canterbury Club in order to prepare us for the street march which the band had not done since the 1950s.

A great time was had by all and, even though we didn’t win, the band was in its best playing shape for many years.

Shane Foster departed after the national contest and the band was then conducted for a few years by Vickie Ward.

In 2017 Ray Blampied  (seen above conducting the band at Orton Bradley in 2020) returned to the helm and under his leadership the band again thrived, expanding to around 30 active members ranging in age from early teens to 80+.  After a long association with Sumner Band Ray decided in 2021 to retire from being our musical director and devote his time to playing trombone in a number of local bands.  The impact of his long association with the band will be felt for a long time, and the band continues to play a number of his arrangements.

Ray was succeeded as conductor and musical director by Tasmanian John Mason, an Eb bass player with Woolston Brass and formerly (for 7 years) a member of the NZ Army band.  An accomplished soloist on a range of low register instruments, John led the band through to the Canterbury Provincial Contest in 2022 before deciding to hang up his baton and concentrate on other aspects of his musical career.

The band is very active within the local community, providing entertainment at many events in and around the Port Hills area.  The band currently practices in Redcliffs each Thursday evening from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm, and offers the opportunity for players of brass at all levels to make music in a friendly environment.  If you’re a brass player – even one who hasn’t played for many years – the band would love to welcome you along.  There are even instruments available for loan if you don’t have one of your own!  Get in touch with us via the ‘Contact’ tab.

Sumner Silver Band is currently being led by Victoria van Uden, an accomplished brass musician and experienced conductor of brass bands who moved from the UK to Sumner in 2021.  Also, for the first time in many years, Sumner Silver Band again has a conductor resident in the township!

Victoria is an enthusiastic and motivated musician and is keen to encourage members of the local community to reach out to the band if they are interested in learning brass instruments, however young or old(er!). We have a learning programme and we invite you to be a part of it.  The band can offer hire of an instrument and brass lessons/group tuition tailored to your needs. Please don't hesitate to contact us, whatever age you are! We look forward to meeting you at one of the upcoming gigs, please check our website and Facebook page regularly for details.

 Thanks to Kate Sanders for her research in creating this history