Founder of the Brass Band Archive, Walter Ainscough has worked tirelessly to ensure this priceless and unique collection of our brass band heritage is kept alive and protected for the future.  With the relentless support and assistance of Alan Marsh, the Brass Band Archive is now a true national treasure.

Walter Aisncough
Walter was a painter and decorator by trade, which has proven very helpful throughout the life of setting up the various locations of the Brass Band Archive.  Whilst building up the collection is the culmination of a lifetime's labour of love. 

Walter comments, "It was my uncle who got me started.  He never missed a Belle Vue September contest from 1892 to 1966.  He had all the programmes and solo cornet conductor parts in a big set of drawers.  When I went to see him he used to say "When are you taking that stuff?" but one day I caught him reading and said, "Uncle Jim, you'll be lost without it".

In the Autumn of 1966 his uncle past away and sadly the housekeeper disposed of the whole collection.  However, by now Walter had taken on the interest in collecting and had started to build up his own selection of music and memorabilia.

Thankfully for the banding public, Walter's passion for collecting continued, culminating in what has now become the early beginnings of the Brass Band Archive.

Alan Marsh
Alan Marsh is the long-standing counterpart to the organisation which ensures the Brass Band Archive continues to log and register its seemingly endless collections of music, recordings and memorabilia.

Alan was a former member of the Wingates band, playing second euphonium to Len Withington for 14 years. In addition to exhibiting one of the euphoniums he played many years ago, his contributions on the administration side have been paramount in the current and future success of the museum - with the ongoing task of sorting and cataloguing thousands of sets of music, Alan is kept a very busy man! 

More information on the evolution of the Brass Band Archive is available in the History section of this website.

.:. History of BBA .:. The Future .:. The Curators .:. The Supporters .:. Music Library .:. Recordings Library .:. Can You Help? .:. Gallery .:. Contact .:.