"Newtown Youth Marching Corps was formed on St. David's Day on 1 March 1985. The band is made up of mainly young people ranging age from 5 years to 16 years with a few adults playing a range of instruments such as: glockenspiels, bell lyres, tenor drums, snare drums, bass drum and the performance of majorettes.

There is no restriction on membership everyone is welcome who is willing to learn an instrument and march with band. The aim of the band is to encourage young people to have a purpose - through the learning of playing an instrument, the belonging - of a band and the enjoyment - of music.

Over the years the band has travelled far and wide, to Europe, taking part in "International Competitions" in Belgium and Holland.

The band has also taken its music and displays to Ireland, where in 1988 we were invited to the St. Patrick's Day parade in Tallaght , in Southern Ireland.

This occasion was an exchange visit with the Balally Youth Band and a very good time was had by everyone involved, the Irish people made us very welcome, Quote from the local paper said " The Welsh visitors had music, songs and poetry specially written for the people of Balally Parish and generated warmth and love".

In 1991 there was an invitation and recommendation to march in the Lord Mayors Show parade in Birmingham. In 1992 saw the band in Wem where the local press wrote " Newtown Youth Marching Band added to the evening spectacle when they twisted batons illuminated in two colours - an enterprise which earned them a special cup and cash prize" with an invitation to return next year by popular request, needless to say Newtown Youth Marching Corp has returned every year.

But the dedication is shown by the youngsters when we were called upon to do a parade at the opening of the Local Radio station, "Radio Maldwyn" in Newtown who are broadcasting on medium radio wave 756, well you've guessed it the station decided the hold the opening ceremony at 7.56am and the youngsters were up to task and got up very early to do the parade with the back drop of a very big balloon taking off at the same time, The band definitely ended on a high note.

In June 1999, the band was invited to participate in the WAMSB World Championships being held in Calgary, Canada July 7-12, 2000. Bands from around the world will participate during the week-long festival staged within the context of the Calgary Exhibition & Stampede. Unfortunately, being 50 strong and from a low-income area, we could not raise enough money to go - dreams were shattered but we still carried on.

During the last few years the band has participated in Carnivals, Torch Light Parades, Fetes all over England and Wales from as far north as Kendal in Cumbria where the famous Torch Light Parade is held when one year we won the best band on parade, to as far south as Bridgewater in Somerset.

We should not forget that without the dedication, work and commitment that is shown by members of the band and the committee there would be no "Newtown Youth Marching Corps" and as members come and go, then have children of their own, hopefully the band will carry on in the future."

Article written by Jennifer Reynolds