Friary Diary - Issue 138 - August 2026
Welcome to Friary Diary issue 138 - a monthly round up of news about the Friary Brass Band.
A NEW FACE IN THE CORNET SECTION:
Latest signing at Friary is cornet player Jacob Griffiths. Jacob began his music education with community banding in Cornwall. After five years of playing cornet for St Austell Town Band, he changed his principal study to the trumpet. In his first year of trumpet playing, Jacob was awarded a music scholarship from Wells Cathedral School. He remained at there for four years and, in 2018, was awarded the Nathan Hewitt Trumpet Prize from the school.
Between 2018-2021, Jacob read Music at the University of Manchester for which he was awarded a first-class honours degree. During his time there, he was one of the winners of the Manchester University Music Society Concerto Competition (2020) and earned the Proctor-Gregg Prize for Performance for his final recital. He also continued banding whilst in Manchester, playing flugel for Ashton-under-Lyne for the North West Area contest in February 2020.
Jacob commented: "I've neglected banding for too long! Having grown up in Cornwall playing with St. Austell Band, getting back into contesting feels like a return to my roots. I'm really excited to be joining Friary and can't wait to contribute to this outstanding band at such an exciting point in its history!" Friary Chairman Andy Singleton added: “Jacob will strengthen our back row cornet section: we’re delighted to welcome him to the Friary family.”
A FASCINATING INSIGHT INTO OUR ROOTS:
As you will no doubt recall, the Band takes its name from the former Friary Meux brewery in Guildford which initially sponsored the current incarnation of the Band on its formation in 1983. The brewery ceased operations in 1969 and the remaining buildings were demolished in 1973 and 1974. There had been previous Friary bands, all associated with the brewery, as you’ll read below. A few weeks ago we received a message via our website which has given us a fascinating insight into the history of the brewery.
Stephen Holroyd, Chairman of the Adelphi Group who contacted us, takes up the story: ‘My great great grandfather George Barron Holroyd founded the brewery in 1889. In 1890 Healy & Co of Chertsey was taken over to form Friary, Holroyd and Healy’s Brewery Company Limited, based in Byfleet. The new brewery in Guildford was built in 1897. So there’s an historic connection with Chertsey too!’
‘I acquired the names of Friary Holroyd and Friary Meux from Carlsberg in 2021, and these are now registered under the name of Adelphi Holdings Limited in Haywards Heath. We have named one of our buildings The Friary, have lots of memorabilia and use the crest. We also have a base in Huddersfield and have links with the Hepworth Brass Band.’
‘I had assumed that the great Friary Holroyd Silver Band was part of history: I can’t believe I have just found you!’ commented Stephen.
Adelphi will mark their 80th anniversary next year and at their invitation, discussions are already under way for the Band to be part of the celebrations. We are deeply grateful to Stephen for getting in touch and for giving us so much interesting information about the brewery and our heritage. We hope this will be the start of a new and exciting relationship.
FAREWELL TO DAVID:
As mentioned in the last issue of Friary Diary, our previous Chairman, David Wicks, stepped down from the role at the AGM, and also from the Band to concentrate on his other musical interests. His last event was the Entente Cordiale concert in Old Alresford at the beginning of July. David steered Friary through some challenging times as Chairman, and kept us in good order during his previous role as Band Manager.
To mark his departure, David was presented with a framed montage of photos featuring him at some memorable band events. Many thanks, David, for your dedication to Friary, and we send you every best wish for the future.
GOING THE EXTRA MILE (WELL QUITE A FEW ACUALLY!)
Not content with her 100km trot along the Thames Path in 2024, bass player Cat Whittingham-Smith has undertaken another ultra marathon challenge, this time along the South Coast from Eastbourne to Arundel. The route followed the South Downs, so was not exactly flat either: 1,700 metres of elevation!
Cat completed the challenge in a whisker over 18 hours, raising funds as she did last time for Helen & Douglas House, a charity helping families cope with the challenges of looking after a terminally ill baby or child who will die prematurely. It’s an immensely worthy cause, so if you would like to add to the funds already raised, please visit her JustGiving page (Reaching for your card to donate is a lot less strenuous than running 100km along the South Downs ..! )
Bravo Cat, hope you’ve fully recovered from your epic achievement!
RANKING NEWS:
There has been no further update by 4barsrest.com to their world rankings table on 6th January so Friary stays at 51st. There was no movement for Friary, and indeed for most bands, in their 1st August update, so we remain at 42nd in the world.
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