Description

Formed in 1912.

Villages such as Brailes, Ilmington and Halford supported a band and were indeed often engaged to perform in Shipston for carnivals and fetes. There was obviously a groundswell of opinion in the town that Shipston ought to have a band.

The Stratford Herald in March 1912 reports that a committee had been formed to begin raising funds to enable a band to be formed. Around the same time William Holman a former military bandmaster, moved into the town and during a conversation with Frank Parsons, a local auctioneer and something of a wag, he accepted a bet that in the space of six weeks he could train a band from scratch fit to march through the streets of Shipston.

Six weeks passed by and on Thursday, 16th May, 1912, Shipston Band gave its first public performance. Using an ingenious system of numbers, William Holman had managed to teach his raw recruits a march and a waltz. The band lined up 19 strong and marched up West Street along Darlingscott Road and down Sheep Street returning to the Square, pausing on route to play their waltz on each street corner. This, so the story goes, proved too much for most of these inexperienced bandsmen and by the time the band had returned to the square only William Holman and the drummer were still playing. Nevertheless William Holman was adjudged to have won his bet and the band has been in existence ever since.

Description

The Lido Park is near the old part of the town with the main entrance and car park off the Worcester Road approximately 100m from the end of the High Street.

The park was awarded Green Flag status for the first time in 2011/12 and each and every year since.

As well as the bandstand the park also features...
- Water Play Fountains
- Floral bedding displays
- Mature trees and shrubs
- Fishing at Heriott's pool and platforms for disabled fishing
- Feed the ducks at Bishops pool
- Free to use, Hard court tennis courts
- 5 a side court with basket ball nets
- Children's play areas, enclosed and natural open area
- Tree carving, located by the cafe
- Wall mural
- Outdoor Swimming Pool

and the Lido Cafe.

Worcester Road,

Droitwich,

Worcestershire,

England,

WR9 8AA.