Fifth Generation of Founders at Michelmersh
A remarkable family lineage through banding history has been maintained at Michelmersh Band. Formed in 1886 in a small village in rural Hampshire, Michelmersh Temperance Band made its first public performance at its local St Mary's Church. It was founded by two local men, Thomas Parsons the Rector's coachman, and the village builder and coffin maker, Thomas Topp. Instruments were purchased with money loaned by the Rector on the condition of adherence to temperance. 137 years on, a couple of name adjustments later, and Michelmersh Silver Band is still thriving.
Amazingly, two of the founders' grandsons, and a great-granddaughter still play in the main band too: David Parsons on baritone and Michael and Katie Topp in the cornet section. However, last weekend saw a fifth generation of the Topp family joining the banding tradition when Katie's daughter, Thea Smith, played cornet in the debut performance of the new Michelmersh Training Band held, very fittingly, in St Mary's Church in the band's home village. Band spokesperson Claire Topp stated, “This is not the first time in our history that three generations of Topps have played alongside one another, but it is incredible that we can now proudly boast a fifth generation of the original founders.”
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