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In the 19th and 20th centuries, nearly every colliery, or coal mine, in the U.K. had a brass band. They kept workers out of trouble, and were a matter of civic pride for local communities. This was true in the Forest of Dean and there are still a number of local bands including those at Lydbrook, Pillowell and Drybrook.
For over 100 years there has been a bandstand at the Scarr, in the woodland between Milkwall and Sling, about one mile south of Coleford (Grid SO583085). The bandstand was originally built in 1913 by the Milkwall and District Charity Committee.
An annual ‘Hospital Sunday’ event was held at the bandstand during the summer months. Various bands would march from different starting points in the Forest to the bandstand.
Local dignitaries would give speeches, the bands would play and money was collected from the crowds attending. The money was distributed to the local needy and to local hospitals in Bristol, Gloucester and Monmouth. The ‘Hospital Sunday’ event ran for many years, attracting crowds of up to 4000 in its heyday. The introduction of the National Health Service in 1948 led to the demise of many ‘Hospital Sunday’ schemes.
In recent years, the 'Friends of Scarr Bandstand' has been formed and has put in some phenomenal work to revive and restore the site, helped with funding from Foresters' Forest and the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Public music concerts are normally held at the site in the summer months.
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