The Luton Band
Conductor, E. S. Carter
The Luton Band is one of the crack brass bands of the South of England. As competitors in the numerous contests that make up so much of the activity of the brass band world, Luton has an amazingly fine record. For twenty-one consecutive years, from 1901 to 1921, they held the Championship of the South of England ; in the following year they were runners-up for the Blue Riband of all the contests-the 1,000 Guinea Trophy, competed for in the National Band Festival held annually at the Crystal Palace and in the next year they wore down rivalry of a very formidable order and won this trophy. They have taken first place in a large number of other competitions, hold a score of challenge cups, and have secured prize money to the amount of over £5,000. This is the stuff of which brass bands are made ; trained to the last efficient man with the thoroughness of picked athletes, these bands, whether be-medalled prize winners or just hopeful competitors, give their best on all possible occasions. There are no cups to be competed for before the microphone, but these men, from habit and from the love they have for the work, will play just as well as if there were.