The Stanshawe Band was formed in 1968 by a small group of amateur brass musicians from the city of Bristol and surrounding area. For most of its life the band was called the Sun Life Band, after receiving sponsorship from the well-known assurance company, Axa-Sun Life. Its ultimate goal was to become the very brass band in the world.
The band reached national award winning standards within only a few years and in 1990 it won The British Open Brass Band Championships, suggesting that it had become the best band in the world. In January 1997 the band found themselves in an unattainable position, where maintaining the very highest of standards was taking too high a toll, so, the band was disbanded.
This web site is dedicated to the memory of this greatest of bands'.