In July 1955, the Southampton Albion Silver Band achieved one of the most remarkable contest successes in its history, winning both the Second and Third Sections at the same contest at Brighton.
Bill Barnes recalled this as a record that had never been broken.
The Brighton success came only a week after another outstanding performance at the Wessex Summer Contest at Eling. Albion won the Selection by an impressive margin of 20 points over its nearest rival, also winning the March Contest Award and all three individual medals awarded that day — for Solo Cornet, Euphonium and Trombone.
During this highly successful period the Band was under the direction of Mr. W. Breeze LRAM.
The extraordinary sequence meant that, within one hectic period in 1955, Albion had collected four first prizes and three individual medals, demonstrating the growing strength of the Band in post-war contesting.
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