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Amid the drumlins of County Down, Northern Ireland midway between the villiages of Crossgar and Saintfield lies the town land of Barnamaghery. In many areas of Northern Ireland, the local Orange Lodge was responsible for forming its own band to accompany the brethren at the various events associated with the Orange Institution. The warrant for Barnamaghery L.O.L. 11 was held by a regiment under the command of the Duke of Wellington and so when the local lodge formed a flute band, sometime in the early 1900's, it was called the Wellington Defenders. In 1945 some members of the band decided the time was ripe to change instrumentation and name and so on the 28th of May,
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in 1945 the Wellington Memorial Silver Band was formed. The first taste of success in the contesting field came in 1950 when the band gained first prize in Grade 4 brass of the N.I.B.A. Championship Contest. The band has competed regularly in N.I.B.A. and Brass Band League contests since that time with varying degrees of success. The Band practices in the orange hall every monday night, and the junior band practices every wednesday night, all young people wanting to learn are welcome to come along. Wellington performs at many engagements throughout the year and also plays at various church services and functions in the local area
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