The Devonshire Cup At The Royal Albert Hall Display

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Just over 95 years ago a new band competition entered into the London District BB vocabulary, and for the next sixty years it would become synonymous with the annual London District display at the Royal Albert Hall, it is of course the Devonshire Cup for Bugle Bands. Many boys who have passed through the ranks of the London Companies have taken part in this famous competition, some have been lucky to experience the final in May, when the two bands compete head to head for the title. The Devonshire Cup competition had many parallels with the FA Cup tournament. At the start of every Winter session, both had many competitors, but by may only two finalists would remain. Each had a grand final at a large London venue, sometimes on the same day, and great support for the finalists was always assured.

The first final took place on the 2^nd May 1923, competing for the title were the 76^th London and the 5^th South Essex company bands. Both bands had to play the march Bugler, the judge for that competition was the composer of the march, Drum-Major J. Winter. The very first winners of the competition were the 76^th London, and the cup was presented to them by Sire James Devonshire, London District President, after whom the cup was named.

The format for the final stayed the same over the proceeding years, and some great finals would take place. The Devonshire Cup competition was affected by World Warr II, indeed the test-piece march for the 1941 competition was set as the march St. Andrew, however World events prevented the competition being completed. Through the years three companies have achieved the rare distinction of winning the Devonshire Cup and the Daily Telegraph Shield in the same year at the Royal albert Hall BB Display; 76^th London (1934), 1^st Enfield (1973) and 14^th West Kent (1981).

In 1980, a new Devonshire Cup trophy was presented in memory of Mr A.E. Milan, former Hon. Treasurer of the London District and founder Captain of the 92^nd London, by the old boys of that company. It was appropriate that the then current Duke of Devonshire presented this new cup at the Royal Albert Hall display that year. The last final of the Devonshire Cup at the Royal Albert Hall took place on the 7^th May 1982, when the 3^rd Enfield beat the 4^th Sutton company. The following year the Boys’ Brigade celebrated it’s centenary, and no London District competitions were held. After 1983, the Devonshire Cup competition never returned to the annual display, and 1987 the sun set over the last Royal Albert Hall BB display.

But in remembering the Devonshire Cup for Bugle bands competition from 1923 to 1982, I present to you below a table showing all the test piece marches for each year, along with the winners and runners-up of the competition. I hope that the information provides interesting archive information and bring back memories to the members of the London District BB family who took part in the Devonshire Cup.