During the last quarter of the 19th century and first quarter of the 20th century, there was a national campaign to control the excessive drinking habits of country and towns folk alike throughout the land. This campaign was actively supported by the newly formed Temperance societies, Methodists, Free Churches, Calvanists and The Salvation Army.
    
The hamlet of Roke and the neighbouring villages of Benson and Berrick Salome with Rokemarsh in between had no less than fourteen Inns, Public Houses and established beer retailers in 1882. With a total population of less than 1800 the availability of alcohol presented a great temptation.

It appears from local information that a Coffee House was opened opposite the Chequers public house in Berrick Salome, near Benson, to give an alternative meeting place for those opposed to alcoholic drink. Among those frequenting this “new” coffee house were a number of local farm workers including Thomas and George Wells, Thomas Alder and his three sons: these locals decided to start a bugle band which led, after a short time and the purchase of some instruments, to the formation of the Roke Temperance Band. Practices were held every Tuesday and Friday in the coffee house (this is still the same today!)

This was a truly rural village band with some of the members leaving practice early on occasions to go “larking” (the dragging of fine mesh nets across fields to gather a catch of larks) after harvesting time to gather a catch. The larks were sold to Colleges in Oxford for 7s.6d. (37 pence) per gross. It could be said that these instances of Larking were the first in a whole series of band fundraising events which continue today. The first instruments to be purchased from these funds were purchased on extended credit from Messrs. Browns of Haymarket London; from that original purchase a Bass Drum remains in our possession today.

From Berrick to Roke

When the Coffee shop in Berrick closed, the Band used a room above the Post Office in Roke (now a private house) until 1922, when the members were able to purchase a plot of land in Chapel Lane, Roke. The cost of this plot in September 1922 was £10.00 with legal fees of £1.6s.8d. A member of the band at that time, Mr William Aldridge, a builder from Benson, undertook the erection of the first Band Hall to stand on the site, which was completed in 1923. The total cost of the building was less than £300.

That construction of corrugated iron and wood provided a home, Practice Hall and meeting place for the Band and its members for the remainder of the 20th Century.

The building began to fall into disrepair and in the late 1990’s the band embarked on a huge fundraising and sponsorship appeal. In 2001, with thanks to the huge dedication of the band’s trustees, committee and local businesses and organisations, a brand new purpose-built band hall was erected on the existing site and remains the band’s home today. The band is so proud of the building which has a main rehearsal room, two practice rooms, a kitchen and toilets. With the original band bass drum taking pride of place in the overhead gallery!