The Westbourne Orchestral Society, average strength 50 instrumentalists, was formed in 1930 and has given regular concerts ever since, even during the war, when it gave 248 concerts for troops stationed in Bournemouth.

Sir Dan Godfrey, then conductor of the Bournemouth Municipal Orchestra (later the B.S.O.) who lived in Westbourne, was the first President of the Society.

The orchestra continues to flourish and performs all kinds of music from classical to selections from musical shows. It gives eight concerts annually, many in aid of charities and good causes. The orchestra rehearses at St. Ambrose Church, West Cliff Road, Westbourne, on Friday evenings from 7.30 - 9.30 pm.

The objectives/aims of the Westbourne Orchestral Society are to:

1. promote and help popularise classical music by the presentation of concerts, normally eight per year, and thereby providing education in the art and science of music,
2. provide a means by which musicians of various grades of competence can share the joy of making music together,
3. form its playing members into a symphony orchestra to encourage musical talent and appreciation and
4. raise funds for various charities

Read the Dorset Life Magazine article about the Society in June 2000 (updated May 2006) or download a printable .pdf version.

In addition you can listen to the Forest FM broadcast of 27th June 2007  - Tricia Davis (timpanist) and Vic King (violinist) interviewed by Peter Samuels and hear some musical extracts from earlier concerts. The broadcast is provided here by courtesy of Forest FM and needs RealPlayer to be available on your computer. Click here for a free download if you don't already have RealPlayer.

As a registered charity (No.282074) The Westbourne Orchestral Society is entitled to apply for grants to assist with expenses that enable us to present concerts to a higher standard than would otherwise be possible.

In the past we have received small grants from the Bournemouth Borough Council Leisure and Tourism Directorate.  More recently we have received a millennium grant of £700 in the year 2000, £1085 from the Arts Council of England Lottery Funding in the year 2002 and in 2003 £1,205 from Awards for All.  The Portman Building Society very kindly part sponsored the orchestra in 2004 with the sum of £300.

The Westbourne Orchestra is affiliated to the National Federation of Music Societies, now known as Making Music. Their website is featured on our Other Sites page.