Since the re-launch of the orchestra in September 2004, we have styled ourselves 'WCO' in homage, at least in part, to our original identity as the Westinghouse Concert Orchestra. The firm Westinghouse was for many years the largest company, and the major employer, in the town of Chippenham, Wiltshire (approximately 80 miles west of London) and it was as a company-sponsored club, with employees making up the membership, that the orchestra was formed.
At the outbreak of the Second World War the staff at the company's London headquarters moved down to the factory site at Langley Park, on the north eastern edge of the town. In 1940 local violinist Stanley Oatley formed a duo with pianist Gerald Gillies who had relocated from London. The seed was sown: other amateur musicians within the company soon joined them, and the partnership rapidly grew into a full orchestra.
During the war years the orchestra was in great demand and gave monthly variety concerts in the works canteen. During this time it performed live in two Works Wonders programmes for the BBC. Works Wonders was a series of programmes broadcast from factory canteens and described as "a lunch-time concert presented to their fellow workers by members of the staff of a large munitions work somewhere in England"! The orchestra also performed frequently at venues in and around Chippenham, including the many military establishments in the region.
The first conductor was James Astle, who was followed by Walter Little, Reg Ash and then Grenville Townsend. During Grenville's time the orchestra gave an annual Grand Concert in the Neeld Hall (part of the Chippenham Town Hall complex) with a top class professional soloist brought down from London.
Grenville Townsend remained conductor until the Suez Crisis in the 1950s drastically restricted membership and concerts could not be given. The post was taken up by David Fidler, and as the membership started once again to grow, the orchestra became the largest amateur concert orchestra in the region.
After a long spell as conductor David Fidler left in 1967, and Jack Henley became conductor until 1972 when David once again took over the baton.