In 1941 came a change of name to 'The Melingriffith Works Band'. These were the days of military-style tunics with high collars and brass buttons, and Tom Powell, with his Royal Marines background, was a stickler for turnout and discipline. A former member recalls that anyone turning up with coloured socks or unpolished buttons would be severely reprimanded- or even sent home!
T.J. Powell was the composer of many original works and arrangements for brass band, and his talent for writing fine marches earned him the nickname, “The Welsh Sousa”. The marches named after the castles of Wales are particularly well known, and his favourite,“Castell Coch”, was dedicated to the Band and commemorates the fairy-tale edifice that appropriately overlooks their current home village of Tongwynlais.
Tom Powell was still at the helm for the National Eisteddfod in Cardiff in August 1960.
Tragedy struck on Friday 29th January 1965. Tom Powell was to be guest conductor of Cory Workmen's Band in the radio series ‘Challenging Brass’, and they gathered for the live broadcast in the BBC's Cardiff orchestral studio, a converted chapel vestry in Charles Street. Their opponents, Luton Band, were similarly waiting in London whilst the programme presenter drew lots for the order of play. When it was announced that “Band B” (Cory) would perform first, T.J. sprang to his feet, ready to accept the challenge, and collapsed with what transpired to be a fatal heart attack.
In the best of traditions, and as he would have wanted, a solo cornet player left the bench, took up the baton and conducted the band’s performance. T.J. never heard the result - that Luton had won; he died in the studio as Cory played.
A glorious era, which had spanned 45 years and given Melingriffith its richly deserved reputation, had come to an end.