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.
The closure of Melingriffith Works in 1957 came as a great shock to the local community, and it took a while for the band to adjust to being an independent organisation rather than a semi-sponsored Works Band. However it continued to function with help from The Steel Company of Wales, who provided rehearsal facilities at the former Melingriffith Drill Hall.
Although not conducting on the day, T.J. came to give Band members a pep talk before their performance at the Swansea National Eisteddfod in 1964.
