Records traced to the late nineteenth century show that Dr. Barnardo homes for destitute children of London not only gave young and homeless children a chance to escape from the perils of living on the streets, but also a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to develop new skills.

Dr. Thomas Barnardo understood and recognized the value music making and training could bring to these young and often deprived children.  He believed that music was an important ingredient for their personal development and indeed this principle still holds true to this day.

Musical education was given a prominent and integral place in the school curriculum.  Marching bands of differing sizes were formed and encouraged to make appearances in the East London community around them.  From within these bands the more talented musicians formed smaller ensembles known as 'Musical Boys'.  They accompanied the Deputation Secretaries (the fund-raisers of their day) on their tours throughout the country, a policy that was extended worldwide as their reputation for excellent musicianship grew.

In 1922 the boys of the Stepney Causeway Homes in East London were relocated to the William Baker Technical School that was situated in the historic mansion of Goldings close to Hertford in Hertfordshire.  Some 260 boys marched from out from their Stepney Home and traveled by train to Hertford East Station.  On disembarking the boys marched through Hertford stopping at the war memorial and then marched off with the band leading the way to their new home.

Other institutions offered training with a nautical background and the Dr. Barnardo Sea Schools prepared the boys for a career in the Royal and the Merchant Navy’s.  The Watts Naval Training School, The Russell Cotes Nautical School and Parkstone Sea Training School all had marching bands of varying sizes.