The Aldershot Brass Ensemble was founded in 1961 by George Prior, a fine musician and trombonist from the Rhondda Valley, with, as first members, his own sons and daughters. Eighteen months later the band had grown to some 22 musicians and that year adjudicator Eric Ball awarded the band its first win at an ensemble contest in the Southern Counties Championships.

Promotion came quickly, the band became runner up in the 2nd section area championships in 1970 and went on to achieve 3rd place in the national finals. 1973 is remembered as an outstanding year; a year in which the band won the championship sections at Hammersmith and Reading and also had a record 13 point win to take the 2nd section area championships.

The band's entry into the top section of contesting was marked with frequent appearances in the prize lists. In March 1978 the band was runner up in the area championship and so qualified for the top section National Finals at the Royal Albert Hall (playing music from the Arthur Bliss ballet 'Checkmate'), competing against the best bands in the land. In 1991 the band qualified once more for the Royal Albert Hall (playing Robert Simpson's 'Energy').

The untimely passing of George Prior came as a bitter blow to the band and the band movement.