From humble beginnings the Falmouth Marine Band has become one of the key supporters of charities in the town.

Now members have presented cheques to the latest recipients of donations, during a get together at the Star & Garter on High Street.

These cheques included £420 to the Falmouth Waterfront Crew, which is jointly organised by Falmouth School and Falmouth Police Station to encourage young people to carry out community work.

The Mission for Seafarers was given £250 to support seamen and their families in distress, with Surf Life Saving GB based at Gyllyngvase Beach receiving the same amount to support more than 100 local young people engaged in watersports and beach life guarding.

Falmouth RNLI was given £200 to buy equipment not provided by the national charity, £100 went to the Falmouth Tae-Kwon-Do Club for equipment for its 40 young members, £100 to the Cornwall Freewheelers who provide motorcycle volunteers to transport emergency blood supplies around the county and £50 to the Invictus Trust, to support young people with mental health problems.

Finally, £200 went to the Carnon Downs Drama Group to add to their collection for Leukaemia and Lymphoma research.

In a separate presentation, the band also handed over a cheque at St Mawes Social Club for £400, to the Little Harbour children’s hospice supporting terminally ill young people.

Band leader Paul Wickes said at the presentation: “It’s nights like tonight that remind everyone connected with Falmouth Marine Band just why we are proud to still do what we do.

“Falmouth Marine Band is proud to support Falmouth and the record amount of money raised in difficult economic times is testament to what a community can achieve when everyone pulls together.”

Money was raised, as always, at Falmouth Carnival – continuing the run of success that Falmouth Marine Band has achieved since it started organising the marching event.

Beginning in 2005, with around 200 people joining the band and helping to raise £250, the event has grown every year with the result that this year an estimated 650 people helped raised £2,300 for local good causes.

Mr Wickes added: “Everyone who marched or watched the carnival has helped contribute to its on-going success.”

The band was formed in 1989 by Dave Spargo and Colin Bennett to help a flagging Falmouth Carnival, and, with next year being the band’s 25th carnival, organisers hope to see more than 1,000 people marching.