The Wessex Military Band was founded in 1981 by Bandmaster Martin Davison. It started off by recruiting young musicians from the area of West Dorset. The dedication and commitment of those involved saw this band grow and in 1990 the British Army invited the band to form the voluntary band of the Army Air Corps based at Middle Wallop near Andover. The band accepted and in a short space of time doubled its membership by recruiting experienced musicians from all over the south coast of England from Dorset to Portsmouth.