The Band was formed on the 1st November 1937 as the works band of Ransome and Marles, a well-known bearings manufacturer. Ransome and Marles, located in Newark in Nottinghamshire was a major employer in the town. Many of the Bandsmen were employees of the Company. In its first ten years the band built a reputation of musical excellence both within the brass band world and the public alike. The year of 1939 saw the Ransome and Marles Band make the first of over 500 radio broadcasts. Such was the popularity of the Band's music that the BBC installed a direct radio link to the works canteen from where many of the popular musical programmes of the time were broadcast. These broadcasts included favourites such as "Music While You Work", "Workers' Playtime", "Friday Night Is Music Night" and "Strike Up the Band". As well as appearances on TV, a particular highlight was featuring in the Oscar winning film "Women in Love" in 1970. 1970 was also notable when at the National Finals at the Albert Hall in London the band gained 2nd place to Grimethorpe Colliery Band, playing the test piece called "Pride of Youth" by Gordon Jacob. In the same year Ransome and Marles merged with Hoffman and Pollard to form a new company called R.H.P. Bearings. Consequently the band changed its name to the RHP Works Band and continued to receive financial support from the company at that time.