Notes for specific vintage band pictures
Back Row: Jim T Brooks, Jack Brooks, Arthur Tootill, A Openshaw, Peter Openshaw, Fred Wardle, Wilfred Greenhalgh. Middle Row: Wm Norman Rayson (bandmaster), Ellis Haslam, Jos. Kirkham, Levi Brooks, Wm Albert Greenhalgh, Peter Brooks, Arthur Hampson, James Blackmore. Front Row: James Wm Rayson, Alfred Hardman, Albert Haslam, Fred Greenhalgh, Amos Brooks, Ottowell Partington
Top row, left to right: William Paxman, William W. Robinson, Isaac Abel and Joseph Wild.
Second row: Joseph Robinson, Cyrus Gough, William Grant (leader), Thomas G. Steele, William B. Dunn and Edward Lee.
Kneeling: Frank Pulley and Martin Hansen
The first photograph is alleged to have been taken at Greenwich Market in south east London, and my grandfather, James Smith (Jim) is in the front (seated) row, 5th from the left, with a chap crouched in front of him. I must say, they look a rough and ready bunch of lads. I think Jim must have been born around 1875 and rumour has it, he veered between the church and the pub. I wouldn't be surprised if he also played in Salvation Army bands too, since they kept the family from starving during the Depression. Before coming to London he lived and worked in St Albans but I've no idea whether he learned to play there or whether he was in the services. His main instrument was the euphonium.
The second photo is of what I presume is the same band on the march, a few years later and just before the Second World War. My diminutive father, Stan Holloway, is the one playing French horn I believe.
Any information would be welcome.
J Dearden was the conductor of the band before its final demise. (He and his wife looked after my mother and her sister whilst my grandmother worked in the mill.) Apparently he was very passionate about the band and was "the last man standing" when it disappeared (believed to be in the 50s.) It was certainly gone by 1960 as the Methodist Church were by then, engaging Tintwhistle Silver Band to accompany their annual "March of Witness".
Players in the photograph:
Back Row :- Terry Newboult (repiano), Jack Mackwell (probably G Trom with a long handle), Harry Jacobs (cornet), Jack Fawcett (drums), Bryan Seward.
Next to back row :- Alan Blades (baritone), Harry Ainsworth (EEb Bass), E. Hines (horn), Fred Hudson (principal cornet, was previously a professional trumpet player, and also had a 15 piece dance band playing weekly at the Welfare, Skipton), David Pearson.
3rd from back row :- Billy Moore (baritone), John Hudson (EEb Bass), Sir John Horsfall (President), Andy Hoe (Musical Director - also played trombone with Fred Hudson's dance band), Edgar Dolphin (BBb Bass), Jack Dean (BBb Bass - also played string bass with Fred Hudson's dance band), Harry Riddiough (Euphonium). In front of Jack Dean is Eric Moreton (cornet). In front of Billy Moore is Arthur Riley (trombone).
Kneeling :- Brian Cleaver (cornet), (B Smith (cornet), D Lee (cornet), Mick Seward, John Elrick (cornet), Keith Riddiough, Roger Hudson (cornet - he also played trumpet with Fred Hudson's dance band, had his own dixieland group and later became a professional dance band trumpeter playing with many top dance bands, always on TV as a freelance trumpeter).
Second Row: Joe Davis, N or H. Hastings, Jack Lister, Bert, Mr. Foss, Unknown, Unknown, S. Andrews, Apy Lowe
Third Row: Albert Ernest Dowdeswell, Ron Heard, Ted Barton (President Patron), W. Baldwin (Band Master), Ron Cross, Ken Seff, Ernie Billot
Front Row: Bill Benton, Ted Hooten, Wally Watson, Bill Helenburgh, Jim Young
Hecker was among the first directors to introduce and use string basses in a military band, and he is said to have originated the arrangements of symphonies for band performance. The Elgin band was perhaps the only brass organization in the country in which strings, reeds and flutes outnumbered the brass instruments. "To hear Hecker is to be inspired," raved the Fort Worth, Texas, Gazette of March 29, 1890. "To hear the soft and sweet harmonies brought forth by the Elgins, under Hecker's lead, is to be lifted up-to be made happy."
(2) Elgin Watch Factory employees had social experiences that extended beyond the long working hours. In mild weather, they would eat their lunches in the grove in back of the plant. There were baseball games, cricket matches for a sizeable contingent of English watchmakers, parties and dances. The social events and athletic teams were often organized according to the department. A band was organized as early as 1868 and played concerts on Saturday afternoons in the front yard. The '80s and '90s of the last century were a golden age of military band music in the United States. Every aspiring town had an amateur band. A few bands in the larger cities employed professionals, but there were frequent changes in members and directors. From 1887 through 1892, the Elgin National Watch Factory Military Band under the leadership of Professor Joseph Hecker combined proficiency with continuity of personnel. The result was, according to one musical journal, "the most perfect instrumentation of any band west of New York while its membership includes many fine soloists." Hecker, German-born, had been a regimental bandmaster in England before emigrating to Canada and the United States. A composer as well as a director, be is said to have originated the arrangement of symphonies for band performance. Hecker was called to Elgin in 1886 by the watch company to build up an existing military band to give promotional concerts. The company assumed an indebtedness of more than $2,000 owed by the old band. Musicians who appreciated a steady job were recruited from throughout the country. The band members worked ten-hour days at the factory and were paid their daily wages while on tour. They owned their own fatigues and most of the instruments. The company supplied the dress uniforms and the musical library. For a two-year period, one man was employed practically full time copying music. Hecker claimed that the band could play all fall and winter without repeating a selection.
Some of the selections were by Hecker. His "Southern Memories" was written on the eve of departure for an engagement. Members copied their parts from the original manuscript on board the train and played it without a rehearsal. It became one of his most popular compositions. Although it also provided the music for the First Regiment, Illinois National Guard, the unit was designed primarily for concerts rather than marching. The Elgin National Watch Factory Military Band was unusual because reeds and strings outnumbered the brass instruments. Of the 42 pieces at one concert in 1890, for example, there were 11 clarinets and four saxophones, and only three trombones, three cornets, and one trumpet. In addition, there were three string basses. The band traveled extensively, especially in the Midwest. Their engagements included Republican national party conventions at Chicago in 1888 and Minneapolis in 1892, the St. Louis Exposition and the St. Paul Winter Carnival in 1887, the Knights of Pythias convention at Cincinnati, where they won a first prize of $500 in 1888, and the Sioux City Corn Palace in 1888 and 1890.
A fire at the Spring Palace in Fort Worth, Texas, broke out on May 30, 1890, soon after the Elgin performers finished a concert. About half of their instruments, 55 recently purchased uniforms, and much of their baggage and manuscript music was destroyed. When Joseph Hecker resigned his directorship in September, 1892, the company withdrew its support, and most of the professionals left the city. Although Hecker assembled a band to play at the Chicago World's Fair of 1893 and other local military bands were organized later, the glory days had passed.
Back Row (L-R) Vince Quayle, Arthur Birkett, Billy Birkett, Walter Ainscough, Billy Ainscough, Eric Birkett, Billy Gill, Sid Rainford, Brian Birkett, Tommy Birkett.
Middle Row (L-R) Ralph Johnson (Librarian) Gordon Pilkington, John Barlow, Alf Birkett, Lot birkett, Tom Birkett, Jack Birkett, Harold Mather, Wilf Gill, Alf Rudd (Asst Librarian).
Front Row (L-R) Jimmy Ryding, Bill Birkett, John Turner, Charlie Hulse(Conductor), Hugh Owen (President), George Ainscough, Cyril Ashurst(yours truly), Sammy Taylor.
The band was once known locally as Birkett's Band, I'm sure that you will understand why having read the names! Sadly there are only about six members of the band still living.
Haigh Band won the Grand Shield at Belle Vue in 1960, and the third section national title in 1958 plus many local contests.
Harry Oakes, Harry Bentham and Vince Preston all conducted the Haigh Band during the 1950s-1960s. Bert Stamford, Billy Gill, Jim Cunliffe and Bill Gregory all played for the Haigh Band during the contest winning years, mainly from 1958 -1960.
Standing - Ralph Johnson (librarian), Alf Birkett, John Turner, Harry Bentham, Charlie Silcock, Vince Quayle, Joe Gregory, Ken Marsh, Sammy Taylor, Billy Ainscough, ? Keith Hollinshead, Gordon Clough, Jack Baxendale, Walt Horrabin, ?, John Jenkinson, Alf Rudd (Asst Librarian).
Seated - Cyril Ashurst, Bert Stamford, Frank Ainscough, Billy Gill, Tommy Pilkington, ? Billy Birkett, ? George Ainscough, Charlie Rushworth.
Hardwick Colliery became Holmewood Colliery after nationalisation.
[TK]: My 96-year old Uncle, Charles Bomer, former Fire Truck Driver in Bellaire, Ohio, told me that he heard this band play when he was a child growing up in Bellaire. Here is what he shared with me about the photo:
The street shown is 32nd. The picture was taken prior to 1924, because the Bellaire Bridge was not yet built (people crossed to WV in a ferry for 5 cents). The ramp to the Bellaire Bridge would be built at 32nd Street. The factory across the river in Benwood (or South Wheeling) is probably the Wheeling Nail Company. The street behind the band is Union Street. The Belmont Bank is on the SE corner of 32nd and Union. The large building on the left was Bellaire Hardware (1st floor). Apartments were on 2nd and 3rd floors). The piccolo player (3rd bandsman from left) may have been Dan Archibold. Uncle said that Dan's eyelids fluttered when he played. There was a girl (3 or 4 years ahead of me - Tim Kreiter) whose last name was Archibold. She played piccolo in the Shadyside Band. (Perhaps she was a relative of Dan's.) The tuba player on the far right was Mr. Zastudale. Again, there was a boy (3 or 4 years behind me) named Zastudale who played sousaphone in the SHS band. The tuba player in this photo went to NYC to play in a "big band" according to Uncle. Uncle knew the big guy who played bass drum, but forgets his name. The snare drummer's name may have been Copeland (brother of Frank who lived in Shadyside). Uncle claims that Bellaire had four bands at the time - the Heatherington, the Archibold, the Roxy Palmer, and another whose name he forgets. Roxy was a trumpet player and his band played for Italian functions (ITAM, IAC, Sons of Italy). They also played for Italian funerals and would go to Rose Hill (cemetery). On their way home Uncle remembers them playing, "The Man I Left Behind Me."
Middle Row (L-R): Fred Holt, Harry Pownall, Jack Bentham, Bob Bentham, Billy Gill, unknown, unknown, unknown, J Cunliffe.
Front Row (L-R): A Hicks, W Gregory, John Bentham, J Greeley, Arthur Hazelhurst(Bandmaster), unknown, unknown, Fred Chell.
Harry Oakes, Harry Bentham and Vince Preston all conducted the Haigh Band during the 1950s-1960s.
Bert Stamford, Billy Gill, Jim Cunliffe and Bill Gregory all played for the Haigh Band during the contest winning years, mainly from 1958 -1960.
[From Helen Coffey] "Nine family members at least were in these bands from 1880's onwards. When my dad (Harry Whittaker) was in Stacksteads band, they didn't just play in the band either. Several members of the band played in a jazz group called the Varsity Blues, my dad and two others had a trio called the Derby Trio. Both these bands played in venues all over the north of England. My dad was also a semi-professional singer on the pubs and clubs, and had played the piano in pubs for extra income from the age of 14, as his dad died when he was 8. He was a drummer in the ATC at 16, someone from the Halle Orchestra came to listen to him play and wanted him to go to live in Manchester to train to be in the Orchestra. He couldn't go, he had to work to support his mother and sister. Even though he was self taught on all these instruments, he was the one who played the solo parts at Belle Vue and London (possibly Crystal Palace) in the 50's when they won the cups. The London one was recorded, and he said they sometimes played it on Radio Blackburn. Another band member, George Clarke, my dad's friend has written a book about band life - "Bold As Brass", published by United Writers. This is based on Stacksteads band, and I can recognise my dad's "exploits" in this, although he is split into three different characters, as are the others. My mum says it's so their wives don't know what they were up to. My dad was solo cornet player for Stacksteads Prize Band from 50's to 70's
Middle row: W. Iddon, Dave Gardner, Robert Wilson, Jack Parkinson, Mark Sharples, Fred Wightman, F. Smith, Willie Heap, G. Wightman, H. Sharples, George Pye, George Pye Senior, W. Emmet
Bottom row: Tom Fare, Sam Wightman, Charlie Counsell, Dan Pickup, John Clayton, A. Parker, W. Ormerod, J.T. Norcross, Tom Wilson.
[From Milton Gray: " My great grandfather, George Pye, who played horn, but was not in uniform on this particular day when the picture was taken, is standing beside his son, also named George Pye."
Initial fundraising for the band had reached over £116 which enabled the band to purchase a full set of instruments for £108 from the French Musical Instrument Depot. Although initially titled as a brass band, the instrumentation was mixed from the word go, consisting of:-
1 piccolo, 1 Eb clarinet, 3 Bb clarinets, 4 cornets, 2 flugelhorns, 2 tenor horns, 1 baritone, 2 trombones, 2 euphoniums, 1 contra bass 1 side drum,1 bass drum, cymbals and 20 music stands.
The first bandmaster, Mr. W. Hutchinson was appointed on a part time basis from outside the police force on a salary of £75 per annum. Mr. Hutchinson was also the bandmaster of the Permanent Army Band. Rehearsals started in February 1895 at the Police Barracks in Belmore Park Sydney. The first performance of the band was on the 27th February 1896. Problems had arisen, however, with some members not being allowed off duty to attend the twice weekly rehearsals, a problem that would persist until the band became a full time unit during the twentieth century. By 1899 some £300 had been collected in subscriptions from members of the police force. More instruments had been purchased, including a set of saxophones, which were still somewhat of a novelty at this time. Performances of the band required the approval of the Inspector General and were largely limited to police or charity engagements. The activities of the Police Band would raise the ire of the Professional Musicians Union on more than one occasion during the early twentieth century. The first chapter of the history of the New South Wales Police Band came to an end with the resignation of bandmaster Hutchinson in 1901 and his death a short time later.
Seated: T. Hyde, W. Tranter, F. Beaman, W. Williams (Conductor), J. Fenn, P. Lamsdale.
The band practiced at The Charlton Arms Hotel, Oakengates, where the landlord was Mr J Foulkes.
Top row from left: Douglas boy, Tom Kelly, Tom Harrison, J. McCall, J. Proctor, E. Kelly, J. Hyslop, D. Callister, J. Cottier, Tom Craine, W.W.Watterson, H. Crese, H. Cool
Front row from left: D.M. Berkey, J. Moore, L. Clucas, Ed. Quiliam, Arther Fargler, Tom Quayle, Berkley, Tom Callister, J. Quay, W. Kelly, J. Corlit, Douglas
In Portugal, the organisation and the territorial deployment of the Army during the 19th and 20 Century were instrumental in fostering the development of various regions where the only existing musical groups were the Regimental Army Bands. Army musicians became the professors, maestros, and founders of Philharmonic Bands, which contribute to the development of musical culture to this day.
Front row left to right: Alec Scott, ??, Thomas Ashworth, John Abram, Bob Curzon, David Abram, Alfred Abram.
Note from Peter Steele: "Thames Iron Works was not at Blackwall but on the eastern bank of the river Lee, Canning Town, West Ham, Essex. See inside Canning Town Station for Thames Iron Works Memorial. H.M.S. Warrior, now at Portmouth, was built there."
Back row left to right: Percy Duckett, Frank Wall, Dennis Gibbs, James Gibbs, Sidney Vowles
Middle Row: ? Redman, Herbert Wall, Unkown, Edward Tincknell, Oliver James
Front Row Seated: Reginald Puddy, Albert Gibbs, Gilbert Urch, Harold Stone, boy Harry Wall
The band played for many years at most local events. they entertained villagers once a week out in the open. A local newspaper report of 1896 complimented them on their playing, even in the coldest weather. When playing at dances they became a reed band, exchanging the brass instruments for clarinets, flutes and piccolos. Albert Gibbs was the band leader for many years. See also phot4675.jpg - a picture of the band out of uniform, around the same date but featuring different members.
FIRST ROW. Left to Right: Albert Seeger, Harry Herold. SECOND ROW: Louis O. Rients, Harold Rapp, Henry Kalkwarf, John Wuebbens, Derwald Johnson, Elron Janssen, Edward Seggerman. THIRD ROW: Ronald Meeker, Clarence Koopman, Henry Franzen, Peter Wuebbens, Herman Mehlberg, Ernest Harms, John Obert, Harry Janssen. FOURTH ROW: Walter Von Nordheim, Edward Koopman, Fred Durre, Herman Vissering, Arthur Rustman, Fred H. Wiechman, Walter Harms, Ernest Doorn. FIFTH ROW: John D. Koopman, E. L. Meeker.
Los Angeles Congress Hall Band - The bandmaster is Harry Stillwell and the officer standing to the right is Major Andrew Telfer
Salvation Army Training College Cadet Band - International Training College, Denmark Hill, London, 1947. Included in the band is Brindley Boone, Ray Steadman-Allen and James Paterson and other men who served in WW2.
Los Angeles Congress Hall Band - Standing at the left is cornet soloist Carol Reinhart and at the far right is Bandmaster Harry Stillwell and Band executive officer, Major Andrew Telfer
Portland Citadel Band - The bandmaster is Orin Smith
Oakland Citadel Band - The bandmaster is Bob Slous
Govan Citadel Band - James Paterson is in the picture
Rat Portage Salvation Army Band - David McDougald is standing at the far left of the back row and his wife, Francis McDougald is immediately in front of him. Rat Portage is in the Land of Lakes area of Ontario and it merged with two other towns to form the present city of Kenora, Ontario.
Los Angeles Citadel Band - The pictures of the Los Angeles Citadel Band are the forerunner of the Los Angeles Tabernacle, which became the Hollywood Tabernacle and is now the Pasadena Tabernacle Band. The LA Citadel Band is consider to be the first Salvation Army band to fly to an engagement which was on a DC-3 Flying Tigers plane which had been outfitted for passengers. In World War 2, it had been used by the military and the seats were parallel along the sides.
The LA Citadel Band began the tradition of marching in the Pasadena Tournament of Roses parade in 1920 and the Salvation Army Band has marched longer than any other band.
Eric Ball came to Los Angeles a number of times and this picture is during a concert when Ray Ogg was the bandmaster. There is a picture of Eric Ball standing on the Hollywood Boulevard Walk of Fame beside a star with his name on it. That happened during one of his visits to the Hollywood Tabernacle Band.
In the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade, on January 1, 1932, the band was in the pre-parade formation area directly in front of a mansion. The resident, Professor Albert Einstein and his wife came down the driveway to greet the band and listen as the band played (a Broughton march) for them. The Professor shook hands with each bandsman, said he enjoyed listening to the band and wished them luck in their future endeavors. The professor and his wife posed for this picture with the bandsman.
