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SWINESHEAD SILVER
BAND REMEMBERED BY MR. H. CEASAR & MR. J. EAGLEN
Mr. Herbert Ceasar
Swineshead Brass Band was formed in 1886. The band was trained by Mr. W. Morgan
of the Gasworks Swineshead. He promised to take the band on its first job in six
weeks; and he did, the band marched from the Gasworks to the Market Place ina
torchlight procession six weeks after being formed knowing only four tunes, one
being God Save The King.
The players were:- Mr. Booth, Cornet; (Bandmaster) Mr. Greetham, 1st Tenor Horn;
(Secretary) Mr. Middlebrook, Cornet; Mr. Favel, Bass Drum; Mr. Roast, 2nd Tenor
Horn; Mr. Cone, Trombone; Mr. Sparrow, Eb Bass; Mr. Thorpe, Bb Bass; Mr. F.
Cone, Cornet; Mr. Harwood, Cornet; Mr. Richer, Cornet; Mr. J.W. Woods, Side
Drum; and Mr. Hammond,,3rd Cornet; The Band has never ceased to function from
the time of its formation. I joined the band in 1919 at the age of18. Mr.
Hammond was Bandmaster. The Membership fee was
7 /6d, then we paid 3d per week into band funds,The Band was 24 strong, all
Swineshead players. I was given a choice of instrument, so I took to the
cornet for 60 years and I played no other instrument.
In my early days the Band would be out playing at garden fetes and other outdoor
functions. There were times when we had to split the band to fill all the
engagements. At this time we practiced two nights a week.
My proudest moment was when, as Bandmaster, I took the Band to the Lincolnshire
CountyShow
which was held at Swineshead Abbey that year and we played for the first day.
To get to engagements we went by covered lorry. The fee for these jobs was£2.
We played for the Chapel Sunday School and the children would go round the village
on lorries with the
Band playing on the way, this lasted from 1p.m. - 4p.m. after this we would play
for dancing at the Chapel from 6 - 10p.m. this paid for the rent of the Bandroom.
I remember all the past Conductors, Mess'rs W. Booth, G. Hartwell.. A. Motson,
E. Hammond, C. Middlebrook and Myself, all from Swineshead. Also Mr C. Cox of
Lincoln, Mr. Walker of Wyberton, Mr. Patchet of Kirton and Mr. D. Stephens of
Boston.
The Band carried on playing throughout the War. In the 1970s the numbers started
to dwindle so I went to the Headmaster of the school, Mr. Sales, to see if I
could get some girls or boys to play in the band, he agreed and 20 volunteers
turned up at the Bandroom. They practiced once a week at the bandroom and
once a week at school. ."
tn1979 I decided to call it a day and retired and was made a Life Member of the Band
Mr. Joe Eaglen
I came to live in Swineshead in November 1925, having served 9 years in the
Royal Artillery, four of these as a trumpeter. I joined the Band in early 1926.
It was the Swineshead Brass Band in those days... The Bandroom was at the rear
of the Chapel, I think we gave our services to the Chapel in lieu of rent. We
paid £1 membership and I could not afford to pay so much money all at once as
wages were only 35/- a week, but being very keen to join, the Bandmaster, Mr.
Hammond, paid my Membership and I worked for him in the summer evenings to pay
him back.
The instruments were in a poor condition and I was given a valve trombone to
play, I stayed in the bass end of the Band most of my playing days.
We used to have to stand at practice, the music stands were made of wood with
four players to a stand. One bandsman came from Donnington on a motorcycle and
sidecar, his dog in the sidecar, when the band struck up the dog outside usually
joined in.
At one engagement, we put our instruments on the grass and went for tea, on
resumption the Bb Bass was sounding rather strange, on inspection a frog had got down the bell of
the instrument.
My worst adventure was when two trombone players and myself went to Spalding to
help Spalding Band we finished playing after 9p.m., before we went we had
arranged for a taxi to pick us up, alas there was no taxi when we finished, so
we decided to walk and meet it, but we walked all the way home, arriving after
midnight, my wife was waiting up for me and I still remember her words, "you
haven't been banding till this time". The taxi driver had forgotten us and I carried
my BbBass from Spalding to Swineshead
As I have said, we practiced behind the Chapel, when the war came the soldiers
took it over and we
moved to a barn in the Bandmasters garden, After a while we had to move we
went to the Wheatsheaf clubroom and from there back to the Chapel after the
war. Eventually the Chapel wanted the room and after a collection we purchased
the building that the Band uses now. After much hard work we made it
respectable and still use it today.
The following have been Bandmasters in my time:- Mr. Hammond and Mr. Middlebrook,
(Swineshead) Mr. Walker, (Boston) Mr. Cox, (Lincoln) Mr. Ceasar, (Twice) Mr.
Patchet, (Kirton) Mr Cox, (Swineshead) and Mr. Derek Stephens, (Boston).
The cost of hiring the Band, consisting of 10 players and drum was mostly
£2 10 shillings. We used to cycle
and carry our instruments if the band didn't need the drum. All instruments were taken home and
the men used to always have a "blow" at home,. much to
thedismay of their wives.
I remember the Band buying a set of lightweight uniforms from Grimethorpe
Colliery Band., this was arranged by Bob Papworth whose brother played for
Grimethorpe at the time,
On Armistice Day the Band used to march from the Golden Cross pub to the War
Memorial at the head of the parade, play Hymns and the Last Post, march back to
the Golden Cross then back to the Bandroom and assemble at the Chapel at night
for Hymns,
I have really enjoyed my time with the Band and would do it all again
given the chance. I have so many happy memories, too many to record here. I was made a Life
Member on my retirement in 1979 and still go to listen whenever I can.
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