| A Brief History of Armadale's Bands including Armadale Concert Ensemble | |
|
Over the years, Armadale has been entertained by many bands and performers. Here are details of a few of them: More information in Armadale Past & Present
|
|
 |
|
|
Scottish Brass Band Championship 1938 Fourth Section Championship, Coatbridge Town Hall, Saturday 19 November Test Piece: Over the Hill Adjudicator: George Hawkins RESULT 1st prize: Harold Memorial Band conducted by Gregor Grant 2nd prize: Armadale Silver Band conducted by Gregor Grant 3rd prize: Broxburn R C conducted by Jack Riley 4th prize: Burntisland conducted by Colin Terris 21 bands competed in this section. |
|
|
The following is based on the reminiscences of Tom Allan of the Scottish Brass Band Association, which gives interesting information about the details contained on the 1938 Certificate awarded to Armadale Silver Band. At the time of these contests in Scotland, there were only four sections. The contests were run on four separate Saturdays. The Championship for First Section bands was held in Usher Hall, Edinburgh. The Second, Third and Fourth Section contests rotated round venues such as Coatbridge, Airdrie, Hamilton, Kirkcaldy, Cowdenbeath, Leith, Stirling and the Pinkie Garden Hall at Portobello. The Fourth Section test piece for 1938 was a selection of pastoral tunes and dances put together as a test piece. The Scottish Brass Band Championships began in 1895. At the beginning, there were only two Sections: ten bands in Section One and two in Section Two. The venue was Waverley Market, Edinburgh. From 1926, the prize-winning bands in each Section were given a certificate and 25 medals. From 1895 bands could only play 24 players. In 1946 this was increased to 25 players (no percussion). Names on the 1938 Scottish Brass Band Championship certificate Conductor GREGOR GRANT lived in Maryhill Road, Glasgow and he was a former military euphonium player. After military service, he was tuba player with the SNO and took up brass band conducting. He had a long association with Govan Burgh Band with whom he won the Championship Section four times: 1929, 1932, 1951 and 1953. He was a gifted entertainer with Govan Burgh and they were supported by a large following. His rapport with audiences was outstanding, particularly as there was always a surprise in his concert programmes. He also spent time with lower Section bands in West Lothian, ie Armadale and West Calder. The1938 winning band, Harold Memorial, was made up of factory workers from the west side of Edinburgh. Their win in 1939 was a 'one-off' as they never competed again and, between the war years 1939 - 1945, the band was dissolved. JAMES BEATTIE from Cowdenbeath was President of SABBA from 1935 until 1950. He was a very dignified man with a cultured speaking voice. After World War II, The Daily Herald newspaper, based in London, took an interest in the English Band Movement as they were starting the national qualifying contests in England and Wales. Jimmy Beattie travelled to London and convinced The Daily Herald that Scottish bands should be included. These qualifying contests to be held in February and March were separate from the established Scottish Championships. The finals for The Daily Herald contests (Champion Section) were at the Albert Hall, London, on the first Saturday in October. The other Sections (2,3 and 4) were to be held in the Zoological Gardens, Belle Vue, Manchester, on the third Saturday in September. Belle Vue had three large halls, the Kings Hall seating 5,000. From 1953, all Sections were moved to London and took place the first weekend in October. JAMES ALEXANDER was Secretary of SABBA from 1900 until 1944. Jimmy Alexander was a native of Musselburgh and took over as Secretary of SABBA after the court case between SABBA and Bo'ness and Carriden in Linlithgow's Court of Session. The affair caused a split in the Scottish Band Movement with many bands leaving because of SABBA's treatment of Bo'ness and Carriden. In 1900, an Extraordinary General Meeting was called and a new Committee was formed, Jimmy Alexander being appointed Secretary. He persuaded the bands that had left to return and, by 1905, the Movement was thriving with an increase in membership and the prospect of a Third Section being added. In 1918, The Glasgow and West of Scotland Association was formed with sponsorship from Sir William Beardmore. Jimmy Alexander acted as Secretary. In 1930, the Edinburgh Charities Association was formed on similar lines as that of the Glasgow Association with sponsorship from Mr William F Hanniford, Deputy Provost of Edinburgh. Jimmy Alexander took on the Secretaryship of this Association also. Jimmy Alexander died in April 1944 at Musselburgh. Adjudicator GEORGE HAWKINS was a native of Middlesbrough, Cleveland. He found fame as Conductor of Harton Colliery Band, Durham, with which he had much success. In 1926 he came to Scotland as Conductor of Newmilns Band with a guaranteed weekly wage of £3 for only two rehearsals a week. Newmilns, Ayrshire, was a wealthy conservative burgh with 11 lace factories and all the lace factory owners lived in the town. George Hawkins was a composer, arranger and professional band trainer, as well as the proof reader for all the music written by Drake Rimmer before it was published. From 1943 until 1947, I travelled from Dalmellington to Newmilns (36 miles) every Saturday for private lessons with him. My pit manager let me work on a Sunday for which I got 10 shillings, ie 50 new pence, to pay 6 shillings for my lesson, 3 shillings and 9 (old) pence for bus fare and 3 (old) pence for a bag of chips at Ayr Bus Station on my way home. I found my four-year tuition from George Hawkins to be a valuable musical experience. He was a master tactician in training bands. |
|
|
Armadale Concert Ensemble The Armadale Concert Ensemble meets every Monday from 7.30pm until 9.00pm at the Methodist Church Hall in East Main Street. Grateful thanks go to Jim Lambie for allowing us to show his photographs on the website.
|
|
|
It is hoped to post more information about Armadale bands and entertainers in the future. If you have any information that you could contribute, please e-mail Rosie |
