The popularity of Brass Bands increased and featured prominently in all village events such as the annual June Club Feast, Sunday School treats, Sports Days, National and Royal celebrations and indeed at any event where villagers gathered. Sherburn was no exception and in 1880, a village Brass Band was formed and went on to gain considerable local reputation and under the leadership of 28-year-old Anthony Sawkill headmaster of Sherburn School from 1873-1914, flourished for many years, the majority of the members being Anthony’s pupils. The first practice was on 26 January 1880 and the villagers who enrolled were Richard Harland a carpenter aged 37 who played first cornet; Thomas Fred Bean a farm servant aged 21 and George Clarkson aged 26 who was inn keeper throughout the 1880’s at the New Inn (later called The East Riding Hotel) who both played second cornets, John Lightfoot aged 17 an apprentice tailor who played third cornet, Jonathan Currey aged 20 who was the church sexton and Simeon Lightfoot a groom, who both played tenor Saxe-horns, Richard Taylor played baritone and William Lightfoot 27 a shoe maker played the euphonium. Joseph Fox, a cooper and former innkeeper at the New Inn during the 1870’s played a bombardon which was an enormous bass drum and Thomas Stones aged 25, a blacksmith, played a smaller drum.
Most of the bandsmen were also in the cricket team and in 1883 Sherburn’s Cricket Club began the season earlier than usual in March with two single wicket matches. In the first one, euphonium player William Lightfoot challenged Foster Forge and Simeon Lightfoot, two veteran cricketers well known for their batting and bowling skills. Foster Forge, a saddler by trade, exhibited his old form and bowled the crack in both innings, whilst William Lightfoot’s batting and agility fairly astonished spectators. After a severe struggle the old hands were defeated by only two runs, with William Lightfoot scoring 11 and the veterans scoring 9 (Simeon 5, Foster 4). In the second match Harry Bielby a tailor, challenged Simeon Lightfoot and this time the old hand showed his superiority and easily defeated his opponent by scoring 13 runs to Harry’s 5 runs.
Town and village bands began wearing uniforms and in February 1888, eight years after the formation of Sherburn Brass Band, members organised a Grand Concert and Ball to raise funds for instruments, music and uniforms. They engaged several excellent vocalists including some villagers. Marie Rigg (Scarbro) played the piano and Sherburn Brass Band played an overture and musical selections. Songs included The Old Brigade and Dear Aunt Jane by J W Allison, Dream of Home and The Quaker by Clara Marston, When evening’s twilight, Dame Durden, Maiden Listen, Banish O Maiden and Tar’s Song by Scarbro Vocal Quartet, Man Overboard Francis Bielby, You’ll remember me (with guitar accompaniment) Marie Rigg, The Lost Chord and An Awfu Llittle Scrub A Horsley, a duet Glou, Glou with guitar accompaniment by Miss Marston and Miss Rigg who both sang with great musical taste and skill. Post master Albert Marston’s singing received a well-merited encore. One distinguished member of the audience was Sir Charles Legard of Ganton and band members thanked him and other patrons for their generous support. Later in the evening Sherburn Brass Band played for forty couples who danced from 11 pm with great spirit until 5 o’clock next morning. Edward Allison and William Brown were MC’s and George Clarkson, inn keeper at the New Inn, supplied refreshments of the usual superior quality.
By September 1891 Sherburn’s Brass Band had sufficient funds to buy uniform, generous donations having been received from leading members of the community, as well as from James Kirk of Dawnay Lodge and the Rev H M Short of West Heslerton. On the 27th March 1894 the band visited West Heslerton Hall and played in splendid style. Musical items included: Gems of Scotia and Stranger, a waltz Valley of Ferns, a polka Rosebud; a schottische Pretty Foot and a glee Where art Thou Beam of Light? On the last Sunday in May 1984 Sir Charles Legard of Ganton Hall opened his gardens and invited Sherburn Brass Band. Musical items included the two Grand Choruses Haydn’s The Heavens are telling and Handel’s Hallelujah, four anthems Joy and Gladness, The Lord the Only God is Great, Vital Spark and Emmanuel’s Glory and two rousing marches On Sunday Parade and Defence, as well as a selection from Verdi’s Il Trovatore. It is recorded that after loud and long applause the large company stood to attention as the band played God Save the Queen. Other subscribers included Joseph Marston, Sherburn’s post master from 1870 to 1900, the Rev Richard Ellis vicar of Sherburn from 1873 to 1905, young Dr Oliver Norris who was Sherburn’s family doctor from 1888 to 1905, Richard Duggleby and John Foster, farmers on High Street, John Lamplough, farmer in St Hilda’s Street, John Prodham and Thomas Winter, Wolds farmers, James Heath & Son, village butchers, and Joseph Owston, a joiner. The Marston, Heath and Owston families were all gifted musicians, Joseph Owston being a member of the church choir for 65 years. When he died in February 1899 aged 80, the choir sang Jesu Lover of my Soul to a tune he’d composed and was frequently used in St Hilda’s Church.
At this time, there were two bands in Sherburn, the Brass Band for men and the Drum and Fife Band for boys but in the New Year of 1890, the latter was dissolved because once the boys left school they were no longer interested and the band’s strength and efficiency was depleted. Band leader James C Pinkney a gardener living in St Hilda’s Street, called in the instruments and music sheets and at a public meeting was thanked for the unremitting attention he had paid to the instruction of the boys and the hope was expressed that some of the boys who’d played in the Drum and Fife Band would perhaps one day join the Brass Band so that their learning and experience would not be lost, thus sustaining the musical reputation of the village.
BRASS BAND PAGES
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