One evening in May 1890, Sherburn Brass Band headed a procession from the village to a well attended open air political meeting in John Foster’s field. Sir Charles Legard of Ganton Hall introduced Frederick W Fison, candidate elect for the Buckrose Parliamentary Division as: a Yorkshireman, an excellent business man, and a staunch Unionist. Frederick Fison’s address included comments about Ireland, the Local Government Act, The Allotments Act, the Tithes Question, the Budget, and technical instruction in agriculture, and his eloquence, clarity and sound common sense left no one in doubt that he would make a good Member of Parliament. Others present included Lady Legard, Captain H Darley, Rev H Bainbridge, James Kirk, R Waddington, Richard Duggleby, William C Puckrin, John Prodham and W H Wellburn. At the end after three cheers, the Band played God Save the Queen.
Sherburn Brass Band played at St Hilda’s Church annual Sunday School Summer Picnic which was usually held either in the Skedills field a mile south of the village or Bondills another field south of the high road and east of the East Beck. Children and adults would form a procession outside school and march behind the band to the picnic field where a fire would be blazing, kettles boiling and ladies of the church waiting to serve tea on a large cloth on the greensward. There were games and the band played for dancing on the grass. As darkness approached the children were re-assembled and given nuts or sweets before following the band back to the village. After three cheers for the vicar, all helpers and especially the band, everyone stood to attention and sang God Save the Queen before dispersing. On Wednesday 12 July 1893, the picnic was in Skedhills and rural genius John Brown built a roaring fire to boil kettles. John was a shoemaker who lived in a cottage near the Pigeon Pie. On this occasion, there were 60 children as well as teachers, bandsmen, parents, and friends, The Revd Richard and Ann Ellis were present as well as other prominent members of the community.
In August 1893 when the Duke of York married Princess May, Sherburn Brass Band played when required throughout the celebrations. James P Kirk, brewery owner, provided tea for children and widows and the wives of his employees. Afterwards practically the whole village attended sports in John Foster’s field where children competed for handkerchiefs, belts and other small useful articles. Adult results were: 100 yards: William Brown timepiece, John W Sewell teapot; Throwing cricket ball: Harry Beecroft pipe; Fred Atkinson clothes brush; 440 yards: Jonathan Currey timepiece, Herbert Clarke walking-stick. Women’s 50 yards: Mrs Henry Dawson lady’s belt, Mrs R Jackson half-pound of tea. Stone gathering: George Foxton picture frame, Henry R Laycock tea caddie. Bowling at wicket: John W Sewell cup, saucer and plate, James W Pinkney tobacco. Men’s high jump: Robert Brown (4 ft 7 ins) picture frame; Samuel Pickering (4 ft 4 ins) pipe. Boys’ high jump: Arthur Hick, Henry R Laycock, Harold Duggleby, Guy V Laycock. 200 yards farm servants: Henry Clarke timepiece, T Edmundson cricket bat. Baby Show: Mrs Fanny Stones’ baby, Mrs Hayhurst’s, Mrs Jane Calam’s, Mrs Reeveley’s. 130 yards hurdle: Harry Beecroft case of spoons, Robert Brown teapot. Mile cycle: John T Hick timepiece, William Brown case of spoons. Smoking match: R Hill tobacco, W Hall pipe. 440 yards walking: Henry Winter silk handkerchief, A Johnston tea caddie. Three-legged: G White/H Monkman, John Clarkson/Harry Stones. Quoit match: T Edmundson silk handkerchief, George Hugill belt. Anthony Sawkill was secretary, William Puckering and David Shepherd collectors and James Kirk and Robert Brown were judges.
A band was always present throughout the annual June Feast Day when the Court Langley No 784 of the Ancient Order of Foresters Friendly Society celebrated their anniversary. Sherburn’s Society was formed in l839 and gave financial support to labourers and their families in difficult times, like sickness and death. Leading members of the community were appointed officers and Sherburn’s membership sometimes reached 200. The Court opened at 9 o’clock at The East Riding Hotel for the initiation of new members and other business, then afterwards officers and members formed a procession and headed by the Foresters splendid banner and a band, marched to St Hilda’s Church for a special service. The Rev John Mason who was vicar from 1834-1873 led the service in June 1839. Afterwards, the procession re-formed and marched through St Hilda’s Street, turning west along High Street to the Brewery where glasses of Sherburn ale were enjoyed as the band played merrily. The procession re-formed and marched back to the pub for lunch. In the evening, the procession paraded the village stopping at Roseville the doctor’s home on High Street, the Vicarage, several farms, but especially at Manor Farm and Springfield Farm, where more refreshments were consumed. Before the formation of Sherburn Brass Band in 1880, bands who led the June Club Feast processions included Scarbro Operatic Brass Band, Nafferton Saxe Horn and Quadrille Band, Langtoft Brass Band, Ayton Brass Band and Gibson’s Malton Brass Band. Usually, there were stalls, round-a-bouts, coconut stands, and other attractions including children’s sports and adult sports in the evening.
In July 1894 Sherburn Brass Band headed a procession of children, teachers and parents belonging to the Wesleyan Chapel and Primitive Methodist Chapel Sunday Schools when they marched to Weaverthorpe Station to catch the Scarborough train. The party spent time on the sands, visited places of interest, had tea in the Eastbrough Chapel school room then after more sightseeing, caught the 7 pm train back home singing all the way. The Band was already waiting at Weaverthorpe Station to head the procession and march them back to the village.
The village band was also called upon to play at family celebrations and was present on 16th June 1894 when Hannah Winter of Springfield Farm married John W Fewster of Windlebeck Ganton. Long before the ceremony began, friends from Sherburn, Ganton and the surrounding district, began gathering at the Lytch Gate to greet the bride as she arrived with her father Thomas Winter. She wore an elegant dress of cream silk and was attended by her two sisters. The bridegroom’s brother William Fewster was best man and the Rev Richard Ellis assisted by Rev H P Bainbridge (Ganton) conducted the ceremony. Afterwards, amid showers of rice, the bridal party returned by carriage to Springfield Farm for a reception. In the evening, the Band played lively tunes at intervals throughout children’s and adult sports held in one of Thomas’s fields.
The talents of Sherburn’s musicians provided lively entertainment at a concert one Monday evening in November 1899, in aid of funds for the Wesleyan Chapel Sunday School. Rev Joseph German Wheatcroft Brown superintendent minister from 1899-1902, was chairman and G Roberts, Ganton, played the piano kindly lent by James B Heath, John T Hick a skilled violinist, supplied plants to decorate the platform. Sixteen year old Sydney Richard Duggleby and his younger sister Flora Emeline played a duet Sultan’s Grand March on pianoforte and Flora also played two piano solos Tres Charmante and Happy Darkies. Clara Sawkill gave two violin solos Voice of the Father and Whisper and I Shall Hear. John T Hick and Frederick Hick played the violin duet Men of Harlech. Other songs included The King’s Own, Sally in our Alley by Mr Roberts; I didn’t want to play in Your Yard and The Swiss Toy Girl by Miss Currey, Off to Philadelphia by Mr Heath, Just a little Sunshine by Miss Seller; Robin Adaire by Mr Seller; a duet Yoeman’s Wedding by Miss Gray and Mr Heath and a reading Nottman the Engine Driver by Anthony Sawkill.
The Heaths were well known for their love of music. James Bell Heath’s father, Joseph was a master butcher who came from Melton Ross, Lincolnshire, to Sherburn possibly during the 1870’s. By the turn of the century James and his wife Ada with their children Ainsworth, Arthur Herbert, Amy Gertrude, James Ernest and Olive Mary were living in a five-roomed house in St Hilda’s Street. The Hick family were also known for their musical talents. John Thomas Hick and his younger brother Frederick were the children of John and Henrietta Hick of The Apiary, Water Lane, John Thomas was a joiner and cycle agent and Frederick a tailor.
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