Regent Hall Corps Band

From Sawiki

Band History

Without foundations laid by the staunch early-day Salvationists, there would be no Regent Hall Band - or Corps. Trumpeter Sheard had the job of establishing the Band. In 1883 he handed over to the first "permanent" Bandmaster, Louis Blowers who led the band over the crucial early years and indeed for a total of 26 years up to 1909. There is ample scope for detailed research into just what these years witnessed of the work of the Corps and the band in this part of London. The work must have been enormous, and effective. A tremendous legacy was created for the next Bandmaster, the legendary Herbert Twitchin. A photograph of the Band in 1914 includes 47 bandsmen, including seven bass players! In 1929 a photograph shows a band of 54, with eight bass players!

When the Regent Hall Corps opened in 1882, Herbert Twitchin was a boy of eight years of age and he became fired with enthusiasm to play the cornet like Trumpeter Sheard. He did just that, becoming world renowned as a cornet soloist. He served as deputy bandmaster for 12 years before taking over the baton from Bandmaster Blowers in 1909, a position he held for 37 years. His leadership and example was recognised in 1939 with the award of the Order of the Founder and in 1946 with the award of the MBE.

Programme notes from this inter-war period make fascinating reading, detailing some of the memorable events involving the Band. Who for instance now remembers the "disastrous London floods" of January 1928? "The band marched several miles and spent the whole afternoon in the flooded area cheering the distressed sufferers with music. Working in conjunction with the Police, the band marched its way through the huge crowds of sightseers to the Page Street and Grosvenor Road district where the floods had made great havoc. On the march down through Regent Street, Haymarket, Whitehall, etc., the collectors were busy and the sum of £128 was obtained for the relief fund".

There are records of the band's visits to Buckingham Palace, of taking a "prominent part in the first religious service to take place at the Cenotaph, Whitehall in 1919" - a tribute which has taken place every year since then with the march of the Corps to the Cenotaph on Remembrance Sunday. The honour of leading the procession at the late Mrs. General Booth's funeral in 1890, and taking part in the funeral of the Founder in 1912, and of General Bramwell Booth in 1929 - all recorded in notes dating from 1936. They also record visits to places as far apart as Penzance and Aberdeen, a 10 day motor tour in August 1924 in the West of England, and a 10 day tour in Holland in 1936. Imagine the time taken to travel to some of these places. Transport often relied on the lorries owned by Drings, the sausage manufacturer for which Herbert Twitchin worked!

The Second World War had a very similar impact on the Regent Hall Corps and the Band as it did in the First World War. Bandsmen were called up to serve in the military, and the Band became a temporary home for a succession of Salvationists serving in the military in the London area. In fact in 1917, 28 Regent Hall Bandsmen were recorded as serving in a wide range of regiments and in the Royal Flying Corps. During that war the band "was in great demand amongst the Military Hospitals and Convalescent Homes, and in marching Troops across London from and to Railway Stations, when departing overseas, on one occasion doing this while an Air Raid was in progress."

Herbert Twitchin served as bandmaster until 1947 - a period of unbroken service in the Corps stretching back to its very beginning. So there was a period of change. Men returned from their military war service and new faces appeared. Charles Skinner (later Lt. Col.) was appointed bandmaster and held the position with distinction until 1951 when he was succeeded by Ken Cooke. There followed a successful period for the band under his leadership. One of the features of the band at this time was the formation of the Rink male voice party (see picture) led by Will Holmes, an influential figure in the Corps. On the picture can be seen two bandsmen who are still active in the Corps - retired Bandmaster Eric Rapp and retired Songster Leader Ken Edwards. The male voice party was an independent group that conducted its own "specialing" engagements and its unique brand of evangelism around the country.

Ken Cooke moved away to a teaching job in Thanet and was succeeded briefly by Bandmaster Thomas Attiwell from 1959 to 1960. The baton was then passed to Eric Rapp, who had served as young people's bandleader since 1951. During that time the young people's band achieved very high standards and played "solo" at the Royal Albert Hall. Eric had transferred to the Regent Hall in 1939 and after service in the Royal Air Force during the War resumed his place in the senior band, becoming principal cornetist.

Bandmaster Eric Rapp led the Band into its Centenary Year in 1982. The high standards of commitment, Christian endeavour, and musical achievement had been maintained for a hundred years. During his 22 year period of leadership the band kept up its busy schedule of Sunday activities and special engagements. These included radio and television appearances, tours of Scotland and Finland and numerous weekend engagements around the country. The culmination of this period was the Centenary Anniversary Festival in Westminster Abbey on 12th June 1982. The Chalk Farm Band partnered the Regent Hall Band - a fitting recognition of mutual support over many years. Ilford Band also took part, as well as the Regent Hall Songsters and a chorus made up of six other songster brigades. The band played music specially composed by Eric Ball and Major Leslie Condon, the latter having written an "Antiphony" for four cornets placed at distant points around the Abbey. This marked the start of the Festival and (at least for the players!) was an exhilarating moment. It was unforgettable to play "The Present Age" in this setting under Les Condon's direction. "To serve the present age, My calling to fulfil. O may it all my powers engage, To do my Master's will". We were being given our mission statement for the next hundred years.

Later that year Eric Rapp retired from the position of Bandmaster and immediately rejoined the cornet bench - so no real retirement! And in fact Eric is currently the principal first cornet player in the Band.

Eric was succeeded by Geoff Nunn, who had been the Young People's Bandleader. Geoff was the son of Ron Nunn who had been Deputy Bandmaster to Eric for many years. Geoff held the position of Bandmaster until 1986, once again maintaining the busy schedule of activity that characterises the Band. Successful visits were made to other Corps and opportunities to take the band abroad started to open up. There was a fascinating day trip to support the work of the Salvation Army in Calais, including a horrendous return journey on the hovercraft! And an extended weekend visit to Lille, notable for the Band's successful renditions of the chorus "He lives!" in French.

There was a brief interregnum during which the Band was led by Bandmaster Eric Rapp. This included the wonderful visit to Rome at Easter 1987 for the Italian Centenary, accompanying General Eva Burrows. The enthusiasm of the Italian Salvationists and their commitment amidst great difficulties and opposition was inspiring. The most memorable event was the open-air meeting and march to the American Church on the Sunday evening. No open-air meeting had taken place in central Rome for many, many years. The interest and the crowds were enormous. Marching to the Church the streets were lined with cheering people, and people were leaning out of the windows of the tall buildings as we passed, to wave and cheer. The Italian Salvationists were overwhelmed. There was hardly a dry eye amongst us.

When we reached the American Church it was packed, and the band gave its programme with people standing around the walls. Elgar Gambling sang "Down from his glory" to the tune "O sole mio" in Italian!! - a knock out! Timing did not seem to be a precise art on this day. We must have reached the Church very late, because it was about 11.30 at night when Ken Bonsor-Ward stood up to play his solo! It was a wonderful day, and a wonderful climax playing William Himes' "To the Chief Musician".

After the summer in 1987 Bandmaster Peter Graham was appointed, following his return from working for the Salvation Army in New York. It was a privilege having a composer and arranger of Peter's capability in this position and the Band quickly had to learn styles of music that were new to some of the players! Peter introduced the multi-media style of presentation with his "London Celebration" arrangement and slide show of London life. His new approach to programming and the use of new techniques is something that has subsequently been developed more and more by the band. At Christmas/New Year 1990/1991 the Band made its first visit to the United States of America. The focus for this was the Band's participation in the Pasadena Tournament of Roses parade. This was a most memorable event and the tour as a whole was very successful. (A separate section will be developed on this tour.)

Peter moved away to work in Manchester early in 1991, and Deputy Bandmaster Richard Stock took charge of the Band until David Daws was appointed Bandmaster in 1992. David served in this position until 1993, when he decided to concentrate on his cornet playing in his demanding role as principal cornetist with the International Staff Band. His example and practical leadership were greatly valued during this period. Again Richard Stock led the Band until Stephen Hanover was appointed to the Bandmaster position in 1994.

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