Regent Hall Corps Songsters
From Sawiki
History Of The Songsters
Early Days
A few years after the opening of the Regent Hall Corps, the first songster brigade was formed, known then as a choir. Bandsman Charlie Dawes was the leader, and Sister Knight and Sister Nellie MacKay were the soloists. Bandsman Dawes left London and in 1889 Bandsman Herbert W. Twitchin became the leader of the choir. Among the first singers were the five Roeder sisters (one of whom, Mrs. R. Merrick, was YPSM Lily Crooks's mother) and Sergeant Lizzie Clarke who became Mrs. H. W.Twitchin.
In 1903 songster brigades became officially recognized and the deputy bandmaster became the songster leader as well, a position he held from April 1903 until December 1929. During this time the songster practice was held on the same night as the band practice and was, of necessity, fairly short. Therefore it was impossible to spend much time on festival pieces, and Gems for Songsters Nos. 1 and 2, were most popular. The songsters frequently used such items as 'Joy Bells' and 'Peace be still'. At this period the songster sergeant was Alice Chapman, who was succeeded by Songster Mrs. Alice (Nance) Home who was commissioned on 11th July 1929, and who is well remembered for leading the Sunday evening open-air meeting at Bird Street (Oxford Street) with the whole songster brigade on duty. Each songster was expected to take part by stepping into the ring to give a Bible quotation. This was a way of encouraging the songsters to read their Bible often, because they needed a plentiful supply of texts.
Songster Leader S Holden Beaumonty (1938-1939)
Bandsman S. Holden Beaumont was appointed leader in October 1938, making an immediate spiritual and musical impact on the brigade. It was therefore a great shock and tremendous loss to the Regent Hall Corps and the songster brigade in particular, when after a very short illness, Songster Leader Beaumont was Promoted to Glory in January 1939.
Songster Leader Samuel Cooper (1939-1944)
That was just two weeks before the songsters were to appear as solo brigade at a national festival at the Clapton Congress Hall. Major Saywell, at that time secretary for bands and songsters, conducted saddened brigade in the anthem 'Send out Thy Light', even find time to take a last-minute rehearsal in a side room before the festival After three months Samuel Hooper became the new songster leader and, despite periods of ill health, continued until 1944. His acting deputy, Harry Holmes, conducted the brigade in his extensive absences. Secretary Dora Nelson gave more than 20 years of efficient service before her retirement to Eastbourne.
=Songster Leader Ernest Cowlin (1945-) Bandsman Ernest Cowlin was commissioned songster leader on 5th February 1945 and worked extremely hard with the brigade until his retirement in 1952. He was a very sincere leader, and songsters who sang under his leadership tell of seeing tears in his eyes when the songsters sang such pieces as "Wonderful Healer", "Be still and know the Christ" and "The Christ of the human road".
About this time Songster Elsie Medhurst became the songster organist until 1974. Elsie, as she is known to all, served as songster organist to Songster Leader Cowlin, then Ron Nunn, George Crooks, Michael Babb and, for a time, Elgar Gambling.
Songster Leader Ron Nunn (....)
Bandsman Ron Nunn became songster leader on the retirement of Ernie Cowlin. Ron Nunn spoke highly of the work and help Elsie gave to the brigade in his time as songster leader. He felt quite confident in putting any music in front of her and could rely on her being able to play it at sight. He also spoke of her cheerful ability to "keep going" despite emergencies that occurred, as happened one Sunday when one note on the pedal organ stuck and whatever she played this one note came through! On another occasion the organ collapsed on her while she was playing it, but throughout Elsie remained cheerful.
It was through the leadership of Songster Leader Nunn that the songster brigade purchased their first electric organ. Donations and special festivals raised the money. Songster Leader Nunn organized a special festival for the presentation of the organ, which was attended by a capacity crowd.
In the Sunday morning holiness meeting the songsters sang "None of self" and in the evening salvation meeting "And can it be". Colonel Rance felt that these two songs made a great contribution to the meetings and several weeks later the songsters received an invitation to make recording s for the Christian Broadcast Association. Each week for several months the songsters went to recording studios in Victoria to sing well-known songs, to pray and give testimonies, to be broadcast each week, mainly on the overseas networks.
This was a demanding time in the songsters' history because the songs had to be prepared each week in rehearsal, as well as the songs we were planning to use in the Sunday meetings.
Then one evening a week was spent in the recording studios. As well as the well-known songs we recorded there was also personal testimony, prayers and scripture readings. Songster Doreen Dalton, on being asked to read a prayer for recording said she preferred to pray with her eyes closed and pray from the heart! This was the spirit of these months of extra opportunity to witness for the Lord and Master.
Songster Leader George Crooks (1958-1963)
After Songster Leader Nunn resigned the leadership, Deputy Bandmaster C. Skinner conducted the songsters for many months until Bandsman George Crooks was commissioned songster leader on 2nd February 1958.
This was a particularly difficult time in the corps' history and so, naturally in the songster brigade's history as well. There was major re-construction of the Regent Hall premises and this necessitated vacating building for almost a year. The Sunday meetings were held in the Regent Street Polytechnic Annex and the songster practices were held each week in the Kings Weigh-house Chapel hall in Binney Street.
During this time the songsters made many visits to Salvation Army Social Services' homes for men and women, eventide homes and children's homes. As well as singing carols at Christmas-time, the songsters gave sweets and clothing and tried to convey the true meaning of Christmas. Songster Leader Crooks resigned in early 1963 after the brigade had achieved much.
Songster Leader Micheal Babb (1963-1970)
Bandsman Michael Babb was commissioned songster leader in April 1963 and at the same time David Sewell was appointed his deputy. Michael Babb, as a well-known composer of Salvation Army music, maintained a very high standard of musicianship. During his leadership the brigade undertook several fruitful weekend campaigns in the British Isles. During the early 1960s the National Songster Brigade was inaugurated at the Regent Hall and our corps songster brigade con-tributed by supplying four songsters to the splendid new brigade: Veronica Cuthbert, Mary Edge, Patricia Holmes and Gillian Denham. Verronica, Mary and Patricia were all soloists with the national songsters, and Gillian the elocutionist. Songster Leader Babb willingly released these songsters to fulfil their services with the national songsters.
One of the outstanding occasions of the leadership of Michael Babb was when the Regent Hall Songsters were invited to be a solo brigade at the Fairfield Halls for the songster leaders' councils festival. The songsters sang 'The wonder of His grace', which brought great blessing to those who heard them sing and also those privileged to sing.
Songster Leader Elgar Gambling (1970-1981)
Songster Leader Babb resigned in 1970 and was followed by Elgar Gambling. Under the leadership of Songster Leader Gambling the songster brigade grew greatly in numbers and continued to undertake engagements for the Lord. One of the invitations extended to the brigade under the leadership of Elgar Gambling is to annually represent The Salvation Army in the 'Sir Malcolm Sargent Cancer Fund for Children' MESSIAH evening at the Royal Albert Hall. Nationally famed soloists, orchestras and conductors give their services free of charge for this very worthy cause and the Regent Hall Songsters represent The Salvation Army in the chorus of 500, attending in their uniforms, a wonderful opportunity for witness amongst all the evening dress.
During his time as songster leader Elgar Gambling was invited to become the soloist for the International Staff Band, where his beautiful tenor voice has brought much blessing both in the UK and overseas.
In 1980 the International Staff Songsters were formed and Deputy Songster Leader David Sewell and Songster Stella Gambling became members of this outstanding brigade. Early in 1981 Songster Leader Gambling announced his retirement and now offers full support to the brigade as retired songster leader and has become a valued member of the tenor section.
Songster Leader David Sewell (1981-1990)
Deputy Songster Leader David Sewell was commissioned in June 1981 as the songster leader, with Songster John Lovatt deputy leader, and the songsters enter the second century looking forward to con-tinuing the many opportunities to witness in song for the Lord under his leadership.
Recent Leaders
David Sewell relinquished his position as songster leader in 1990 and from then to the present date, the brigade has seen a number of leaders which have included, Stella Gambling, Brian Willetts, Roger Coates, and Rachel Padfield. It was during the leadership of Brian Willetts in 1993 that the Regent Hall Songsters commissioned their first recording, with the CD, "Love was when".
Today as we enter a new millennium in time the Regent Hall Songsters' know that their work and ministry is as important as ever. The songsters believe that as long as "there are people hurting in the world out there, who need you, who need me, who need Christ", they will continue to deliver the message of God's love to all whom they minister to.
Mary Elliott was commissioned as Songster Leader in September 1999 and currently leads the Regent Hall Songsters. Prior to her taking on the responsibility of the songsters, Mary served as songster pianist and is still a valued member of the International Staff Songsters. The newest person to join the leadership team of the songsters is Vivienne Whitehead who was appointed as songster secretary on 23rd April 2000.
