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A band of twelve tambourines was one of the first ventures of the Rushden Salvation Army Corps, which is to celebrate its Diamond Jubilee during the first ten days of January.
The celebration is already overdue, for it was on November 3rd, 1883, that the band of the Wellingborough Corps, with Capt. Reynolds and Lt. Stanway, came over to Rushden and “opened fire.” On that date Rushden’s first Salvation Army meeting was held in the Coffee Tavern Hall.
Lt. Fleet was soon appointed as the first commanding officer in the town, and for some time the choice of meeting place rested between the Coffee Tavern Hall, the B.W.T.A. Hall and the Seventh Day Adventists’ hall in North-street – whichever happened to be vacant.
In the same year Capt. Broadberry and his wife Sally took charge. They were the officers who organised the first band of 12 tambourines, and during their stay in the town the brass band was formed – a tiny ensemble of five players. Only survivor of the five is Mr. Partridge, of Newton-road; the others were “Doctor” Griggs and Messrs. Rockingham, Cox and Bandey.
Citadel Opened
The present citadel in Queen-street was opened in 1887, when Capt. Bellamy and Lt. Spick were the local officers. Major Kildrie, the Divisional Commander, and Major Compton, of the Property Department, took part in the ceremony.
In 1896 two members of the Rushden Corps went into training for officership. They were Mr. and Mrs. Edmunds, and Mr. Edmunds had been employed at Messrs. Cave and Sons’ boot factory. To-day Mr. Edmunds holds the rank of Lt.-Colonel and is in charge of the Army’s Public Relations Department. He and his wife have promised to take part in the jubilee meetings.
The first wedding at the citadel took place in 1899, the bridegroom being the commanding officer at that time, Adjt. Beaumont. In 1900 Bro. Tiner, who is now Brigadier in charge of the Army’s work in Jamaica, went into training from Rushden.
Other officers supplied by the town have included Capt. Winters and the late Lt. Gertrude Cocksedge, who was killed during an air raid on London at the end of 1940.
Great Occasions
In 1928, during the stay of Adjt. Ozanne, the late treasurer of the Corps, Mr. George Bayes, publicly presented the deeds of the officers’ quarters to the Army, and the documents were received by British Commissioner Hurren.
Great occasions for the musical forces of the Corps came in 1935, when the Songster Brigade took a solo role at the Army’s annual festival at Congress Hall, London, and in the following year, when the band was heard as a solo band in the annual Queen’s Hall festival.
The late Mr. George Bayes played a great part in building up the prestige of the Corps, and over a long period of years held a number of offices, including those of treasurer and Young People’s Sergeant Major. Another to whom the Corps has owed much is Mrs. W. Bull, who has been prominent in the young people’s work and is still the leader of the Band of Love.
Band’s Progress
On the musical side Bandmaster H. Giles served faithfully for many years and has been succeeded by his son, Bandmaster William Giles. Though not always of the same calibre, the band has lately been regarded as an excellent one for both service and concert purposes, and its progress during the last 15 years has been very striking. The Songsters, under Songster Leader W. A. Scholes, have won much appreciation.
The Corps is now led my Major and Mrs. S. Richardson, and other positions are held by Corps Sgt.-Major A Green, Corps Secretary E. Denton (serving in the Royal Navy), Corps Treasurer S. Hill and Young People’s Sgt.-Major W. Vincent.
The Kettering band will assist in the coming rejoicings, and other visitors are to include Brigadier and Mrs. F. L. Coutts and family.
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