Rushden Echo, 9th September 1910, transcribed by Peter Brown
Rushden Mission Silver band paid a visit to the Fuller Mission at Kettering on Sunday, travelling by motor. Besides open-air services, the Rushden bandsmen conducted the service in the Mission Hall at night. A mandolin solo was given by Miss Rosie Holmes.
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Rushden Echo, February 1914
Band Anniversary at Rushden
The Rev. R. Shorten Among His Old Friends
In connection with the 16th anniversary of the Rushden Mission Band, a tea was held in the Wellingborough-road Mission Hall, Rushden, on Saturday, upwards of 120 sitting down to the tables. The arrangements were made by the bandsmen.
A musical evening with speeches followed. Mr. Fred Knight, J.P., presided over a fair attendance. There were also present the Revs. R. Shorten (Bradford) and C. J. Keeler, the former and present pastors of the High-street Independent Wesleyan Church, Councillor J. S. Clipson, and other officers of the Mission.
Mr. Knight spoke of the town's indebtedness to the Mission Band for very willing services rendered to various causes.
Mr. Shorten said he was pleased to pay another visit to his old friends at Rushden, and he looked forward to a very enjoyable time during the week-end.
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Rushden Echo, 27th June 1919, transcribed by Kay Collins
The Mission Band gave a much appreciated concert in Spencer Park on Sunday evening. Mr. Fred Robinson efficiently conducting. There was a large number of people present. The following items were rendered in excellent style: March, The Bombardier; selections, Pilgrim's Song of Hope, Sons of the Sea, and The Lord's Day; hymn, Rimington.
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Rushden Echo and Argus, May 3rd 1946, transcribed by Kay Collins
Mission Band Re-Appears
After three years of inactivity, due to 28 members going on war service, Rushden Mission Band recommenced concert engagements on Sunday afternoon, when a programme was given from the stand at Rushden Hall.
All but six members are now demobilised, and Mr Maurice F Clark, who conducted has recently returned from Army service on the Gold coast of West Africa. An augmented band followed the old custom of introducing a hymn tune and other numbers included a selection from “The Student Prince” and a fantasia on Kentucky Minstrel melodies.
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The Rushden Echo and Argus, 23rd November 1951, transcribed by Gill Hollis
Mission Band is 10 Men Short - Halt to Public Work
After many years of struggle to keep the spirit of Rushden Mission Band alive, it has been decided that owing to the depleted number of playing members, the band will be unable to make any public appearances for the present. Unless more members can be encouraged to join, it is likely that the few remaining players will be leaving for other bands.
During the last war the band carried on with whatever few members they could muster, and their present playing strength is only 14. They need a minimum of 24 players, but a final decision will be withheld until the 55th anniversary of the band’s formation in February next.
The idea of a new band in Rushden in 1897 followed the “break-up” of the Salvation Army Band. A group of 15 players first purchased the “Tin Tabernacle” in Station Road and the band was given the name “Mission,” and later, the “Rushden Independent Wesleyan Mission Band.”
As the work of the church and band increased, the present Mission Hall in Wellingborough Road came to be purchased in July 1901, at a cost of £2,500. The band flourished, and on Sunday winter evenings the members would assemble in the open air for concerts. They were only able to see their music copies by a homemade carbide gas-producer lamp, invented by Bandsman A. Simpson.
Uniforms Bought
After some years the bandsmen purchased their own uniforms and they held their first out-of-town weekend engagement at Rothwell in February, 1910. .Other invitations soon followed and once they were pelted with lump sugar by students at Cambridge who were ‘doing a rag.’
The years from 1910-14 were of a routine nature. There were Sunday open-air services and occasional out-of-town visits and concerts in the Council Field. The personnel of the band frequently changed, but about 16 “old faithfuls” still remained.
During the First World War the band was kept in existence only by the loyalty of older members and the recruitment of young boys from the Sunday school, in particular Denis Young and Maurice Clark, who through their keenness rose to the solo cornet position at a very early age. Mr. Clark is the present conductor.
Recruiting
This recruiting campaign produced a new band combination and their work continued through the years with concerts and various engagements.
In 1931 the band won Section 7 of the September Crystal Palace Contest, and this was followed by a series of other competition successes, the climax being reached when the band passed a B.B.C. audition. The band gave its last B.B.C. programme on August 3rd 1939, when it had 28 players.
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Article taken from The Evening Telegraph c 1961
Maurice plays a final session
One of Rushden's best known cornet players, Mr Maurice Clark, has retired after 57 years with the town's Mission Band.
Mr Clark, the band's conductor for more than thirty years, was presented with a woodwork tool and a record token by the members of the band at their band practice last week.
The presentation was made by the Rev John Goulder, who praised Mr Clark's hard work and effort on behalf of the band during the last half century.
Born and bred in Rushden, Mr Clark now lives in Wymington Road.
Palace
He joined the band at 13 and apart from service during the wars has been a constant member. At various times in his career with the band he has been both bandmaster and conductor.
His most successful time with the band was during the inter-war years, when as conductor he took them to success in national competitions at the Crystal Palace.
A shoeworker all his life, Mr Clark retired as the clicking room foreman at Jaques and Clark, Rushden two years ago.
Although he has had to retire from the band because of ill health, it does not mean the end of the Clark's in Rushden Mission Band. His brother Ray plays tombone and Maurice's son David now plays cornet with the band, and they intend to continue the family tradition.
Article taken from Northamptonshire Advertiser, Friday September13, 1963 transcribed by Karon Watson.
Rushden Band In Top Form
Rushden Mission Band who are the county champions in their section for this year, were on top of their form when they gave a concert in Irthlingborough Civic Hall for Care Committee funds.
The guest conductor was Mr. Ernest.W.Denton, a member of Rushden Temperance Band, and the chairman was Mr. F. Dunmore, of Irchester.
Mr. Colin Clarke,(accompanied by Mr Freddie Langley at the piano) a member of Rushden Operatic Society as well as being a band member was the soloist, and his fine singing of operatic numbers delighted the large audience. The trombone solist Mr H.Underwood was also well received, the audience calling for encores.
The band's programme was of light popular pieces to suit all tastes, starting with the march "Joy of Youth" by S.B.Wood, and followed by one of the band's test pieces,a fantasia called "Holiday Sketches" by Drake Rimmer.Lighter numbers included "76 Trombones" and "In a Monastery Garden".
The band's own conductor Mr. Maurice Clark received an ovation when he took over the baton to conduct the band in a novelty number "Teddy Bears Picnic". A vote of thanks was given by the Care Committee chairman
Mr. T. Cleaver.
This was the first concert to be given in in the Civic Hall since the opening , and it proved to be the ideal place.
Mr. Clark said that he was delighted with the hall, and it had been a pleasure to play there.
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Article taken from The Post Thursday April 9th 1987 transcribed by Karon Rice
Top brass Look for bandsmen
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New Look - left to right Albert Undewood (75),
bandmaster Ray Clark (73) and 14 year old Simon Young.
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Rushden Mission Brass Band has struck a high fashion note with the unveiling of brand new uniforms. Buttons and brass are now sparkling as members proudly parade their kit.
Band conductor Raymond Clark, who has been a member for 63 years, told the Post: "Our old uniforms had been in use for 20 years. During that period many people came and went, and a lot of uniforms didn't fit."
The band was formed 90 years ago and play for local charities and garden fetes.
"Although we don't charge a fee," said Mr Clark, "people are very generous with their donations and that's how we bought our uniforms."
All 28 members aged from 14 - 74, can now slip comfortably into their new gear and burst forth into melody without fear of bursting out of their uniform.
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