EDWIN FIRTH - A TRIBUTE PAGE
A PDF History of Edwin Firth's Life is available at the end of the Page. Click on the Picture to Down Load.
ABOVE PICTURES of Edwin Firth's Life in Various Bands, Soloist, In the Army and His Family. Many thanks to all who supplied picture especially Stephanie Carter (Earby Band Historian) and Squire Firth.
For the names of bands and some pictures, download the PDF File of Edwin's History at the bottom of the page.
For the names of bands and some pictures, download the PDF File of Edwin's History at the bottom of the page.
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EDWIN FIRTH Biography.
(.b. 23 Dec 1888 .D. 1 June 1918)
Born on the 23 December 1888 Edwin was the eldest of 11 children to Squire and Clara Firth.
Edwin’s grandfather was Greenwood Firth a solo trombone player with the Black Dyke Band from 1855 to 1879 which also had Edwin’s father Squire Firth in the band world with Black Dyke as a cornet player and later a band trainer and professional coach.
Squire Firth was born in Queensbury, Bradford in 1865 and he alone moved to Earby in 1885 where he was to meet his future wife Clara Wright.
Edwin’s mother was called Clara Wright the daughter of William and Margaret Wright of Schoolfields, Earby, one of seven daughters (Mary J, Elizabeth E, Sarah A, Grace, CLARA, Kezia and Eleanor Wright) and two sons (Alfred and Fred Wright).
Squire Firth and Clara Wright married on the 6 February 1886 and moved to Lindley. Very soon their first child Alice Firth was born. Alice later married James Lindley the son of the Earby Schoolmaster.
Edwin was born in Clara’s Parents home at Schoolfields, Earby in 1888 the usual practice before the NHS as children felt safer having their babies with their mother nearby.
As a youngster Edwin was taught to play the cornet by his father and was also an accomplished singer with the local Parish Church choir in Bradford.
In 1889 the family moved from Lindley to Skipton and Squire Firth was soon enrolled in the Army but was in for less than a year as in 1890 Squire Firth became the landlord of the Wheatsheaf Inn in the High Street, Skipton (In 1908, the Inn closed and was demolished. A Halifax Building Society is now on the site).
In 1892 Squire Firth started conducting the Skipton Old Prize Band with their headquarters moving from the ‘Cock and Bottle’ Public House to his own ‘Wheatsheaf’.
In 1896 Squire Firth took over the Leeds City Band along with guest conducting about 20 other bands and the family including six children moved to Bradford.
In 1899 Squire Firth returned to run the “Wheatsheaf” public house in Skipton as well as running the ‘Skipton Old Prize Band’ again this time with Edwin Firth joining his father who was conducting at the time.
1901 was the year Squire Firth formed the “Skipton Permanent Orchestra” but was also a year of sadness as his and Clara’s daughter Beatrice died at the age of 11 at “Schoolfields” in Earby the home of Edwin’s Grandparents William and Margaret Wright along with their daughter Eleanor Wright / Pickles (.b. 1873 Sister of Clara born in Earby) and her husband Walter Pickles (.b. 1872 in Thornton) with their son Norman W Pickles (.b. 1897 in Earby). The 1901 Census shows Beatrice as a visitor to the house where she stayed until her untimely death with Eleanor, Walter and Norman also visiting the house at this time as according to relatives they lived nearby during this time and not at Schoolfields.
In 1902 Edwin made his debut at the Crystal Palace Competition as a thirteen-year-old Principal Cornet Player and the band came 3rd.
When the family moved to Earby in 1904, Edwin played for Barnsaldswick and Earby bands as well as playing for other bands as a guest soloist. Money from these guest appearances allowed Edwin to get professional tuition and hired Alexander Owen and William Rimmer to help with his playing. This helped his technique and soon his reputation soared.
In 1904 Squire and Clara Firth purchased the properties 4 to 8 Victoria Road, Earby from William Wright, Clara’s father and moved the family into number 8 with eight of their children.
Later Squire Firth let number 6 Victoria Road to a bank with his daughter’s Edith and Pattie (Martha) ran two running two ladies and children’s wear shops at 4 and 8 (After 1920) Victoria Road.
Today there are still a number of shops in the row of buildings.
In 1904, Edwin won his first significant contest in adult company at Bradford. With this success came engagements all over the area including a week at the Rochdale Circus and Hippodrome where he was billed as “Master Edwin Firth – Champion Boy Cornetist, Prize Winner and Gold medallist – a Musical marvel”. At Mexbrough he was billed as “Edwin Firth – Prize Cornet Soloist and Trumpet virtuoso”.
Edwin was in constant demand as a soloist and played with over 50 bands including “Brighouse and Rastrick”, “Black Dyke Band”, “Wingate’s Temperance” and in 1906 Edwin played Solo Cornet with the “Barnoldswick” at Crystal Palace when the band came 2nd in the competition with his father Square Firth conducting.
So popular was Edwin that “Fan’s” would wait outside 8 Victoria Road, Earby to hear him practice. A story from this time tells us that when he was ill his supporters spread straw on the road outside his house to deaden the noise from the horses and carts passing by.
In 1908, he attended the contest at the “Shoulder of Mutton Inn” at Mytholmroyd where he competed against 24 of the finest players in the country. Edwin came first winning 25 shillings but more significant were the players he beat into second and third place as they like Edwin would become members of Fodens Band. Second was Fred Mortimer from Hebden Bridge and third was Arthur Webb of Houghton Main. No one could have predicted how these three would have gone on to play such an important part of the history of the Sandbach band.
In 1908, a contest at Hanley, Stoke on Trent was attended by Edwin Firth and the players were watched by Edwin Foden and the scouting directors for the Fodens Motor Works Band who had already decided to offer the young player the job of Principal Cornet but needed to make sure. On listening to him playing “Fatherland” to perfection they were then in no doubt that they should offer him the position.
On the 23rd December 1908, William Foden wrote to Edwin’s father to invite his son to join the band (Because he was 20 years old and considered a minor).
Dear Sir
We were over at the solo contest last Saturday at Hanley and were pleased at the way your son went through his piece.
We have a first-class band connected with the works and are open to take on another Solo Cornet player. It is our intention to attend all the principal contests during the next season and have arranged with William Rimmer to come over every fortnight to a rehearsal (he lived in Southport) and go with us to the contests. We have a large Engineering Works and have several branches of trade associated with it.
We do not know whether your son has any special trade but we can come to terms with you, we would do our best to put a good trade in his fingers which would, we think, be helpful to him in the future.
We shall be glad if you can arrange to come over and bring your son to a practice. We will then go fully into the matter with you.
William Foden
Director.
In 1909 Edwin joined the band full time, but instead of joining the Foden Works he continued training as a Watchmaker as well as being a freelance musician.
On the 22 October 1909 an agreement was made between Fodens Limited and Squire Firth and his son Edwin. The Contract gave him 10/6d plus expenses with a 15-shilling payment for every concert and contest. The money was more than Edwin’s brothers and sisters were earning at the time in the cotton mills of Earby.
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EDWIN FIRTH’S CONTRACT
It is hereby agreed that the aforementioned Edwin Firth shall be engaged by Fodens Limited as their Principal Solo Cornet player at a payment of ten shillings and six pence plus expenses for every rehearsal attended, and fifteen shillings plus expenses for every contest and engagement.
It is understood that Edwin shall attend one rehearsal a week during the two years, and also attended every Contest and engagement at which his services shall be required by Fodens Limited.
(This arrangement was extended from the 31 December 1909 to the 31 December 1911.)
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In Edwin Firth’s diary it showed that he attended two rehearsals a week as well as playing in front of Edwin Foden (Founder of the Band) who was too ill to attend rehearsals.
1910 was a great year for the band as they won the Double Championships with the first being on the 5 September at the “British Open Championships”, Belle Vue, Manchester for the Jennison Trophy, when they played the test piece “Acis and Galatea” by Handel beating the Shaw Band (W Halliwell) into second place and Perfection Soap Works Band (W Halliwell) into third with William Halliwell winning all three places.
Next was on the 1 October 1910 at the “National Brass Band Championships” at Crystal Palace, London with the competition piece “Gems of Schubert” arranged by William Rimmer.
William Halliwell lost second place this time round as Irwell Springs conducted by Alexander Owen took that place and Mr Halliwell came third with the Spencer’s Steel Works Band (W Halliwell).
Success came at a price for Edwin Foden as he had to pay out 5/- (5 Shillings) to each of the old people of Elworth as a reward for the support from the local community towards the band a promise he had made before the championships. Edwin Foden was in bad health at the time but had rallied enough to announce the 5-shilling donation and a free tea and evening celebration which would be arranged for when the band returned to the town.
The 1911 Census shows that Edwin Firth was lodging with Joiner, John Mellow (.b. 1855) his wife Charlotte Elizabeth Mellor (.b. 1848) and daughter Beatrice Mellor (.b. 1884) at 9 Elworth.
On the 5 January 1912, Sam Twemlow offered Edwin a new contract. The contract was sent to Edwin’s parent’s home in Victoria Road, Earby.
Dear Edwin
Regarding renewal of Agreement, we have talked the matter over but cannot arrive at any decision until we know more of what your ideas are. Would you care to come and work here, say in the offices? Or would you prefer to go on as you are, with us paying you more money?
If you would suggest something by letter to give us an idea of what your future intentions are, we could think the matter over and settle something with you at the next rehearsal.
If your father would care to come with you we shall be pleased to see him and pay his expenses.
Sam Twelmow (Director)
In the event Edwin decided that he would like to do a combination of a job at Fodens Offices, plus a small remuneration for playing with the band.
Harry Mortimer in his biography recited that Edwin Firth who had come to Fodens from Earby was at the time a bachelor and Edwin Foden decided it was time for his daughters and grand-daughters to get married and so he persuaded his new cornet player to get to know one of them and they eventually married (Actually it was Doris, the daughter of Sam Twemlow and Grand-daughter of Edwin). The same introduction greeted Harry Mortimer when he came to the band but he managed to evade capture.
In 1913 The British Bandsman decided to hold a competition to find the best new March. It was won by Edwin Firth with his composition “Westwood Ho”.
1913 was also the year Edwin recorded his first records with Fodens Band and also a solo 78 with “Cleopatra” and “Pandora” becoming one of the classic recordings of any solo artist of the time and the people of his home town Earby purchased many of the original pressings on its release in March 1914.
In 1914 the country went to war with Germany and many of the men at the works and in the band wanted to sign up to take part in the fight for good. Edwin who was by now aged 25 years old stayed at the works.
In October 1915, Edwin played at a concert in Crewe (Possibly the Town Hall) performing as a soloist along with Miss Lillian Coper of Crewe (Singer), E Gibson (Violin), G K Dickinson (Viola) and F Morris (Cello).
In 1916 Edwin married Edwin Foden’s grand-daughter Doris Twemlow (.b. Jan 1892 .D. 31 Dec 1991 the daughter of Sam Twemlow)
The family moved into Springfield, Sandbach and Doris or Mrs E Firth as she was named, joined the Sandbach Red Cross working party to raise funds for the Abbey Field Hospital (Middlewich Road, Sandbach) putting in 3 hours a week for two years until April 1918.
Three years after the start of the war in 1917 Edwin Firth finally decided to leave the band to join the 28th London Regiment (the Artists Rifles) as a Private (766890).
At first Edwin was allowed home at the weekends to play with the band and to see his wife.
In September 1917 the Chester Chronicle reported that Edwin Firth had been called by the Military to appear at Chester Castle to ask for an extension to his leave from the army as it would be awkward for Foden’s without their Chief Cornet player when they compete in the British Open at Belle Vue, Manchester on the 1 September when they unfortunately came sixth.
At the end of 1917 on another brief leave from his regiment, Edwin Firth had played at Chester Groves (11 Aug 1917), by the River. One of the tunes he played as an encore was “Goodbye” by Tosti, he thought that it would be appropriate. However, his fellow band members tried to talk him out of playing it as they saw this as a bad omen. How right they were.
In October 1917, Edwin played one of his last concerts at the Lyceum Theatre, Crewe (21 Oct 1917) before he went to join his regiment for what would be his last deployment.
In February 1918 his company were posted to France and Edwin decided to borrow a battered cornet he had found in the band room which he took to the war so he could keep his lip in leaving behind his main instrument for his return.
One of Edwin’s fellow soldiers was a cartoonist with the Daily Express called “Strube” who later drew a picture of Edwin on a programme for a concert by the 28th London Artists Rifles. Sidney Conrad Strube was born on the 30 December 1892 and started working at the Daily Express in 1912 with the paper publishing his first book of cartoons in 1913. He was a Corporal in the 28th London Regiment (the Artists Rifles) in charge of Physical Training and Bayonet instruction. One day he filled a Bayonet dummy with red paint which when a new recruit punctured caused him to faint. By 1915 he was a Sergeant and continued to draw scenes and people during the war before he was finally demobbed in December 1918 after which he returned to the Daily Express where he continued for many years as their cartoonist. Strube died on the 4 March 1956.
In April 1918 Edwin Firth’s, Doris wife gave birth to a son Edwin Twemlow Firth (Known as Teddy) but it was not a happy time as the baby’s father was still fighting in France.
In May 1918, well known cornet player Arthur Laycock (Who had married and lived in Earby) told his brother Harold of Edwin and that he was at the Somme. When Harold was sent to the front he heard a cornet playing from the trenches and on enquiring found it to be Edwin Firth. They soon talked about Arthur Laycock and the people and places of Earby a final reminder of home for Edwin.
In a place called Varennes, North West of Amiens on the 1 June 1918, while returning to the trenches a shell exploded just outside some woods killing Edwin and his party, he was only 29 Year’s old.
Post Girl at the time was his sister Pattie (Martha Tatersall / Firth) who had to deliver the telegram to her parents saying he had been killed.
At this time Squire and Clara were still in 8 Victoria Road, Earby when they received the news of Edwin’s death as well as the news that two of Edwin’s brother’s, Walter and Wright had also been badly wounded during the war. Walter was gassed and invalided out of the army while his brother Wright had his leg amputated.
Private Edwin Firth 766890 of the London Regiment (Artists’ Rifles) is buried in the Verennes Military Cemetery near to Albert in France (Plot Number III E. 13).
Doris Firth received the following message on the death of her husband.
“Dear Mrs Firth
I regret exceedingly to inform you that your husband was killed in action on the night of June 1st by a shell. I am pleased to be able to tell you that his death was instantaneous. He was a keen and efficient soldier, and very popular with his comrades, by whom his loss is keenly felt.
With deepest sympathy, I am, yours Sincerely,
T LEGG, Captain.
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His family wrote at the time a poem.
His pleasant ways and smiling face
Are pleasant to recall;
He had a kindly word for each,
And was beloved by all.
No one knows the silent heartache,
None but those can tell
Who have lost their best and dearest
Without the last farewell.
(Father, Mother, Sisters and Brothers, 8 Victoria Road)
(Some Websites have the address at this time as 2 Victoria Road, Earby which is wrong
according to Squire Firth the son of Ceres Firth the brother of Edwin)
Edwin’s name appears on the Elworth War Memorial and a memorial stone on the family grave in St Mary’s Churchyard in Thornton-in-Craven is decorated with a cornet and the words “The Trumpet Shall Sound”.
Allan Littlemore persuaded the Sandbach Council to name “Firth Close” a cul-de-sac just off Bradwall Road after this remarkable player. (2009?)
LIFE AFTER EDWIN
In 1920 Squire Firth moved what was left of his family, those who had not left home, to “Heather view” in Green End Road, Earby about half a mile from their previous residence.
Four years later in 1924, Squire Firth died. He was given a huge funeral by his family and the town which included a procession from Earby to the St Mary’s Churchyard at Thornton where he is buried along with his wife Clara who died later in 1935.
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EDWIN FIRTH FAMILY TREE / CENSUS DETAILS
1881 at 4 Fieldhouse Square
Greenwood Firth (.b. 1833 Grandfather / Father of Squire Firth)
1881 = A Warp Dresser at Worsted Factory
1911 = A Warp Dresser, Living at 60 Saville Street, Bradford.
Martha Firth (.b. 1835-6 Grandmother / Mother of Squire Firth, Northowram, Yorkshire)
1911 = Martha had died before this Census
Annie E Firth (.b. 1859 Sister of Squire Firth)
Squire Firth (.b. 1865)
Job Firth (.b. 1868 Brother of Squire Firth)
Agnes Firth (.b. 1874 Sister of Squire Firth)
Arthur Firth (.b. 1878 Brother of Squire Firth)
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Squire Firth (.b. 1865 Father, Queensbury)
1881 = Solicitor’s Clark
1891 = Licenced Victualler (Pub landlord)
1911 = Cotton Warp Dresser. Living at 8 Victoria Rd, Earby via Colne.
Clara Firth / Clara Wright (.b. 1866 Mother, Earby, Yorkshire)
Alice A Firth (.b. 1887 Sister, Lindley in Yorkshire)
1911 = Hosier
EDWIN FIRTH (.b. 22 Dec 1888 .D. 1 June 1918)
Beatrice Firth (.b. 1890 .D. 15 July 1901 aged 11) (Not in Census Records)
Wright Firth (.b. 1894 Brother, in Skipton, Yorkshire)
1911 = Cotton Qwester
Walter Firth (.b. 1895 Brother, in Skipton, Yorkshire)
1911 = Clerk Co-operative Society
Edith Firth (.b. 1897 Sister, Skipton, Yorkshire)
1911 = Cotton Beamer
Gwladys Firth (.b. 1899 Sister, Earby, Yorkshire)
1911 = School
Martha Firth (.b. 1901 Sister, Skipton, Yorkshire)
1911 = School
Margaret / Madge (.b. 1903 Sister, Skipton, Yorkshire)
1911 = School
Ceres Firth (.b. 1906 Brother, Earby, Yorkshire)
1911 = School
Kathleen Firth (.b. 1909 Sister, Earby, Yorkshire)
1911 = School
Pattie Firth (Details not Known)
1891 Squire Firth’s Census included Servant Mary Jane Duggan from Newcastle .b. 1867.
1911 Census shows the family had 11 Children / 10 Living / 01 Died
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CLARA FIRTH’S FAMILY (Edwin Firth’s Mother)
Lived at School Fields, Earby, Yorkshire
William Wright (.b. 1827 Father of Clara born in Kelbrook, Yorkshire)
1881 = Cotton Weaver
Margaret Wright (.b. 1833 Mother of Clara born in Earby, Yorkshire)
Mary J Wright (.b. 1854 Sister of Clara born in Earby)
1881 = Cotton Weaver
Alfred Wright (.b. 1856 Brother of Clara born in Earby)
Elizabeth E Wright (.b. 1858 Sister of Clara born in Earby)
Frederick Wright (.b. 1859 Brother of Clara born in Earby)
Sarah A Wright (.b. 1862 Sister of Clara born in Earby)
Grace Wright (.b. 1865 Sister of Clara born in Earby)
CLARA WRIGHT (.b. 1866 born in Earby)
Kezia Wright (.b. 1868 or 1872 Sister of Clara born in Earby) (In Census also as Hezia)
1881 = Nurse
1891 = Grocer and Draper
Eleanor Wright (.b. 1873 Sister of Clara born in Earby)
1891 = Cotton Weaver
1901 CENSUS Married to Walter Pickles (.b. 1872 in Thornton)
CHILDREN Norman W Pickles (.b. 1897 in Earby)
Beatrice Firth (.b. 1892 in Earby)
(The 1901 Census records give Father and Mother of Beatrice as Walter and Eleanor,
However, she had been staying at the house at the time of the census and so the record
has been recorded wrong in the internet update / interpretation.)
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EDWIN FIRTH’S FAMILY HISTORY
GREENWOOD FIRTH (.b. 1833) Married MARTHA FIRTH (.b. 1836 .D. between 1891 and 1911)
CHILDREN
Annie E Firth (.b. 1859), SQUIRE FIRTH (.b. 1865 .D. 1924), Job Firth (.b. 1868) and Arthur Firth (.b. 1878)
SQUIRE FIRTH (.b. 1865 .D. 1924) Married CLARA WRIGHT (.b. 1866 .D. 1935)
CHILDREN
Alice A Firth (.b. 1887 in Lindley, Yorkshire) Married James Lindley
EDWIN FIRTH (.b. 23 Dec 1888 .D. 1 June 1918)
Married in 1916 - DORIS TWEMLOW (.b. Jan 1892 .D. 31 Dec 1991)
Children = Edwin Firth (Known as Teddy) (.b. Apr 1918 .D. 1994 aged 75)
Beatrice Firth (.b. 1890 .D. 1901 aged 11)
Wright Firth (.b. 1894)
Walter Firth (.b. 1895)
Edith Firth (.b. 1897)
Gwladys Firth (.b. 1899) Married Harold Astin
Children = Kathleen Astin (Daughter), Terry Astin (Son)
Martha Firth (Known as Pattie) (.b. 1901) Married Walter Tatersall
Children = David Tattersall (son), Hazel and Shirley (Daughters)
Margaret Firth (Known as Madge) (.b. 1903 .D. 2001)
Ceres Firth (Son .b. 1906) Married Violet Dennis
Children = Squire Firth
Kathleen Firth (.b. 1909) Married Lewis Wright
(Later Lord Lewis Wright who was the President of the TUC in 1968)
Children = Owen Wright
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EXTRA INFORMATION
LORD LEWIS TATAM WRIGHT, Baron Wright of Ashton Under Lyne CBE
Born on the 11 October 1903 with the name Lewis Trentam Styles.
DIED 15 Sept 1974.
Between 1940 and 1974 when Lewis died he lived at 12 Brookfield Grove, Ashton Under Lyne which has a Blue Plaque on its wall in recognition of his achievements which was unveiled on the 20 September 2005.
Lewis had worked for many years as a textile worker and in 1953 succeeded Andrew Naesmith as Secretary General of the Union. Between 1953 and 1968 Lewis was the General Secretary of the Textile Workers Union Amalgamated Weavers’ Association and on the 1 January 1964 was awarded the CBE for his many years of service. In 1968, was made a Life Peer and thus became a Member of the House of Lords. He was replaced as General Secretary by Harry Kershaw.
At the Blackpool Conference of the TUC (Trade Union Congress) Lewis was elected president to succeed Harry Douglass and served a term of one year in office before being replaced by John E Newton in Portsmouth at the Conference in 1969.
Between 1969 and 1970 he was the President of the Textile Institute in Manchester.
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EDWIN FIRTH’S TIME WITH FODEN’S BAND.
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1909 FODENS MOTOR WAGON
WORKS BAND
Conductor William Rimmer
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1909 With William Rimmer in charge Alf J. Jackson decided it was time to go as
Bandmaster. Mr Edwin Foden decided to appoint Ted Wormald to take over as
Bandmaster and by September he was leading the band in concerts.
Ted had come from Kingston Mills, at Hyde in North Cheshire.
11 Sept 1909 Crewe Chronicle Page 8
FODEN’S MOTOR WAGGON WORKS BAND, SANDBACH
Winners of Belle Vue September Contest.
1909 BAND MEMBERS
INSTRUMENT PLAYER
Organiser Edwin Foden (Organiser - Sponsor)
Bandmaster Ted Wormald
Conductor Ted Wormald (Conductor previously with Kingston Mills)
Conductor William Rimmer (Professional Conductor of Black Dyke,
Wingates Temperance etc.)
Cornet Edwin Firth (from Earby)
Cornet Herbert Harrison (assistant Solo Cornet from Stockport)
Cornet Joe Brookes (Cornet Soloist of Lindley and
Prize winner in solo contests)
Euphonium Percy Shaw (Solo Euphonium from Copley in Halifax
and Sowerby Bridge)
Euphonium Fred Risdale (Euphonium from Aberdare)
Trombone George Hinkinson
(Solo Trombone from Crewe who previously played with Horwich)
Solo Horn Fred Sowood (Formally with Wyke Temperance Band)
Cornet Jim Thorpe
Jack Hodgkinson
Jim Easthope
J Ward
T Bartles
J. H. Griffiths
A. E West
Harry Gresty
W Bamford
Ben Rowarth
F Foster
George Walker
Walter Cradleton
Harry Cornack
J Smith
Bill Sheard
Ernest Evans
S. Edgar Charlesworth
Librarian C Jones
Secretary Mr Don Henry Burgess
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JIM THORPE / JAMES THORPE Biography.
.b. 1883 Glossop.
Jim Thorpe had joined the band in 1909 and was to follow on from the late Edwin Firth as Principal cornet player with the band on his death in 1918.
By 1936 Mr Thorpe had won over 160 Gold and Silver Medals and a number of Silver Challenge cups.
Jim was also winner of the Empire Solo Championship at Belle Vue, Manchester.
From time to time he has assisted the Black Dyke Mills, Irwell Springs, Kensington Mills, Glossop, Royston, Barrow Shipyard, Rushton, Clydebank, Glasgow and Cumberland Brass Band.
In 1936 Mr Thorpe was teaching and adjudicating within the brass band world.
(Edited from a 1936 history of the Foden Motor Works Band)
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FRED SOWOOD Biography.
At the age of 14 Fred joined the Owram Brass Band followed at the age of 16 by the Bradford City Brass Band on soprano.
The Wyke Temperance Band was assisted by Fred on Solo Horn with their winning performances until 1908.
By 1915 Fred was the band’s Librarian a position he held for well over 21 years.
By 1936, Fred had not missed a single competition in his life with Foden’s Band and was the oldest serving member of the band and was also a member of the Number 1 Quartette.
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19 Sept 1909 CONCERT – LYCEUM THEATRE Crewe.
2 Concerts at 3.30pm and 8pm
Ted Foden (Organiser - Sponsor)
Conductor Edward Wormald.
Band Members Edwin Firth (Cornet)
Jim Thorpe (Solo Cornet)
Jack Hodgkinson (Solo Cornet)
Herbert Harrison (Solo Cornet)
E Foster (Cornet)
Sam Twemlow (Cornet)
George Walker (Cornet)
Jim Easthope (Cornet)
J. H. Griffiths (2nd Cornet)
Joe Brookes (Soprano Cornet)
J Ward (Flugel Horn)
T Bartles (Flugel Horn)
A. E. West (Solo Horn)
Fred Sowood (First Horn) (1908-9 to 2 Jan 1956)
Walter Cradleton (2nd Horn)
J Smith (Solo Baritone)
Harry Cornack (Baritone)
Harry Gresty (B Flat Bass)
W Bamford (B Flat Bass)
Percy Shaw (Solo Euphonium)
George Hinkinson (Solo Trombone)
S. Edgar Charlesworth (2nd Trombone)
Ernest Evans (Bass Trombone)
Bill Sheard (E Flat Bass)
Ben Rowarth (E Flat Bass)
(List from Crewe Chronicle Photograph and report)
Small Item and Photo Page 8, 11 Sept Crewe Chronicle on their Championship Win.
25 Sept 1909 COMPETITION – National Brass Band Championships at Crystal Palace, London.
For the Crystal Palace 1,000 guinea trophy.
(The Foden Band Diary puts the date at the 26 October 1909)
The test piece was Wagner’s “The Flying Dutchman” arranged by Sam Cope.
The band came second to William Rimmer’s other band “Shaw”.
Foden’s were awarded the “Daily Telegraph Cup” for Second place.
They won £100 and some instruments.
Test Piece “The Flying Dutchman” by Wagner arr C Godfrey.
Conductor William Rimmer.
RESULTS FIRST Shaw (W Rimmer)
SECOND Foden’s Motor Works (W Rimmer)
THIRD Perfection Soap Works (W Halliwell)
Sept 1909 William Rimmer told Edwin Foden that before the next Year’s competitions he
would be retiring from Competitions. He would be devoting his time to the Southport
Municipal Military Band and composing music. (See end of year for Biography)
1909 On Rimmer’s recommendation, Edwin Foden appointed William Halliwell as
Conductor and Professional Coach. Mr Halliwell originated from Roby Mill near
Wigan and had previously been with the Upholland Temperance Band where he had
been Solo Cornet and Bandmaster.
17 Nov 1909 CONCERT – For the Macclesfield Town Band
Two Concerts with tea provided (Paid £20)
20 Nov 1909 CONCERT – For the Stockport and £ and week Employees Band
Two Concerts including Tea (Paid £18)
1 Dec 1909 CONCERT - Winsford Hospital Saturday Committee
Evening Concert (Paid £12)
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WILLIAM HALLIWELL Biography.
.b. 11 March 1864 .D. 24 Apr 1946.
William was born in 1864 in Roby Mill a village next to Upholland and five miles from Wigan, Lancashire. He had a brother called David Halliwell who gained an MBE and was Chairman of the Roby Mills New Methodist Sunday School when they laid the foundation stone on the 2 September 1937 to a new school a sequel to the one that he and William had gone to in their earlier days.
William Halliwell’s musical life started as a Harmonium player with the hope of his parents that he would graduate to the organ. By the age of 12 William was good enough to play the organ at several places of worship.
At the age of 16 William had managed to change to the cornet by joining the Upholland Temperance Band where he gained a tutor and within twelve months he was playing solo cornet with the band. Four years later he was appointed Bandmaster and started doing solo cornet and trumpet engagements for concerts and oratorios with bands like the Wigan Orchestral Society.
In 1887 William was engaged by the Wigan Rifle Band as solo cornet appearing for his first outing at the Belle Vue contest in July. Success led to him being appointed Bandmaster with the Rifle’s, however his personnel engagements started to take over and he soon decided to resign his position.
In February 1893 William was asked to return to the Wigan Rifle Band as conductor to help improve the standard of musicianship. Although some of the members had moved on to the Pemberton Old Band William was able to make a noticeable improvement to the band.
William was also Senior Bandmaster to the whole Brigade of Territorials and in 1894 was asked to take charge of the Fifth Territorial Battalion, Manchester Regiment Band who provided the Guard of Honour when Queen Victoria opened the Manchester Ship Canal on the 21 May 1894 (The canal had been opened on the 1st January 1894 to traffic).
Over the year Mr Halliwell went on to conduct The Standish Brass Band.
In 1910 William Rimmer retired from conducting the famous Foden Motor Works Band and recommended William Halliwell to take on the role as Professional Conductor with the band.
At the National Championships in 1911, William Rimmer was conducting four of the top six prizewinning bands including Foden’s.
1911 RESULTS FIRST Perfection Soap Works (W Halliwell)
SECOND Foden Motor Works (W Halliwell)
FOURTH Shaw (W Halliwell)
SIXTH Spencer’s Steel Works (W Halliwell)
UNPLACED Hebden Bridge (W Halliwell)
UNPLACED Luton Red Cross (W Halliwell)
William Halliwell was no stranger to the Royal family playing in front of them at Crewe Hall with Foden’s in 1913 and in front of the King at Lambton Castle the home of Lord Durham and Buckingham Palace with St Hilda’s Colliery Band.
On leaving Foden’s for reasons that the band played better for Fred Mortimer than they did for him, he went on to conduct other bands, taking them to success at the National Competitions and Belle Vue.
Other bands Halliwell conducted included –
Irwell Springs, Nelson Old, Wingates, Black Dyke Mills, Clydebank Burgh,
Besses O ‘th Barn, Brighouse and Rastrick, Lincoln Melleable Works,
Sowerby Bridge, Harton Colliery, Munn and Feltons.
On the 24 April 1946 aged 82. He was buried in Upholland Church Cemetery.
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1910 FODEN’S MOTOR WAGON
WORKS BAND
Conductor William Halliwell
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5 Feb 1910 CONCERT – Sandbach Liberal Association (Paid £6)
18-26 Feb 1910 CONCERT – Manchester Motor Show
12 Concerts each day (Paid £110)
26 March 1910 COMPETITION – Barnsoldwick
(Easter Saturday) Awarded Third place winning £5.
28 Mar 1910 COMPETITION – Abergavenny
(Easter Mon) Awarded First place winning £47 / 10 / 0
28 Mar 1910 COMPETITION – Mountain Ash
The band came Second winning £12.
16 May 1910 COMPETITION – Hawarden.
The band came Third winning £8.
17 May 1910 CONCERT – For the Tamworth and District Band of Hope (Paid £35)
21 May 1910 COMPETITION – New Brighton.
The band came Third winning £15.
28 May 1910 COMPETITION – Darwin
The band came Fourth winning £4.
19 June 1910 Sacred Concerts at Crewe Alexandra Football Club (Paid £15)
25 June 1910 COMPETITION – Newtown.
The band came Second winning £20.
29 June 1910 CONCERT – Huddersfield Corporation
12 Concerts (Paid £32)
9 July 1910 Northwich Annual Fate (Paid £15)
16 July 1910 COMPETITION – Lister Park, Bradford, Yorkshire.
The band came Third winning £10.
24 July 1910 Sacred Concerts at Elworth (Paid £7/10/0)
30 July 1910 COMPETITION – White City, Manchester (Nr Old Trafford).
The band came Second winning £20.
4 Aug 1910 Market Drayton Horticultural Society (Paid £15)
6 Aug 1910 COMPETITION – New Brighton (Theatre), Wirral, Nr Liverpool.
Achieved first prize. Winning a Cup and Vase plus £80.
13 Aug 1910 Hugglescote Horticultural Improvement Society (2 Concerts – Paid £35)
20 Aug 1910 Elworth Show and Sports Day (Paid £10)
27 Aug 1910 Shipley and Cotmanhay Floral and Horticultural Society (Teas provided) (Paid £25)
5 Sept 1910 COMPETITION – “British Open Championships”, Belle Vue, Manchester.
(Jennison Trophy)
Test Piece “Acis and Galatea” by Handel.
The contest was held at the newly built Kings Hall at the Belle Vue site.
The Band came FIRST winning a Cup, Hawkes Cornet, three Medals and £134.
Conductor for Foden’s William Halliwell.
FIRST Foden’s Motor Works Band (W Halliwell).
SECOND Shaw (W Halliwell)
THIRD Perfection Soap Works (W Halliwell)
1910 BAND MEMBERS
INSTRUMENT PLAYER
Professional Conductor William Halliwell
Bandmaster Edward Wormald
Principal Cornet Edwin Firth
Ass Cornet Solo Herbert Harrison (assistant cornet soloist from Stockport)
Solo Cornet Jim Thorpe (.b. 1883 Joined Foden’s in 1909)
Solo Cornet Jack Hodgkinson
Soprano Cornet Soloist Joe Brookes
Repiano Cornet George Walker
2nd Cornet J. H. Griffiths
2nd Cornet Stephen Bartles
3rd Cornet F Foster
3rd Cornet Jim Easthope
Flugel Horn J Ward
First Horn Fred Sowood
Solo Horn A. E. West
2nd Horn Walter Cradleton
Solo Baritone J Smith
2nd Baritone Harry Cornack
Solo Trombone George Hinkinson
2nd Trombone S. Edgar Charlesworth
Bass Trombone Ernest Evans
Solo Euphonium Percy Shaw
2nd Euphonium Alf Crossley
E Flat bass Alec Bamford
E Flat bass (William) Bill Sheard
B Flat bass Ben Rowarth
B Flat bass Harry Gresty
Cornet T Brooks (Deputised for Joe Brookes)
Tenor Horn T Bartles
B Flat Bass W Bamford
Band Secretary Edwin R Foden
Band Secretary William Foden
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STEPHEN BARTLES Biography Solo Flugel / 2nd Cornet 1910 to 1912+
Stephen Bartles was born on the 4 March 1881 in Patricroft near Manchester.
At the age of eight years old he was learning to play the soprano cornet with the Swinton Schools Band whose bandmaster was a Mr R Kirk.
At the age of 12 Stephen won his first competition in September 1893 when he played the test piece a Set of Waltzes beating many older and experienced players.
When he reached the age of fourteen Stephen was drafted into the army and affiliated to the 10th Royal Hussars and their famous cavalry band where he played the French Horn, an instrument chosen for him by Mr R Wade of the 5th Lancers and Band Master of the 10th Hussars. He soon reached the position of Solo Horn and held this seat from 1899 to 1901 when he left the army gaining a marble clock from the band with an illuminated “Roll Call” on his departure n 1902.
Stephen’s first musical job after leaving the army was with the Eccles Borough Band but after eighteen months he decided to move on to the Pendleton Old Band where he had to swap from the Flugel to the Soprano Cornet as his instrument with the band. He continued in the role of soprano player with the Pendleton Band for five years assisting in their success in competitions. Their first contest promoted by the Oldham Rifles Band gained Stephen Bartles his first Gold Medal for the best Soprano player out of the twenty-five bands competing that day.
On leaving the Pendleton Old Band, Stephen moved to the Wingates Band and again took up the Soprano Cornet seat where he improved his knowledge of competitions and was soon head hunted by other bands including the South Wales Band “Cyfathefa and Merthyr Municipal Band”. While in South Wales he also assisted the Ferndale Band but he wanted more success with competitions and in 1910 he joined the Foden Motor Works Band in Sandbach on 2nd Cornet and according to a “British Bandsman” feature on the 24 February 1912, soon became a first cornet player before William Halliwell decided to move him to Solo Flugel.
At a competition at Gainsborough he was awarded first prize and cornet medal while at a Heanor Competition he was awarded fifth prize. His performance was even more remarkable as he had to play his part from memory as he had lost his copy of the music.
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ALFRED E CROSSLEY Biography 2nd Euphonium 1910 to 1913
Alfred was a member of the Border Mounted Rifles (Trooper Service Number 258) during the Boar War (1899 to 1902) and then the Highland Regiment.
The next time we have information about him was when he became a Steam Wagon Fitter with Foden’s Motor Works where he joined the Band on 2nd Euphonium.
By the end of 1925 he had immigrated to Montreal in Canada where he opened two butcher’s shops. Once set up in business he invited his wife and two children to join him.
He was however a drinker and in 1926 he fell down a staircase killing himself. His body was first buried in Montreal and then his wife moved back to Padiham with her husband’s body which was reburied in the local church. His sons did not attend the funeral as they had both left home at the ages of 13 and 14 with one of them joining the Navy.
(Died in Canada in 1926)
Information from Andrew Robert Crossley (Grandson of A. E. Crossley) June 2015
___________________________________________________________________________________
17 Sept 1910 COMPETITION – Colwyn Bay.
The band came Second winning £15.
1 Oct 1910 COMPETITION – National Brass Band Championships at Crystal Palace, London.
Competition piece “Gems of Schubert” arranged by William Rimmer.
They were second to play in the competition a position many thought would be a
handicap but the band defied the odds and came FIRST gaining the double win.
They were awarded £40, a Boosey’s Cornet and medals along with the trophy
which had to be returned the following year.
DOUBLE WIN FOR FODEN’S
This was the first year Foden’s Band had won both the “British Open Championships”
and the “National Brass Band Championships” being one of only a handful to have
done this in the competitions History. They also managed to do it again in 2013.
(1 Oct 1910) COMPETITION – National Brass Band Championships, Crystal Palace, London
For the Crystal Palace 1,000 guinea trophy.
Test Piece “Gems of Schubert” by William Rimmer.
Conductor William Halliwell.
RESULTS FIRST Foden’s Motor Works (W Halliwell)
SECOND Irwell Springs (Alexander Owen)
THIRD Spencer’s Steel Works (W Halliwell)
FOURTH Shaw (W Hallipwell)
UNPLACED Goodshaw (W Halliwell)
Oct 1910 Success came at a price for Edwin Foden. 5/- (5 Shillings) to each of the old people
of Elworth a Reward for the support from the local community towards the band.
Edwin Foden was in bad health but rallied enough to announce the 5 shilling
donation and a free tea and evening celebration would be arranged for the bands
return.
16 Oct 1910 CONCERT – Crewe Borough Band – 65% of takings
23 Oct 1910 CONCERT – Crewe Borough Band (2 Concerts) – 65% of takings
30 Oct 1910 CONCERT – St Patrick’s Band, Wigan (2 Concerts) (Paid £30)
1 Nov 1910 CONCERT – Winsford Hospital Committee – Evening Concert (Paid £12)
A picture taken by Phyllis Hithirington shows Ted Wormald being lifted aloft
With Edwin Firth and Stephen Bartles at the front of the band.
5 Nov 1910 CONCERT – Rattering – Evening Concert (Paid 60% of the Takings)
6 Nov 1910 CONCERT – Leicester Boulevarde (Paid £35)
12 Nov 1910 CONCERT – Presbyterian Baptist Church, Wrexham (2 Concerts) (Paid £25)
14 Nov 1910 CONCERT – Congleton Liberal Association (Paid £14)
17 Nov 1910 CONCERT – Hanley Town Hall (On Our Own)
19 Nov 1910 CONCERT – Wilmslow Concert (Evening) (Paid £15)
20 Nov 1910 CONCERT – Northwich Salvation Army – 2 Concerts (Teas provided) (Paid £22)
22 Nov 1910 The day of the celebration of the National Brass Band Championship win
organised by Edwin Foden took place in the new extension to the factory, a
building that had not yet been occupied by the workers. For 70 years it was to
become the machine shop.
According to a report of the time, along with the old folk who stayed behind after
their celebratory tea the evening concert was attended by about three thousand
members of the public (Possibly exaggerated).
BAND PROGRAMME
March -King’s Courier (William Rimmer)
A Sailor’s Life (Cope)
Cleopatra (Damare) Solo Cornet Edwin Firth
A Military Church Parade (J. Ord Hume)
The Gypsy’s Warning (Hartmann) Solo Euphonium Percy Shaw
Winning Test Piece “Gems of Schubert” (Arranged Rimmer)
At the end of the evening Mr Edwin Foden arose from his chair at the side of the
stage and accepted the Crystal Palace Trophy from Mr Cooper.
National Anthem and Three Cheers for Edwin Foden.
Nov 1910 The win at Crystal Palace also saw the end of the band’s secretary
Mr Don Henry Burgess who had decided to retire.
He had held the position since the bands formation and he felt it was time to
leave on a high note.
1910 Arthur Webb (Snr) joined the band from Greasbrough and Parkgate bands and
played soprano with Houghton Main. Arthur hated working in the mines and decided
to take an audition on tenor horn for the Foden band and was selected for the position
and moved his family to Elworth.
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ARTHUR WEBB SNR Biography.
Born at 2 Oxford Row, Greasbro’ in 1882 he has become one of the most successful brass band soloists winning 201 Gold and Silver Medals, Six Silver Cups outright and more than 25 Silver Challenge Cups.
Joining from the Greasbrough Band under the direction of Mr F Hully and Parkgate Band (Under Conductor Mr I Dyson) along with the Houghton Main Band where he played the soprano for seven years. Arthur had also worked in the mines before coming to Sandbach.
When Arthur joined Foden’s Motor Works Band in 1910 he filled the Principal Tenor Horn position where he gained an international reputation for his quality and tone as a player.
Arthur was also a member of the “Foden’s Band Number 1 Quartette” which won a number of awards.
His Granddaughter Anne Corbett relates that Arthur had lost one of his teeth and to continue playing he fashioned a replacement tooth out of wood.
When the Foden Works started lying off players, Arthur was among those who went to the Foden family to ask for more money. Not able to get extra money from the company Arthur decided to sweep the yards to raise some extra cash. When William Foden found him doing this he went straight to the board and asked for more money for the band saying that he didn’t want to see his principal horn player sweeping the roads.
With a family to raise Arthur was forced to sell some of his 218 awards and medals to anyone who wanted them, usually at the Fox Inn at Elworth. He also donated a number of medals to the local bowling club as awards. Arthur was proud of his awards and wore many of them on regular occasions. Arthur Thompson was a local businessman who had acquired one of his medals and wore Arthur’s medal on his watch chain.
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27 Nov 1910 CONCERT – Macclesfield Town Band – 2 Concerts (Paid 65% of the takings)
30 Nov 1910 CONCERT – J H White, Chester (2 Concerts) (Paid 62½ % of the takings)
3 Dec 1910 CONCERT – J H White, Chester (2 Concerts) (Paid 62½ % of the takings)
16 Dec 1910 CONCERT – Stockport L and NWR Evening Concert (Paid £17)
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1910 BAND MEMBERS (Taken from the Belle Vue Challenge Cup Programme)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Conductor William Halliwell (of Oak Lea, Spring Bank, Wigan)
Bandmaster Edward Wormald
Soprano Cornet Joe Brookes
Solo Cornet Edwin Firth (of Victoria Road. Earby)
1st Cornet James Thorpe
1st Cornet Herbert Harrison
1st Cornet Jack Hodgkinson
Repriano Cornet George Walker
2nd Cornet J. H. Griffiths
2nd Cornet Stephen Bartles
3rd Cornet F Foster
Flugel J Ward
Solo Tenor Horn A. E. West
1st Horn Fred Sowood
2nd Horn Walter Cradleton
1st Baritone J Smith
2nd Baritone Harry Cornack
Solo Euphonium Percy Shaw
2nd Euphonium Alf E. Crossley
Solo Trombone George Hinkinson
2nd Trombone S. Edgar Charlesworth
Bass Trombone Ernest Evans
E Flat Bass Alec Bamford
E Flat Bass J. William Sheard
B Flat Bass Harry Gesty
B Flat Bass Ben Rowarth
Drums / Percussion (Not in Programme)
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1911 FODEN’S MOTOR WORKS BAND
Conductor William Halliwell
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Jan 1911
Feb 1911
Mar 1911
6 Apr 1911 CONCERT – Blackpool, H Lees (2 Concerts) (Paid £33)
17 Apr 1911 COMPETITION – Abergavenny.
The band came First winning £46 / 10 / 0
7 May 1911 CONCERT – Stalybridge, H Lees (2 Concerts) (Paid £25)
20 May 1911 CONCERT – J H White, Chester (Paid 62½ % of the takings)
27 May 1911 CONCERT – Holmes Chapel (Tea Provided) (Paid £12)
29 May to 3 June 1911 CONCERT – Scottish Exhibition, Glasgow (Paid £140)
4 June 1911 CONCERT – Paisley, H Leas (Paid £30)
4-7 June 1911 CONCERT – Rothsay Council (Paid £70)
10 June 1911 COMPETITION – New Brighton.
The band came First winning £82 / 10 / 0.
(New Brighton Cup)
11 June 1911 CONCERT – Crewe Borough (Paid 65%)
17 June 1911 CONCERT – Harrisihead (Tea Provided) (Paid £14)
23 June 1911 CONCERT - Celebration for the Coronation of King George V.
Unlike the 1902 celebration when the band had a variety of venues booked it was
decided that the band would only play in Elworth.
Edwin Foden’s health was failing and he only heard the band as it passed by his
window.
Ted Wormald led the band in the Procession.
1 July 1911 COMPETITION – Douglas, Isle of Man.
The band came First winning £50 / 10 / 0
13 July 1911 CONCERT – Forsyths Brothers, Hoyton (Less 10%) (Paid £25)
15 July 1911 COMPETITION – Bradford, Lister Park.
The band came Second winning £15.
16 July 1911 CONCERT – Scarborough (Paid £40)
20 July 1911 CONCERT – Blackburn Corporation (Paid £30)
26 July 1911 CONCERT – Whitchurch Show (Paid £25)
28 July 1911 CONCERT – Market Drayton (Paid £18)
29 July 1911 COMPETITION – White City, Manchester (Nr Old Trafford).
The band came First winning £66.
3,4,5 and 7 Aug 1911 CONCERT – Royal Lancashire Show (Paid £87)
6 Aug 1911 CONCERT – Blackpool Palace, H Lees (Paid £35)
13 Aug 1911 CONCERT – Morecambe, H Lees (Paid £35)
19 Aug 1911 CONCERT – Hugglescote, Horticultural Society (Tea Provided) (Paid £35)
26-27 Aug 1911 CONCERT – Tow law (Lodgings Found) (Paid £60)
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FUNERAL PROCESSION
31 Aug 1911 On Thursday the 31 August 1911 Edwin Foden Died. The funeral cortège was led
by FODEN'S BAND playing Methodist Hymns.
Edwin was interred in Elworth Park Church cemetery.
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2 Sept 1911 Crewe Chronicle.
OBITUARY OF EDWIN FODEN (Part of the Article)
Apart from his love of engineering, Mr Foden’s chief recreation was in matters musical. In fact, one might say he had a passion for music. He was the prime mover in the formation of the Elworth Band, which was the forerunner of the present magnificent organisation known as Foden’s Band, an organisation which created such a sensation in brass band circles two years ago, and again last year when it carried off both the Belle Vue and Crystal palace trophies. Mr Foden has watched over the progress of this band with parental pride. When the original village band was disbanded Mr Foden provided at his own expense a complete new set of Bessons Silver instruments and from that time he determined that he should not cease his labours until the band had reached the highest pinnacle it was possible for a brass band to reach. The old players were gradually weeded out and classical players were engaged. Rehearsals were regularly held, and whenever it was possible for Mr Foden to be present he invariably attended, encouraging the players by his presence and good advice. Whenever possible he accompanied the band to the various contests at which they were engaged, and he had been known to make the journey from the Isle of Man and back again, just to spend the afternoon at one of the contests. Some months ago, Mr Foden, fearing the worse, asked that the band should play on the lawn in front of his house for the last time, as he very sorrowfully put it. Since then the band has frequently played for him on a Sunday morning, and this had been one of the great delights of his latter days. His passion for music was not confined to brass band playing. He was particularly fond of the organ, and although he was not himself proficient, had a very fine organ erected in his house for the use of his children, one of them in particular, Mrs S P Twemlow, having become a very accomplished organist. In all good music Mr Foden took a special delight and was always present as all first-class concerts and recitals in the district.
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4 Sept 1911 COMPETITION – “British Open Championships”, Belle Vue, Manchester.
Test Piece “Eugene Onegin” by Tchaikovsky arr C Godfrey.
The band came second behind Hebden Bridge winning £52 / 1 / 0.
Conductor for Foden’s William Halliwell.
FIRST Hebden Bridge (W Halliwell)
SECOND Foden’s Motor Works Band (W Halliwell).
THIRD Perfection Soap Works (W Halliwell)
7 Sept 1911 CONCERT – Smallthorn (Tea Provided) (Paid £20)
13 Sept 1911 CONCERT – Middlewich Show (Tea Provided) (Paid £14)
30 Sept 1911 COMPETITION – National Brass Band Championship, Crystal Palace, London.
For the Crystal Palace 1,000 guinea trophy.
Test Piece “Les Huguenots” by Giacomo Meyerbeer.
The band came Second to Perfection Soap Works winning £110 / 15 / 0.
Conductor William Halliwell.
RESULTS FIRST Perfection Soap Works (W Halliwell)
SECOND Foden Motor Works (W Halliwell)
THIRD Wingates Temperance (A Owen)
FOURTH Shaw (W Halliwell)
FIFTH Batley Old (A Gray)
SIXTH Spencer’s Steel Works (W Halliwell)
UNPLACED Hebden Bridge (W Halliwell)
UNPLACED Luton Red Cross (W Halliwell)
8 Oct 1911 CONCERT – For Ellenbrook and Boothstown band (Tea Provided) (Paid £30)
15 Oct 1911 CONCERT – LYCEUM THEATRE Crewe.
Proceeds from this concert went to the Crewe Cottage Hospital.
Musical Director / Conductor William Halliwell
Bandmaster Ted Wormald
(Details from the Crewe Chronicle)
(The bands Diary put the date at the 14 October 1911 Crewe Theatre – On Our Own
However, the advertising for the concert in the Chronicle puts it as the 15th)
25 Oct 1911 CONCERT – Congleton (Tea Provided) (Paid £20)
26 Nov 1911 CONCERT – Walkden (Tea Provided) (Paid £18)
26 Nov 1911 CONCERT – Nuneaton (Paid 60% of the Profits)
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1911 BAND MEMBERS (Taken from the Belle Vue Challenge Cup Programme)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Conductor William Halliwell (of Oak Lea, Spring Bank, Wigan)
Bandmaster Edward Wormald
Soprano Cornet Joe Brookes
Solo Cornet Edwin Firth (of Victoria Road. Earby)
1st Cornet James Thorpe
1st Cornet Herbert Harrison
1st Cornet Jack Hodgkinson
Repriano Cornet George Walker
2nd Cornet J. H. Griffiths
2nd Cornet J Ward (Swapped from Flugel)
3rd Cornet F Foster
Flugel Stephen Bartles (Swapped from 2nd Cornet)
Solo Tenor Horn Arthur Webb
1st Horn Fred Sowood
2nd Horn Walter Cradleton
1st Baritone Frank Webb
2nd Baritone Harry Cornack
Solo Euphonium Percy Shaw
2nd Euphonium M Hinchcliffe
Solo Trombone George Hinkinson
Solo Trombone Matthew Cullen
2nd Trombone S. Edgar Charlesworth
Bass Trombone Ernest Evans
E Flat Bass Alec Bamford
E Flat Bass J. William Sheard
B Flat Bass A. H Crossley
B Flat Bass Ben Rowarth
Drums / Percussion (Not in Programme)
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1912 FODEN’S MOTOR WORKS BAND
Conductor William Halliwell
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1912 With the band playing more and more concerts a decision was made, not to enter
minor competitions in 1912. They did however win the British Open Championship
for the third time. (see 2 Oct 1912)
24 Mar 1912 CONCERT – Leigh – 2 Concerts (Paid £23)
27 May 1912 CONCERT – Shrewsbury Fate (Paid £26)
30 May 1912 CONCERT – Park Hall Oswestry (Teas Provided) (Paid £23)
1 June 1912 COMPETITION – New Brighton.
The band came Second winning £20.
6 June 1912 CONCERT – Blackburn (Paid £30)
22 June 1912 COMPETITION – Blackpool.
The band came Third winning £8.
29 June 1912 COMPETITION – Newtown.
Test Piece “Lohengrin” by Richard Wagner
Judge Mr J Ord Hume.
The band came second winning £22 / 2 / 0 (Band Book Entry)
MARCH CONTEST
FIRST Foden’s Motor Works Band
SECOND Ferndale
SELECTION CONTEST
FIRST Shaw
SECOND Foden’s Motor Works Band
THIRD Crossfield’s
FOURTH Abba Valley
FIFTH Goodshaw
30 June 1912 CONCERT – Newtown (Paid £20) (see above)
5 July 1912 Edwin Firth of Fodens Band was guest soloist in a concert conducted
by Mr Peter Fairhurst
Feature 5 July 1912 Todmorden and District News Page 4
14 July 1912 CONCERT – Sandbach and Elworth (Paid £17)
Spring 1912 At the Queensbury Solo Contest the band found a new player in the competition, one
was 18-year-old Charles Dawson.
He had been playing with Denaby Ambulance Band and beat off competition from
Harold Pinches of Black Dyke Mills Band to win the solo cornet competition.
1912 A concert in Blackpool Tower served as an audition for the young soloist Charles
Dawson (Charles Dawson .b. 1894 .D. Aug 1984) who played his winning
“Carnival de Venice” and he was acquired for the Elworth Band.
16 July 1912 Hubert Shergold was auditioned for the band by Edwin Foden, Billy Foden and
Sam Twemlow. The interviewers arranged for Hubert to have tea with a local lady
and by 7pm that night Hubert Shergold officially joined the band under the baton of
William Halliwell who had seen his potential at a competition.
Herbert had originated in Wilton, Dorset and moved with his family to Bridgnorth in
Shropshire where he was taught by his father to play the cornet and eventually joined
the local Volunteer Prize Band.
By 1911 he had joined the Gossages Soap Band but they were bought out by
Brunner Mold (Later to become ICI) and unhappy with the new style of management
Hurbert looked for another band to play with coming across Foden’s at a contest who
were in urgent need of a flugel player.
At his first rehearsal Hubert recalled that as the band struck up the hairs on the back
of his neck stood on end.
___________________________________________________________________________________
HUBERT SHERGOLD.
At some time in his life Hubert managed to poke out one of his eyes, which left him with a problem of not being able to see the conductor. Jimmy Charles (1960 onwards) recalls that most people didn’t know he had only one eye as he had a glass one fitted into the socket. Seeing the conductor with his good eye from the usual position in the band was another thing and so it was arranged that the Flugel position within the band was moved permanently onto the second row next to the Repiano Cornet so he could see what was going on and that was the arrangement until he left the band.
___________________________________________________________________________________
17 July 1912 CONCERT – Park Hall Oswestry (Teas Provided) (Paid £25)
31 July 1912 CONCERT – Whitchurch Show (Tea Provided) (Paid £25)
1-5 Aug 1912 CONCERT – Laves Show, Preston (Paid £92)
7 Aug 1912 CONCERT – Alfraton (Tea Provided) (Paid £40)
17 Aug 1912 CONCERT – Haslington (Paid £12)
24-25 Aug 1912 CONCERT – Tow Law (Board and Lodgings) (Paid £60)
28 Aug 1912 CONCERT – Chester Show (Paid £25)
At the Groves in Chester a regular venue for the band.
Coronation March (Le Prophete) (Giacomo Meyerbeer)
Overture from Zampa (Herold)
Selection from Tannhauser (Wagner)
Gypsy’s Warning (Hartmann)
Solo Euphonium Percy Shaw
Selection from Weber’s Works (Carl Maria von Weber)
Lend me your Aid (Gounod)
Trombone Solo George Hinkinson
INTERVAL
Overture Bohemian Girl (Balfe)
William Tell (Gioachino Rossini)
Cleopatra (Damare)
Solo Cornet Edwin Firth
Selection from L’Africaine (Meyeerbeer)
2 Sept 1912 COMPETITION – Open Championship, Belle Vue (Diamond Jubilee Event).
Test Piece “Les Diamants de la Couronne” (The Crown of Diamonds)
by Auber arr Lieut Charles Godfrey.
The band were drawn 19th in order of playing and won the competition wining £50
for the band and each member was given a Diamond Encrusted Gold Medal
(27 winning medals) in celebration of the event “A prize well worth Winning”.
Edwin Firth himself could also feel very proud as he was instrumental in the
success of the piece playing an important long descending chromatic solo near the
end of the music.
(The 27 medals had a single diamond at its centre)
Conductor for Foden’s Mr William Halliwell
FIRST Foden’s Motor Works Band (W Halliwell).
The band won £257 / 10 / 0
SECOND St Hilda Colliery (W Halliwell)
THIRD Shaw (W Halliwell)
1912 BAND Included.
Edwin Firth (Cornet)
Joe Brookes (Soprano Cornet)
Hubert Shergold (Flugel)
Arthur Webb (Tenor Horn)
Percy Shaw (Euphonium)
George Hinkinson (Trombone)
EXPENSES - COST OF THE TRIP TO LONDON
Rail fare and food £9- 12 Shillings
Mr W Halliwell’s fee £10
24 Men £1
Ted Wormald (Bandmaster) 10 Shillings
14 Sept 1912 CONCERT – Chester Regatta (Tea Provided) (Paid £18)
18 Sept 1912 CONCERT – Middlewich (Tea Provided) (Paid £13)
19 Sept 1912 CONCERT – Oswestry Show (Tea Provided) (Paid £30)
20 Sept 1912 CONCERT – Northallerton (Tea Provided) (Paid £40)
28 Sept 1912 COMPETITION – National Brass Band Championship, Crystal Palace, London.
For the Crystal Palace 1,000 guinea trophy.
The band came Third winning £33 / 13 / 0
(£20, a Highams Cornet and case Valued at 13 Guineas)
Test Piece “William Tell” by Rossini arr William Rimmer.
Conductor William Halliwell.
RESULTS FIRST St. Hilda Colliery (W Halliwell)
SECOND Irwell Springs (W Halliwell)
THIRD Foden’s Motor Works (W Halliwell)
EXPENSES - COST OF THE TRIP TO LONDON
Hotel Expenses £35
Rail fare £20
6 Oct 1912 CONCERT – LYCEUM THEATRE, Crewe.
FODEN’S BAND in 2 Concerts Foden’s Band Presents
Conductor Mr Edward (Ted) Wormald
Incl; Miss Chesters A.L.C.M. accompanist
Miss Lilian Cooper
Mr George Hinkinson (Solo Trombone)
(Tea Provided) (Paid £20)
Small Feature Pg 8, 12 Oct Crewe Chronicle.
Pic and Feature on FODEN’S in New Uniforms Pg 5, 9 Nov Crewe Chronicle.
23 Oct 1912 CONCERT – Congleton (Tea Provided) (Paid £20)
Conductor Mr E Wormald.
PROGRAMME INCLUDED
1. Les Diaments de la Couronne (Auber arr Lieut Charles Godfrey)
Test piece for Belle Vue.
2. Overture – Merry wives of Windsor
3. Air Varie – Maidstone
4. Pandora (Damare)
Cornet solo Mr Edwin Firth
5. The Lost Chord (Played in response to an encore for Mr Edwin Firth)
6. Ora pro nobis (unkn)
Trombone Solo Unknown
SOLOISTS Mr J Brooks (Soprano) and Mr Percy Shaw (Euphonium)
Arranged visit by Mr John Eaton Snr
Before the final selection Mr G.W. Stubbs briefly thanked Mr Wormald
for the excellent Concerts.
Mr Fred Birks ably carried out the details.
Feature November Congleton Chronicle.
3 Nov 1912 CONCERT – Leigh (Tea Provided) (Paid £25)
Audiences assembled at the Leigh Hippodrome in the afternoon and evening to
hear recitals by the famous Foden’s Motor Works Band.
Leigh Chronicle and Weekly District Advertiser 8 November 1912 Page 3.
17 Nov 1912 CONCERT – Wigan (Tea Provided) (Paid £30)
23 Nov 1912 CONCERT – Marple (Tea Provided) (Paid £20)
11 Dec 1912 CONCERT – Stockport – 1 Concert (Paid £17/10/-)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1912 BAND MEMBERS (Taken from the Belle Vue Challenge Cup Programme)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Conductor William Halliwell (of Oak Lea, Spring Bank, Wigan)
Bandmaster Edward Wormald
Soprano Cornet Joe Brookes
Solo Cornet Edwin Firth
1st Cornet James Thorpe
1st Cornet Herbert Harrison
1st Cornet Jack Hodgkinson / Jack W Hodgkinson
Repriano Cornet Charles Dawson
2nd Cornet Sam Wilkinson
2nd Cornet H Peers
3rd Cornet Edward Jenkins (Rejoined)
Flugel Hubert Shergold
Solo Tenor Horn Arthur Webb
1st Horn Fred Sowood
2nd Horn Walter Cradleton
1st Baritone John Heywood
2nd Baritone Harry Cornack
Solo Euphonium Percy Shaw
Bass Euphonium Frank Webb (Moved)
Solo Trombone George Hinkinson
2nd Trombone Matthew Cullen (Moved from solo trombone)
2nd Trombone Edward Wormald (Ted Wormald - bandmaster)
Bass Trombone Ernest Evans
E Flat Bass Alec Bamford
E Flat Bass J. William Sheard
E Flat Bass A. H Crossley (moved from Bb Bass)
B Flat Bass Harry Gresty
B Flat Bass Ben Rowarth
Drums / Percussion (Not in Programme)
###################################################################################
1913 FODEN’S MOTOR WORKS BAND
Conductor William Halliwell
###################################################################################
6-11 Jan 1913 CONCERT – Winter Exhibition Rusholme (Paid £95)
24 Mar 1913 COMPETITION – Abergavenny.
The band came Second winning £21.
Expenses for the trip were £23 including Mr Halliwell’s fee.
________________________________________________________________________________
SANDBACH
23 April 1913 King George V and Queen Mary visited Sandbach. They were accompanied by the
Marquis of Crewe, K.G.
A Special Medal was made for the tour with a picture of the King and Queen on
the Head and on the Tail side was the date they visited each town on their tour.
(see Below)
________________________________________________________________________________
23 Apr 1913 The band played for King George V and Queen Mary by Royal Command.
Having purchased new Uniforms back in 1912 these were first used in October 1912
at the Lyceum Crewe and were only considered good enough for playing on stage
and later in-front of royalty when the King and Queen came to Crewe, Congleton
and Sandbach.
Various designs had been considered but a “Prussian style” was ERF’s choice and
so was ordered from the “Uniform and Equipment Company of Clerkenwell Green,
London”.
These new uniforms were put to good use when in early 1913 it was announced that
King George and Queen Mary would be visiting the North West and Midlands in
April 1913 to see the “Industrial North” and would be staying at Crewe Hall the
residential home of the Marquis of Crewe.
A request for the band to play in front of the King and Queen and a programme was
put together with the assistance of Lady Crewe.
On the morning of the 23 April 1913 the band travelled by Steam Wagon to Crewe
Hall where they got into their new uniforms and at 9.30am they played the following
programme in front of the hall.
PROGRAMME
Overture from Bohemian Girl (Balf)
Merry Widow Selection (Lehar)
Selection from Tannhauser (Wagner)
The Lost Chord (Sullivan) (Cornet Solo Edwin Firth)
Selection from Yeomen of the Guard (Sullivan)
Waltz from The Dollar Princess (Fall)
After the band had played this selection of music the Marquis of Crewe was
instructed to convey their Majesties congratulations and asked the band if they would
be prepared to play the following day at 9am with a much longer programme.
This they did.
Selection from William Tell (Gioachino Rossini)
Waltz from Salome
Cleopatra (Damare) Cornet Solo Edwin Firth
Evening Bells
Waltz from Inspiration
March from The King’s Courier
Selection from The Quaker Girl
March ‘Honest Toil’ (William Rimmer)
Overture from Light Cavalry (Suppe)
Waltz from The Merry Widow (Lehar)
Overture from Tancredi (Gioachino Rossini)
March from Harlequin
After the event the King and Queen congratulated William Halliwell and the band
and as the Royal Cortège left Crewe Hall Foden’s played the National Anthem.
This was indeed a memorable event for the band and I am told the only time that
William Halliwell conducted the band in a concert outside of a competition.
BAND FOR THE EVENT
William Halliwell (Conductor)
Edward Wormald (Bandmaster)
Edwin Firth (Cornet)
James Thorpe (1st Cornet)
Herbert Harrison (1st Cornet)
Jack Hodgkinson (1st Cornet)
Joe Brookes (Soprano Cornet)
Charles Dawson (Repiano Cornet)
Hubert Shergold (Flugel)
Sam Wilkinson (2nd Cornet)
Horace Brookes (2nd Cornet)
Edward Jenkins (3rd Cornet)
Arthur Webb (Solo Tenor Horn)
Fred Sowood (1st Horn)
Walter Cradleton (2nd Horn)
Frank Haywood (1st Baritone)
Harry Cornack (2nd Baritone)
Percy Shaw (Solo Euphonium)
Frank Webb (2nd Euphonium)
George Hinkinson (Solo Trombone)
Matthew Cullen (2nd Trombone)
Ernest Evans (Bass Trombone)
J. William Sheard (E Flat Bass)
Alfred Crossley (E Flat Bass)
Harry Gesty (B Flat Bass)
Ben Rowarth (B Flat Bass)
James Easthope (Drums)
___________________________________________________________________________________
OTHER BAND MEMBERS in 1913
R Brookes (Cornet), R Cradleton (Horn), J Heywood (Horn), H Crossley (Euphonium),
G Easthorpe (Euphonium).
___________________________________________________________________________________
1913 The Royal Concert also sounded the end of (Edward) Ted Wormald’s five year
association with the band as bandmaster. His place was taken by Tom Hynes another
ex member of the Gossages Soap Band and friend of Hubert Shergold (Flugel)
12 May 1913 Shrewsbury United Friendly Society (Paid £26)
Mr Hughes 8 New Street, Shrewsbury (Tea Provided)
17 May 1913 COMPETITION – New Brighton.
The band came First winning £78 / 11 / 0
Expenses £4-10 shillings including rail fare from Crewe to Liverpool and the
Ferry Across the Mersey.
24 May 1913 CONCERT – Holmes Chapel (Tea Provided) (Paid £12)
28 May 1913 CONCERT – Groves Enclosure Chester (Wednesday 7.30pm) (Paid £15)
31 May 1913 CONCERT – County Borough, Stockport (Paid £22)
9 June 1913 CONCERT – Sheffield Corporation (Paid £35)
B.F. Pilley. 21 Newlyn Rd, Woodseats, Sheffield.
10 June 1913 CONCERT – A Ball Lower Peover, Tabley Arms Hotel (Paid £10)
Hours 5 until 8pm and Teas
15 June 1913 CONCERT – Crewe Sunday Concerts (Paid 62½ % - Made £30)
G Chesters, 62 Samuel Street, Crewe.
18 June 1913 CONCERT – Tilstone Fete Committee (Paid £25)
Tarporley Park.
Play for dancing, Hours to 10pm
Maurice Wooley (Tea Provided)
21 June 1913 COMPETITION – Newtown.
The band came First winning £35.
22 June 1913 CONCERT – Newtown (Paid £21/5/9½)
2 Concerts afternoon and evening on our own on Sports ground.
28 June 1913 CONCERT – Huddesfield Park (Paid £30)
5 July 1913 CONCERT – Higglescote – 2 Concerts (Paid £30 or £32)
Dinners and Teas
F Haywood, North Street.
6 July 1913 CONCERT – Leicester
S P Blackesley Leicester. Boulevard Leicester (Paid 50% of Door takings)
2 Concerts – Afternoon and Evening
9 July 1913 CONCERT – Wrenbury
Garden Party at the Royals, Aston, Wrenbury (Paid £20)
John Griffiths, The School House, Wrenbury, Nantwich.
Time of Playing 2 O Clock till 8pm. Teas at the interval.
12 July 1913 CONCERT – Groves Enclosure Chester (Saturday 7.30pm) (Paid £15)
13 July 1913 CONCERT – Groves Enclosure Chester (Sunday 8.15pm) (Paid £15)
26 July 1913 CONCERT – Skipton – 2 Concerts (Paid 60%)
Arthur Clifford, 14 Swadford Street, Skipton.
27 July 1913 CONCERT - Scarborough – 2 Concerts (Paid £40)
J Winder. Grand Floral Hall, Scarborough.
30 July 1913 CONCERT – Whitchurch
Whitchurch and District Agricultural Society (Paid £20)
Earnest E Wright (Secty) 56 High Street (Annual Show)
To Play during the afternoon and dancing in the evening till 8pm.
Leave Whitchurch 8.29pm (Depart Crewe 9.45am)
2 Aug 1913 CONCERT – Chester Groves Enclosure (Paid £15)
Evening Concert 7.30pm
3 Aug 1913 CONCERT – Elworth Recreation Ground
1 Evening Concert – Collection for Elworth Charity (Raised £15/2/11½)
4 Aug 1913 CONCERT – Stockport
County Borough of Stockport (Paid £20 or £25 if fine day)
2 Concerts – Vernon Park
10 Aug 1913 Hyde Football Club CANCELLED
H Houghton 38 Gowen Rd, Hyde, Cheshire (2 Concerts were to be paid £25)
12 Aug 1913 CONCERT – Hyde.
Clay Cross Floral Society Nr Chesterfield (Paid £32)
Playing 1-7.30pm
H Stanley, East Street.
18 Aug 1913 CONCERT – Cannock and District Horticultural Society (Paid £30)
27 Aug 1913 CONCERT – Chester
Chester Agricultural Show in Afternoon and Groves Enclosure at Night. (Paid £25)
2.30pm to 5.30pm / 7.30 to 9.30pm
28 Aug 1913 CONCERT – Audlem Flower Show (Paid £20)
Tea Provided.
1 Sept 1913 COMPETITION – “British Open Championships”, Belle Vue, Manchester.
Test Piece “A Souvenir of Gounod” arr by C Godfrey.
Conductor for Foden’s William Halliwell
FIRST Foden’s Motor Works Band (W Halliwell).
SECOND Shaw (W Halliwell)
THIRD Irwell Springs (W Halliwell)
Fifth Crosfields Soap Works (W Halliwell)
Sixth St Hilds Colliery (W Halliwell)
Unplaced Hebden Bridge
Unplaced Luton
Unplaced Mansfield Colliery
Unplaced Nelson Old
They won £182 / 17 / 0
Awarded first prize for the 4th time in five Year’s.
4 Sept 1913 CONCERT – Blackburn – 2 Concerts (Paid £30)
6 Sept 1913 CONCERT – Groves Enclosure Chester (Saturday 7.30pm) (Paid £15)
10 Sept 1913 CONCERT – Middlewich Show (Paid £14)
Tea Provided
18 Sept 1913 CONCERT – Ellesmere.
Oswestry and District Agricultural Society at Ellesmere (Paid £25)
Concerts at 12 to 2.30pm, 3pm to 5.30pm.
George Whitfield, Southfield St, Oswestry.
20 Sept 1913 CONCERT – Preston
Merigold Brothers Preston (Paid £30) (Saturday)
27 Sept 1913 COMPETITION – National Brass Band Championship, Royal Albert Hall, London.
For the Crystal Palace 1,000 guinea trophy.
For the first time an original composition was used as the test piece. It was called
“Labour of Love” and was composed by Percy Fletcher. Unfortunately
the band were unsuccessful in wining, coming a poor eighth place.
Test Piece “Labour and Love” by Percy Fletcher
Conductor William Halliwell.
RESULTS FIRST Irwell Springs (W Halliwell)
SECOND St. Hilda Colliery (W Halliwell)
THIRD Black Dyke Mills (J Greenwood)
FOURTH Crosfield’s Soap Works (W Halliwell)
UNPLACED Foden’s Motor Works (W Halliwell)
This was the last competition until 1920 due to the Great War.
1913 CONCERT – HASLINGTON FLOWER SHOW
The band played Selections in the afternoon and for dancing in the evening all
for a fee of £15.
18 Sept 1913 CONCERT – Ellesmere
Oswestry and District Agricultural Society at Ellesmere (Paid £25)
Concerts at 12 to 2.30pm, 3pm to 5.30pm.
George Whitfield, Southfield St, Oswestry.
20 Sept 1913 CONCERT – Preston
Merigold Brothers Preston (Paid £30) (Saturday)
29 Sept to 4 Oct 1913 CONCERT – Hanley
GRAND THEATRE, HANLEY Week of shows
The band played twice nightly.
Chas Elphinstone (Secretary and Manager)
21 Tunes nightly 20 Minutes for each for the sum of £75 (Lowest) if success £80.
EXTRA INFO The theatre was opened in 1898 on Trinity Street and later became
a cinema until it burnt down in 1932 being rebuilt as the ODEON Cinema in 1937.
Oct 1913 Following on from taking part in the National Championships the band were booked
for a series of twice nightly concerts at the Grand Theatre, Hanley, Stoke on Trent.
Normally this wouldn’t be a problem for members of the band but one member was
due to get married on the day of the Nationals and had postponed the date until the
following Monday which was then booked up for the series of concerts at the Grand.
The unfortunate Bridegroom, having gone through with the wedding during the
daytime he was then whisked away to Hanley to do the concerts in the evening.
(Information from “By Royal Command” by F D Burgess, Pg 18.)
5 Oct 1913 CONCERT – Widnes (Paid 25)
2 Concerts Tea Provided
Captain Byfield 13 Thomas Street, Runcorn.
11 Oct 1913 CONCERT – Alderley Edge (Paid £15)
S Bailey.
1 Concert about 2.30pm
12 Oct 1913 CONCERT – Northwich Victoria Football Club (Paid £15)
1 Afternoon Concert – Tea Provided.
F Richardson 23 Chester Road.
15 Oct 1913 CONCERT – Congleton Liberal Club (Paid £15)
1 Evening Concert
F J Birks 30 High Street, Congleton.
19 Oct 1913 CONCERT – Wigan Old Boys Reed Band (Paid £30)
2 Concerts
Rd Orchestra?. Sidlow lane, Wigan
22 Oct 1913 CONCERT – Macclesfield Old Town Silver Band (Paid £22)
2 Concerts
30 Nov 1913 CONCERT – Salford
Concert at Regent Theatre, Salford
For Eccles Borough Band (Paid £30)
G Leroft 148 Reushaw St, Partiecroft?
___________________________________________________________________________________
EXTRA INFORMATION.
The REGENT THEATRE in Cross lane, Salford was built by Frank Matcham and opened on the 2 September 1895.
It was destroyed by fire in 1952.
___________________________________________________________________________________
6 to 7 Dec 1913 EDDISON BELL at the FODEN WORKS (Recording a record) (Paid £40)
(Date from diary) J E Hough, Glengall Road, London
RECORDS
Black Dyke and Besses had produced recordings during the early part of the century
and in 1913 Foden’s were in negotiations with the Edison Bell Company to make a
recording.
The band booked a whole weekend off in December 1913 to make the recording at
the Elworth Works and duly on the Friday evening the main office floor was cleared
making way for the recording equipment and the band.
Recording a disc in those days involved making a master disc in wax that was
warmed to a specific temperature in an oven and then recorded on. These would them
be made into the 78 master discs.
All in all 12 items were recorded by the Quartet and 20 recordings were made of the
full band the first of which were released the following year.
CONDUCTOR Tom Hynes 10” 78 recordings
Released in January 1914.
Side 1. THE PILGRIM (FODEN’S QUARTET) Edison Bell 1357
Quartet 1. = Jack Hodgkinson (Cornet)
Charlie Dawson (Cornet)
George Hinkinson (Trombone)
Ernest Evans (Trombone)
Side 2. IN THIS HOUR OF SOFTENED SPLENDOUR
Quartet 2. = Edwin Firth (Cornet)
Jim Thorpe (Cornet)
Fred Sowood (Horn)
Percy Shaw (Euphonium)
Released Feb 1914
The Village Blacksmith (Part 1) Edison Bell 1355
The Village Blacksmith (Part 2) 1355 b
(SEE DISCOGRAPHY FOR MORE DETAILS)
The whole of 1914 saw eighteen recordings of the band issued on the Edison Bell
label.
14 Dec 1913 CONCERT – South Salford Silver Prize Band (Paid £25)
2 Concerts 3pm and 7.30pm
W Clarke 24 Derby Street.
21 Dec 1913 CONCERT – Ellesmere Port Church Silver Band. (Paid £30)
2 Concerts 3.15pm
George Griffiths 9 Grosvenor Street, Ellesmere Port.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1913 BAND MEMBERS (Taken from the Belle Vue Challenge Cup Programme)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Conductor William Halliwell (of Oak Lea, Spring Bank, Wigan)
Bandmaster Edward Wormald
Soprano Cornet Joe Brookes
Solo Cornet Edwin Firth
1st Cornet James Thorpe
1st Cornet Herbert Harrison
1st Cornet Jack Hodgkinson / Jack W Hodgkinson
Repriano Cornet Charles Dawson
2nd Cornet Sam Wilkinson
2nd Cornet F Brooks
3rd Cornet Edward Jenkins (Rejoined)
Flugel Hubert Shergold (F Shergold)
Solo Tenor Horn Arthur Webb
1st Horn Fred Sowood
2nd Horn Walter Cradleton
1st Baritone John Heywood
2nd Baritone Harry Cornack
Solo Euphonium Percy Shaw
2nd Euphonium Fred Thorpe
Solo Trombone George Hinkinson
2nd Trombone Matthew Cullen
Bass Trombone Ernest Evans
E Flat Bass Alfred Crossley
E Flat Bass J. William Sheard
E Flat Bass A. H Crossley (moved from Bb Bass)
B Flat Bass Harry Gresty
B Flat Bass Ben Rowarth
Drums / Percussion (Not in Programme)
###################################################################################
1914 FODEN’S MOTOR WORKS BAND
Conductor William Halliwell
###################################################################################
17 Jan 1914 CONCERT – Sheffield – Woodg??? Hall (Paid £30)
H J Kelly 89 Carvel Street, Sheffield
22 Feb 1914 CONCERT – Leigh Grand Theatre / Hippodrome Leigh (Paid £25)
William Woolstencroft Esq.
2 Concerts 3pm and 8pm
10 Mar 1914 CONCERT – Sandbach Town Band (Paid £15)
1 Concert
14 Mar 1914 CONCERT – Rookery Social Club and Institute (Paid £25)
H Leese, 26 Alderley Lane, Harriseahead, Tunstall
2 Concerts (Tea Provided)
18 Mar 1914 CONCERT – Royal Buckley Town Band (Paid £25)
11 Windwell Rd, Buckley
R E Bellis Society
22 Mar 1914 CONCERT – South Salford Silver Band (Paid £30)
W Clarke 20 Derby Street.
2 Concerts 3 O Clock and 7.30pm
29 Mar 1914 CONCERT – LYCEUM THEATRE Crewe.
During the early 1900’s it was still considered to be in bad taste if you produced a
concert or entertainment on the Sabbath and so many such shows were advertised as
“Sacred Concerts” and included a couple of Hymns for authenticity. The same was
true of the shows at the Lyceum Theatre.
2 GRAND SACRED CONCERTS by Foden’s Band
Incl; Foden’s Band
Miss Gregory L.L.C.M. (Soprano)
Madam Partington (Contralto)
Miss Ann Stubbs L.L.C.M. (Piano Accompanist)
Tickets were also available for this concert from Mr J Stubbs Music Warehouse,
High Street, Crewe.
1914 Quartet 1. = Jack Hodgkinson (Cornet)
Charlie Dawson (Cornet)
George Hinkinson (Trombone)
Ernest Evans (Trombone)
1914 Quartet 2. = Edwin Firth (Cornet)
Jim Thorpe (Cornet)
Fred Sowood (Horn)
Percy Shaw (Euphonium)
The Band Diary gives the date as being with the Crewe Temperance Band (Paid £20)
Two Concerts
Sec; W B Wrigley, 46, Henry Street, Crewe.
11 April 1914 CONCERT – Official opening of CONGLETON PARK (Easter Sunday).
The band played at 2pm for the official opening of the Bandstand in Congleton Park
followed in the evening by a concert at Congleton Town Hall. The band were paid
£16 for the day’s events.
(Dr Tern, Bradshaw House, Congleton)
2 May 1914 CONCERT – Knutsford Jubilee Festival (Paid £20)
Jas H Dean 2 Minshull Street, Knutsford (Tea Included)
The Band played at the Knutsford May Day celebrations and were driven there by a
new Steam bus called “Puffing Billy” a three-ton chassis with a body built by
Jackson’s of Smallwood. (Registration M 6359)
Mr Jackson (the coach builder) accompanied the new bus to iron out any problems
on this “Test Run” for the vehicle. However, he dislodged one of the flugel horns
from the storage space and the bus had to be stopped while it was retrieved from the
verge. E R Foden who was monitoring the fuel consumption was not pleased as
the stoppage messed up his calculations.
16 May 1914 CONCERT – Heaton Park, Manchester (Paid £25)
R Laint, General Superintendent
17 May 1914 CONCERT – Vernon Park, Stockport (Paid £25)
2 Concerts 3 to 5pm and 7 to 9pm
F Harris Sup.
If wet to play in the Town Hall 3.30 to 7.30pm
20 May 1914 CONCERT – Chester Concerts in the Groves (Paid £16)
(Wed) S P Davies
24 May 1914 CONCERT – Northwich Victoria Football Club
Terms (Paid £15 if takings are not more than £30)
(Paid £20 if takings are not more than £50)
(Paid £25 if takings are more than £50)
Sec J C Brain “Crown Hotel” Northwich.
1 June 1914 CONCERT – Shrewsbury
Shrewsbury Whit Monday Friendly Society Fate (Paid £26)
Geo. J Eccleston, 23 King Street, Shrewsbury.
(Tea Included)
6 June 1914 COMPETITION – New Brighton (Merseyside).
The band came Second winning £15.
10 June 1914 CONCERT – Knutsford Division Liberal Association (Paid £18)
H Cliffe Sec, 26 Cranford Avenue, Knutsford.
(Tea Provided)
14 June 1914 CONCERT – Heaton Park, Manchester (Paid £25)
R Laint, General Superintendent
17 June 1914 CONCERT – Chester Concerts in the Groves (Paid £16)
(Wed) S P Davies
20 June 1914 CONCERT – County Borough of Stockport (Paid £22)
Park Department Vernon Park
F Harris Esq, Stockport
3 to 5pm and 7 to 9pm.
27 June 1914 COMPETITION – Newtown.
The band came Second winning £21.
29 June to 4 July 1914 CONCERT – Douglas Isle of Man (Paid £110 Inclusive)
A Robertson, Town Clark, Douglas.
11 July 1914 CONCERT – Heaton Park, Manchester (Paid £25)
R Laint, General Superintendent
The concert included the Trombone Solo “Victory” (Hume)
by Mr George Hinkinson. The “Bohemian Girl”, “Barcarolle”, “Tales of Hoffman”
A cornet solo by Edwin Firth and “The Village Blacksmith”.
12 July 1914 CONCERT – Chester Concerts in the Groves (Paid £16)
S P Davies
17 July 1914 CONCERT – Driffield Show (Paid £32)
G R Kirby, The Falcon, Driffield.
18 July 1914 CONCERT – Armley Park, Leeds (Paid 60% of the Takings - £349.30)
Jo Sharp 2 Christ Church View, Armley, Leeds.
19 July 1914 CONCERT – Scarborough (Paid £40)
J Winder
22 July 1914 CONCERT – Bolton Parks Committee. (Paid £20)
J Partington 12 Henry Street, Bolton
2 Concerts.
25 and 26 July 1914 CONCERT – Chester Concerts in the Groves (Paid £16)
S P Davies
2 Aug 1914 CONCERT – Chester Concerts in the Groves (Paid £16)
(Sun) S P Davies – Evening Concert.
(Also, 20 May / 17 June / 25 July / 26 July / 2 Aug)
4 Aug1914 WAR BROKE OUT
The first casualty of the war was the Prussian style uniforms that ER Foden had
purchased for the band a year ago as anything German may offend; they were
dropped in favour of a less offensive uniform.
##########################################################################################
1/28th (COUNTY OF LONDON) BATTALION (ARTIST’S RIFLES)
In August 1914 the 28th London Regiment the Artist’s Rifles were formed.
The Battalion was based at Dukes Road, Euston Road.
The Army Troops were attached to the 2nd London Division and moved on Mobilisation to the St Albans area.
##########################################################################################
4 Aug 1914 CONCERT – Alexandra Park Oldham (Paid £25)
(Tues) Two Concerts Inclusive.
Alfred Barlow Secretary.
7 Aug 1914 CONCERT – Wem and District Agricultural Association (Paid £25)
Philip Lee Secretary. (Tea Provided)
8 Aug 1914 CONCERT – Frodsham Horticultural Society (Paid £20)
Endowed Boys School CANCELLED
1 Concert from 2pm
11 Aug 1914 CONCERT – Clay Cross, Chesterfield (Paid £40)
Times of Playing 1pm to 8.30pm
H Stanley, East Street, Clay Cross.
13 Aug 1914 Market Drayton Flower Show (Paid £20) CANCELLED
C B Jones, Alexandra Road.
Playing 2.30pm to 9pm
(Tea Provided)
15 Aug 1914 CONCERT – Haslington Flower Show (Paid £15)
Selections in Afternoon commencing 2 O Clock and dancing till 9pm in the evening.
R White, Merefield Cottage, Henry Street, Haslington.
17 Aug 1914 Cannock and District Horticultural Society (Paid £30) CANCELLED
John Bud Market Place, Cannock
18 Aug 1914 CONCERT – Biddulph Show (Paid £20)
Playing from 2 to 7pm
A Proctor Sec. 56 Tunstall Rd, Biddulph.
(Tea Provided)
20 Aug 1914 CONCERT – Blackburn Park (Two Concerts) (£30)
Lewis Beard, Town Hall, Blackburn.
23 Aug 1914 CONCERT – Heaton Park, Manchester (Paid £25)
R Laint, General Superintendent
(16 May / 14 June / 11 July and 23 Aug 1914 Saturdays 3 to 5pm and 6.30 to 8.30pm
Sundays 3.30pm to 5pm)
27 Aug 1914 Middlewich Floral and Horticultural Society (Paid £20) CANCELLED
2 Concerts 3pm to 5pm and 6.15pm to 9pm
7 Sept 1914 COMPETITION – “British Open Championships”, Belle Vue, Manchester.
Test Piece “Joseph und Seine Bruder (Joseph and his Brethren)” by Mehul
arr C Godfrey.
The band came Third winning £44.
Conductor for Foden’s William Halliwell
FIRST Black Dyke Mills
SECOND Wingates
THIRD Foden’s Motor Works Band.
Sept 1914 COMPETITION – National Brass Band Championships, Crystal Palace, London.
NOT HELD DUE TO THE WAR.
11 Sept 1914 CONCERT – Blackburn Park (Paid £30)
Two Concerts
Lewis Beard, Town Hall.
12 Sept 1914 CONCERT – Sandbach
Sandbach Co-op Society’s Fate (Paid £12)
Commencing 1.45pm. Play in Procession (Tea Provided)
17 Sept 1914 Oswestry Show at Oswastry (Paid £25) CANCELLED
George Whitfield Secretary, Smithfield Street, Oswastry.
19 Sept 1914 CONCERT – Chester (Paid £3)
One Concert for National Relief Fund.
Including a solo by Mr George Hinkinson playing “Death of Nelson”,
a Solo by Edwin Firth, “Rule Britannia” and other selections which
evoked a great appreciation of “Memories of Britain”.
Nantwich Guardian 25 September 1914 Page 5.
27 Sept 1914 CONCERT – Sandbach
One Afternoon concert for National Relief Fund.
If wet 4 Oct 1914
4 Oct 1914 CONCERT – Keighley (Paid £25)
Two Concerts.
Dinner and Tea.
19 Oct 1914 (Week long engagement) CONCERT - Grand Theatre, Hanley (Paid £80)
Performances Twice Nightly
Conductor Tom Hynes (Bandmaster)
Monday 19th GRAND THEATRE HANLEY 7pm and 9pm
1. March “With Sword and Lance”
a. Bugle Call
b. Marseillaise
c. La Brabanconne
d. It’s a Long Way to Tipperary
e. British Grenadiers
f. Garry Owen
g. The Girl I Left behind Me
h. Last Post
2. Descriptive Selection “Episodes of the War”
i. See the Conquering Hero Come
j. Rule Britannia
k. National Anthem
3. Cornet Solo “Cleopatra” (Damare)
Solo Cornet Edwin Firth
ENCORE
4. The Rosary
5. The British Hero (J H White)
GUEST ARTISTS
Anita Correze (Mezzo Soprano from Hanley and wife of the
Grand Theatre’s Manager Mr Bert Wilbraham)
Harold Heath (Light Comedian)
Fred Carey (Comedian)
New Macs (Popular Comedians)
The Dandy Mascots
Harry Mason and Lily Bart (Gymnasts on the High Trapeze)
Tuesday 20th GRAND THEATRE HANLEY 7pm and 9pm
1. March “British Phalanx”
2. Descriptive Selection “A Sailor’s Life”
3. Cornet Solo “Pandora”
Solo Cornet Edwin Firth
Wednesday 21th GRAND THEATRE HANLEY 7pm and 9pm
1. March “Old Comrades”
2. Grand Selection “Reminiscences of Tschaikowsky”
3. Trombone Solo “The Sailor’s Grave”
Solo Trombone George Hinkinson
Thursday 22nd GRAND THEATRE HANLEY 7pm and 9pm
1. March “Harlequin”
2. Grand Selection “Tannhauser”
3. Cornet Solo “Rule Britannia”
Solo Cornet Edwin Firth
Friday 23rd GRAND THEATRE HANLEY 7pm and 9pm
1. March “Mephistopheles”
2. Grand Selection “William Tell”
3. Euphonium Solo “La Belle Americaine”
Solo Euphonium Percy Shaw
Saturday 24th GRAND THEATRE HANLEY 7pm and 9pm
1. March “Honest Toil”
2. Descriptive Selection “A Sailor’s Life”
3. Cornet Solo “Rule Britannia”
Solo Cornet Edwin Firth
OTHER ACTS ON THE SAME BILL DURING THE WEEK
Incl; JosieDelaine (Versatile Little Lady)
The Mascots (Musical Comedy)
Harold Heath (Light Comedian)
Fred Carey (Comedian)
Mason and Bary (Novelty Gymnasts)
New Macs (Popular Comedians)
And GRAND PICTURES
Review Staffordshire Sentinel 20 October 1914, Page 4.
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Critical report Tuesday 20 October 1914, page 4(Researched by Paul Niblett Aug 2014)
GRAND THEATRE, HANLEY.
A special attraction at the Hanley Grand Theatre of Varieties this week is the appearance there of the English Champion brass band which the proprietors of Foden’s Motor Works, Sandbach, have organised and equipped. Foden’s Brass Band is known wherever people take delight in the music of wind instruments. It has not been before the public so long as some of the famous Yorkshire and Lancashire bands, but it has outstripped several of these older organisations of repute, through the efficiency of the men who have been secured, and the earnest purpose of those in control. Last night the band won enthusiastic favour not only by reason of the popularity of the music instrumented, but even more for the excellence of the interpretations. The ensemble of this band is magnificent, the tone rich, full-bodied, and mellow, and all effects are secured by legitimate means. It was natural that much of its music at the present time should take on a quasi-military character. Its principal contribution was a descriptive selection of patriotic airs, welded together in an interesting manner by the conductor, Mr. Thomas Hynes. The selection opened with a bugle call, the assembling of troops, and their marching to the inspiriting strains of the “Marseillaise,” “La Braban̤çonne,” “It’s a long way to Tipperary,” “British Grenadiers,” “Garry Owen,” and “The girl I left behind me.” An encampment follows, and things settle down after the sounding of the “Last Post.” The quiet, however, is disturbed by a surprise of the enemy. The bugle sounds to action, and after some battle music, the bugle calls “Cease firing.” Then is heard “See the conquering hero comes,” “Rule, Britannia,” and the National Anthem. Mr. Edwin Firth, who had already done notable work in perfect triplet playing, gave as a cornet solo Demare’s concert polka “Cleopatra,” exhibiting not only a brilliant tone, but a perfect mastery of his instrument, and as an encore piece “The Rosary.” The band good-naturedly responded to the applause given it for the selection by playing a march “The British Hero” (J.H. White). It may interest a number to know that the band consists of 24 instrumentalists, arranged as follows: Four basses, two double basses with a 32ft. tone and two with a 16ft. tone; three trombones, two tenors and one bass; first and second euphoniums; two baritones; three tenor horns; one fugal horn; and nine cornets in B flat and one in E flat; together with drums and effects. Another selection will be given to-night, when strains which have long been associated with the Navy will be honoured.
Among the other artists is a lady professionally known as Anita Correze, a mezzo-soprano vocalist. Since many in the audience at once recognised the singer as a Hanley lady, it is not disclosing much of a secret to add that in private life Anita Correze is Mrs. Bert Wilbraham, the wife of the popular manager of the Grand. Since last singing in this hall, the lady’s powers of expression have developed considerably, her voice has grown in volume while maintaining its timbre. Her two items included a song of sentiment, and a number with a taking waltz rhythm. The comedians include Fred Cary, Harold Heath, and the New Macs. The former is a very whimsical fellow, with a style that is individualistic and songs and patter that have the merit of freshness. Harold Heath’s strength lies in his dancing powers, which are considerable. The New Macs are very entertaining fellows indeed, and last night they held the attention of the house and kept everyone laughing. The Dandy Mascots are responsible for a pretty turn: and Harry Mason and Lily Bart are excellent gymnasts on the high trapeze.
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1/28th (COUNTY OF LONDON) BATTALION (ARTIST’S RIFLES)
28 October 1914 the company left Division and moved to FRANCE. The Company was Established as an Officer Training Corps based at Bailleul. (See Apr 1915)
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8 Nov 1914 MARCH - Chester Lord Mayor’s Church Parade (Paid £10)
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1914 BAND MEMBERS (Taken from the Belle Vue Challenge Cup Programme)
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Conductor William Halliwell (of Oak Lea, Spring Bank, Wigan)
Bandmaster Edward Wormald
Soprano Cornet Joe Brookes
Solo Cornet Edwin Firth
1st Cornet James Thorpe
1st Cornet Herbert Harrison
1st Cornet Jack Hodgkinson
Repriano Cornet Charles Dawson
2nd Cornet Sam Wilkinson
2nd Cornet H Jenkins
3rd Cornet Edward Jenkins
Flugel Hubert Shergold / (F Shergold in Programme)
Solo Tenor Horn Arthur Webb
1st Horn Fred Sowood
2nd Horn Walter Cradleton
1st Baritone Frank Haywood / (J Haywood in programme)
2nd Baritone Harry Cornack
Solo Euphonium Percy Shaw
2nd Euphonium Fred Thorpe
Solo Trombone George Hinkinson
2nd Trombone Matthew Cullen
Bass Trombone Ernest Evans
E Flat Bass K Sadler
E Flat Bass J. William Sheard
B Flat Bass Harry Gesty
B Flat Bass Ben Rowarth
Drums / Percussion James Easthope (Not in Programme)
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1915 FODEN’S MOTOR WORKS BAND
Conductor William Halliwell
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1/28th (COUNTY OF LONDON) BATTALION (ARTIST’S RIFLES)
April 1915 The Battalion moved to St Omer in France.
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1915 By the spring of 1915 employees of FODEN’S (Steam engine Manufacturer) were
demanding more pay and better conditions leading to a strike at the factory.
Workers were having to work long hours in the factory and the burden of trying to
meet increasing demand for government requirements and personal casualties of war
took their toll on the employees and arguments with management led to the strike.
As the band members were employed by the company this also affected the band
Twelve members of the band, who thought their position within the band gave them
some sort of special power, decided to form a picket line at the works entrance of
Foden’s. They were mistaken as after the strike all twelve were dismissed.
Many others were forced to find employment elsewhere as the full-blown strike at
the factory started to take hold.
Among those who left the band were –
Joe Brookes (Soprano)
Percy Shaw (Euphonium)
George Hinkinson (Trombone)
John Heywood (Baritone)
Harry Cornack (Baritone)
With the end of the strike and a return to work the band started recruiting new
members and what good players they found. At the Belle Vue contest the judge
commented “From the opening bars to the last note the playing of this band was
almost flawless – it was a musical treat”
Spring 1915 Replacements for the players that had been given the sack during the strike included
C Smith who played Soprano at the British Championships in September 1915 with
an ARTHUR STUBBS on Second Cornet.
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ARTHUR STUBBS Biography
During his time with the Foden Motor Works Band Arthur Stubbs lived at George Street in Elworth (1928 had moved to Clifton Road) having joined the band as their 2nd Cornet player at a time when various members of the band had been removed from the line-up after a strike in the spring of 1915. It was at a time during the Great War (WW1) when the factory was increasing its workload to fulfil Government contracts including the making of ammunition and equipment for the front which left the workers with very few rights, bad conditions and little pay. Joe Brookes (Soprano who went to Horwich RMI Band), Percy Shaw (Euphonium), George Hinkinson (Trombone), John Heywood (Baritone) and Harry Cornack (Baritone) were among the players who decided to move to other bands at this time rather than continue to work at the factory as well as combining their band engagements.
These retirements left positions available to be filled by outsiders including C Smith on Soprano Cornet and Arthur Stubbs on cornet.
At the September 1915, British Open Championships, Arthur Stubbs was playing 2nd Cornet at Belle Vue, Manchester with the test piece “Il Furioso” by Donizetti arr C Godfrey. Conductor for Foden’s was the great William Halliwell who took the band to first place beating Horwich RMI into 2nd place and Kings Cross Band into third. This band line-up also had well known players, Edwin Firth on Solo Cornet with Charlie Dawson on Repriano Cornet, C Smith on Soprano Cornet, Bob Shepley on 2nd Cornet and Arthur Webb Snr on Solo Horn.
By the 2 September 1916, British Championships Arthur Stubbs had replaced C Smith on Soprano after Mr Smith had played with the band for one year in that particular seat. This change of seating within Foden’s led to an article in an August 1917, Sandbach Chronicle where they described Arthur thus “Foden’s are a galaxy of stars, that there is one in particular that we must all listen to, and that is the soprano player. The greatest soprano up-to-date. No one knows what thirty years hen might bring along, but in Mr Stubbs I believe we have it.” If this was just publicity or the opinion of that night’s performance by the Sandbach Chronicle reporter we will never know but he certainly didn’t keep up the reputation over the next few years as he was moved from one instrument to another by various conductors. The reason for the article was the popularity of the band as a fundraiser for the war effort and after an article in Brass Band News.
“And now about that treat I promised. Foden’s are coming. Yes, they are. And bringing a couple of programmes with them. The place that has the honour of receiving this famous organisation has been altered from the Manchester Racecourse to the Manchester United Football Ground. The reason for the change I have been told is that there has been such a rush for tickets that it was feared that the racecourse would not hold the tremendous crowd expected. Now I am given to understand that “United’s” ground is capable of holding millions, and it was thought that in the interest of humanity it would be better to have the concerts on the football ground.”
Arthur was again part of the band when they took part in the Belle Vue Competition in 1916 when they came in 2nd. The following year on the 1 September 1917, when they again played at the Belle Vue, Manchester venue for the British Championships when they unfortunately came sixth with Arthur still playing on Soprano Cornet.
For the 1918 Competition, Conductor Tom Haynes (Joint conductor of the band with William Halliwell) decided to move Arthur Stubbs back to Second Cornet and replaced him with Charlie Dawson who would stay in that role until 1923.
On the 1 December 1924, Tom Haynes was asked to resign as conductor of the band and was replaced by Fred Mortimer who attended his first rehearsal on the 8 December 1924 alongside William Halliwell who would also conduct the band for their competitions. Fred decided to have another change of personnel and Arthur Stubbs was moved to Repriano Cornet with George Clarke (With Foden’s between 11 Sept 1923 to 28 Dec 1928) on Soprano for the 1926 Belle Vue Competition when they played “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” by Dr Thomas Keighley, with the band coming first winning £2228 / 7 / 0.
After this win on the 7 October 1926, Arthur Stubbs officially left the band.
Nearly a year later with George Clarke still on Soprano during the 5 September 1927 competition for the Jennison Trophy at Belle Vue, listed among the members of the Foden’s Band was Arthur Stubbs who was again playing on Soprano Cornet this time possibly as a deputy player brought in for the event only. With Arthur on Soprano the band produced a win for the second year in a row, playing the test piece “Merry Wives of Windsor” by Dr Thomas Keighley.
This was possibly not the end of Arthur Stubbs on Soprano as for the 3 September 1928 British Open Championship at Belle Vue, Manchester he was listed as 2nd Soprano Cornet alongside George Clark and possibly the greatest line-up of musicians the band has known, or should that be the most well-known musicians with conductor William Halliwell making his last appearance with the band, Harry Mortimer on Solo Cornet alongside Charles Dawson, with Reg Moores and Fred Mortimer (Harry’s Father and usual conductor of the band) on Repriano Cornets and 1st Euphonium player Alex Mortimer with his brother Rex Mortimer on Trombone. In terms of named players each one now has a place in the banding hall of fame so it was no wonder that Foden’s Motor Works Band won the Jennison Trophy for the third and final time as they were entitled to keep the trophy after winning three times in a row.
This highlight was possibly the last appearance of Arthur Stubbs with the band as there are no more records of him playing with Foden’s or any other band, which is sad because he obviously impressed the Sandbach Chronicle reporter and with all those wins under his belt he was part of the “best band in the land”.
3 Sept 1928 FODEN’S MOTOR WORKS BAND PLAYERS
INSTRUMENT NAME ADDRESS
Conductor William Halliwell Spring Bank, Wigan
Soprano Cornet George Clark Clifton Road
Soprano Cornet Arthur Stubbs Clifton Road
Cornet Harry Mortimer Post Office (Elworth)
Cornet Charles Dawson Ye Iron Graye
(Middlewich Rd, Sandbach)
Cornet Herbert Harrison Kinderton (Middlewich)
Cornet William Pedley Congleton Road, Sandbach
(Bill Pedley from Congleton)
Repriano Cornet Reg Moores Clifton Road
Repriano Cornet Fred Mortimer Clifton Road
2nd Cornet R Smedley Garden City NEW
2nd Cornet Edwin Statham George Street
(Ted Statham)
3rd Cornet Edward Jenkins George Street
3rd Cornet H Coppenhall George Street NEW
Flugel Hubert Shergold Marsh Green Road
1st Horn Arthur Webb (Snr) Marsh Green Road
2nd Horn F Sawood Hill Street NEW
3rd Horn J Cottrill Congleton Road NEW
1st Baritone Albert Statham George Street
2nd Baritone Basil Stokes George Street
1st Euphonium Alex Mortimer Clifton Road
2nd Euphonium Don Stokes George Street
Trombone Robert Knott George Street
Trombone Harold Stubbs Clifton Road
Trombone Rex Mortimer Clifton Road
Bass Trombone Joe Moores Clifton Road
Bass Alex Hilton George Street
Bass Matthew Cullen Marsh Green Road
Bass B Raworth George Street NEW
Bass Joe Poole George Street
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13 May 1915 Blackburn (Paid £30) CANCELLED
Two Concerts.
Lewis Beard, Town Hall
16 May 1915 Vernon Park, Stockport (Paid £20) CANCELLED
2 Concerts
F Harris Parks Department, Vernon Park, Stockport.
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1/28th (COUNTY OF LONDON) BATTALION (ARTIST’S RIFLES)
In July 1915 the Regiment moved from Richmond Park to Epping Forest.
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4 July 1915 Coventry (Paid £32) CANCELLED
J Cattell, Superintendents Office
Coventry Lodge, Coventry
17 July 1915 CONCERT – Chester (Paid £15)
One Concert
(See 18 July 1915, 31 July 1915, 1 Aug 1915, 2 Aug 1915)
18 July 1915 CONCERT – Chester (Paid £15)
One Concert
(See 17 July 1915, 31 July 1915, 1 Aug 1915, 2 Aug 1915)
31 July 1915 CONCERT – Chester (Paid £15)
One Concert
(See 17 July 1915, 18 July 1915, 1 Aug 1915, 2 Aug 1915)
1 to 2 Aug 1915 CONCERT – Chester (Paid £15)
One Concert
(See 17 July 1915, 18 July 1915, 31 July 1915)
3 Aug 1915 Oldham Alexandra Park (Paid £25) CANCELLED
Two Concerts
15 Aug 1915 Coventry (Paid £32) CANCELLED
J Cattell, Superintendents Office
Coventry Lodge, Coventry
15 Aug 1915 CONCERT – Northwich
Northwich (Paid £15. If a success £20) (Actually Paid £18)
Wm. Yarwood, The Mount, Castle, Northwich.
(Tea Provided)
22 Aug 1915 CONCERT – Winsford
Winsford Working Men’s Hospital Saturday Committee. (Paid £16)
Sec. W F Nenrall 44 School Road.
2 Concerts
4 Sept 1915 COMPETITION – “British Open Championships”, Belle Vue, Manchester.
(or 6 Sept 1915) Test Piece “Il Furioso” by Donizetti arr C Godfrey.
Conductor for Foden’s William Halliwell
FIRST Foden’s Motor Works Band.
SECOND Horwich RMI
THIRD Kings Cross
The band won £134 / 18 /0
Sept 1915 COMPETITION – National Brass Band Championships, Crystal Palace, London.
NOT HELD DUE TO THE WAR.
5 Sept 1915 CONCERT – White Heather Society, Altringham (Paid £20)
Sec. A Chadwick 35 Finchley Road.
Tea Provided.
26 Sept 1915 CONCERT – Northwich
Northwich Patriotic Committee (Paid £20)
S Dunaut 54 Witton Street, Northwich
(Tea Provided)
3 Oct 1915 CONCERT – Macclesfield
Macclesfield Volunteer Fire Brigade (Paid £22)
W H Braid 25 Bridge St, Macclesfield.
2 Concerts
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1/28th (COUNTY OF LONDON) BATTALION (ARTIST’S RIFLES)
In November 1915 the 28th (County of London) Battalion (Artist’s Rifles) were absorbed into the 1/28th Battalion and the 3/28th Battalion became the 2/28th Battalion.
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15 Nov 1915 CONCERT – Grand Theatre, Hanley (Paid £80)
One week (2 performances Nightly 20 to 30 Minutes) Not less 25 Performers.
5 Dec 1915 CONCERT – LYCEUM THEATRE Crewe.
FODEN'S MOTOR WORKS BAND
Two Sacred Concerts (Paid £20)
In Connection with Crewe Temperance.
Conductor Mr Tom Hynes
Included music from “Faust”, “Prelude in C Sharp Minor” and Mr Edwin Firth
playing “Irene”.
Feature 10 December 1915 Nantwich Guardian Page 4.
Feature 21 January 1916 Nantwich Guardian Page 4.
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1916 FODEN’S MOTOR WORKS BAND
Conductor William Halliwell
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1916 Edwin Firth (Cornet) married Doris Twemlow (.b. Jan 1892 .D. 31 Dec 1991)
the daughter of Sam Twemlow and granddaughter of Edwin Foden the founder of
the band.
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RED CROSS HELPERS AT ABBEY FIELDS / FUNDRAISERS
A website produced by the Red Cross gave details of the hours and jobs done by members of the public in Hospitals all round England. Many Nurses details were also given and as the information was catalogued under the town’s name we can find out about local helpers at Abbey Fields (Middlewich Road)
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Mrs Edwin Firth Details not known
(Doris Twemlow. Daughter of Samual Poole Twemlow and Fanny Foden (Edwin Foden’s daughter)
(Lived at Springfield, Sandbach as part of the Working Party and did 3 hours weekly for 2 years
– Mrs Edwin Firth / Mrs Doris Firth helped between 1916 and April 1918.
She married Edwin Firth a cornet player with Fodens’s band who died on the 1 June 1918
and had a son called Edwin Jnr in April 1918 which is why she left the Red Cross.
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Miss Hesba Twemlow
(Essba Twemlow Daughter of Samual Poole Twemlow and Fanny Foden (Edwin Foden’s daughter)
(Lived at Springfield, Bradwall, Sandbach and was a Nurse in LIVERPOOL / CONGLETON)
Miss Nora Twemlow May 1917
(Lived at Springfields, Sandbach and worked at the Abbey Field Hospital as a General Worker
putting in 957 hours until after 1919.)
Mrs S. P. Twemlow Details not known
(Lived at Springfield, Sandbach and was the Honorary Secretary of the Sandbach Working Party
putting in 3 hours a week for 3 years as well as working at home.)
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Miss Amy Foden September 1917
(Lived at Elworth House, Elworth worked at Dowery House, Nantwich
as a general helper until October 1918 doing 101 hours)
Miss Dorothy Foden June 1917
(Lived at Hilary House, Crewe, worked at Abbey fields until January 1919.
She worked 716 Hours during her time.)
Mrs Ellen Foden 1915
(Lived at Westfields, Middlewich Road, Sandbach and was a member of the
Red Cross Working Party and the organiser of Whist Drives for Working Parties making £50
(Red Cross working party Ref No 1293) and worked 100 hours at the job until 1917)
Mrs W Foden Details not known
(Lived at Westfields, Middlewich Road, Sandbach and was a member of the Red Cross Working Party
doing 3 hours a week for 1 year)
1866 SAMUAL POOLE TWEMLOW Married to Edwin Foden’s daughter Fanny. .d. 1928
Foden Ltd Company secretary then Director.
DAUGHTERS - Essba Twemlow (Married) and Doris (Married Edwin Firth)
1906 EDWIN TWEMLOW Son of Samual Twemlow and Fanny Foden .d.
Joint managing director from 1951 to 1972.
1938 STEPHEN PATRICK TWEMLOW Son of Edwin Twemlow .d.
Joined the company in the 1960's
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23 Apr 1916 CONCERT – Macclesfield
Macclesfield Volunteer Fire Brigade (Paid £22)
Two Concerts (Easter Sunday)
W H Braid 25 Bridge Street
(Tea Provided)
27 May 1916 CONCERT – Sandbach
Sandbach May Festival (Teas Provided)
A picture has come to our attention via the book “Cheshire Life” by Mike Eddison
and John Hopkins which shows what happed to the “Prussian Style Uniforms” that
were worn by Foden’s band but had to be abandoned because if their association with
the Great War (Purchased in 1913). It shows Joiners at Foden’s Motor Works winning
first prize at the Sandbach Festival with a mock up German Zeppelin on top of a
Steam Wagon wearing the uniforms along with other soldiers in costume.
(ISBN 978-0-7524-4364-5) A Postcard of the float was made available.
The festival raised £538 which after expenses was reduced to £371.00
of which £300 was donated to make a Y.M.C.A. Hut in France to be named
the “Sandbach Hut”.
Whit Weekend Groves Enclosure Chester (Paid £20) CANCELLED
(May-June 1916) Two Concerts S P Davies, Town Hall Chester
4 June 1916 CONCERT – Vernon Park, Stockport (Paid £25)
Two Concerts (Sunday) 3-5pm and 7-9pm
Frank Harris Supt.
Originally booked for the 28 May.
18 June 1916 CONCERT – Northwich (Paid £20)
W J Harwood, The Mount, Castle, Northwich.
(Tea Provided)
24 June 1916 CONCERT – Northwich (Paid £15)
F W Brock Esq. Heyeswood, Hartford
Garden Party (Tea Provided)
1 July 1916 CONCERT – Coventry (Paid £15)
W J Cottell Cemetery
1 Evening Concert (Tea Provided)
2 July 1916 CONCERT – Coventry (Paid £35)
W J Cottell Cemetery Lodge, Coventry
Included “Memories of Britain” (Rimmer), “The Village Blacksmith” (Gaetas)
Solo Edwin Firth playing Pandora (Damare),
Grand Selection “Samson and Delilah” (Saint Saens) and
the March Militaire.
Feature 3 July 1916 Coventry Evening Telegraph Page 2.
12 July 1916 CONCERT – Groves Enclosure Chester (Paid £15)
One Evening Concert
(see also 29 July 1916, 30 July 1916)
13 July 1916 CONCERT – Tunstall (Paid £20)
Two Concerts (Tea Provided)
W H Flint, “Lynton” Queens Avenue, Tunstall
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Feature 15 July 1916 Chester Chronicle Page 5.
Feature on a concert at Chester with Edwin Firth giving solos with universal applause.
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15 July 1916 CONCERT – Matlock Bath (Paid £30)
Two Concerts (3 and 7pm)
C Randle, Council Chamberts, Matlock Bath.
(Tea Provided)
16 July 1916 CONCERT – Burnley (Paid £30)
Two Concerts (Sunday)
P Thomas Esq. Town Hall, Burnley.
Afternoon Townley Park, Evening Queen’s Park.
29 July 1916 CONCERT – Groves Enclosure Chester (Paid £15)
One Evening Concert
(see also 12 July 1916, 30 July 1916)
30 July 1916 CONCERT – Groves Enclosure Chester (Paid £15)
One Evening Concert
(see also 12 July 1916, 29 July 1916)
6 Aug 1916 CONCERT – Matlock Bath (Paid £15)
E Randle (Tea Provided)
2 Aug 1916 CONCERT – MIDDLEWICH CONCERTS
The band played two concerts for Roland Seddon a local Salt Baron to help
with the War effort. The band were paid £15 for 2 Concerts.
The band played at Chadwick Fields, Middlewich
7 Aug 1916 CONCERT – Alfreton Flower Show (Paid £40)
W Helliwell, Sunny Bank, Alfreton.
(Tea Provided)
12 Aug 1916 CONCERT – Biddulph (Paid £20)
Jas. Harrison 46 Well Street, Biddulph
(Tea Provided)
A report in the Congleton Chronicle tells us that this was “Wakes Week” in
Biddulph and the band were playing at Biddulph in two concerts to help
raise funds for the North Staffordshire Infirmary (the local Hospital).
The concert was conducted by Mr Tom Hynes in-front of a large crowd at
both concerts (Afternoon and Evening).
13 Aug 1916 CONCERT – Vernon Park Stockport (Paid £25)
26 to 27 Aug 1916 CONCERT – Winsford
Winsford Hospital Saturday Committee (Paid £30)
Two Concerts Both Days.
W F Newall, Station Road. Winsford.
2 Sept 1916 COMPETITION – “British Open Championships”, Belle Vue, Manchester.
Test Piece “La Traviata” by G Verdi arr C Godfrey Jnr.
Foden’s came in 2nd place to Horwich RMI winning £40 / 15 /0.
Conductor for Foden’s William Halliwell (Paid £11 by Foden’s for the day)
FIRST Horwich RMI
SECOND Foden’s Motor Works Band (Played 5th).
THIRD Black Dyke Mills
William Halliwell also conducted Irwell Springs who came 6th and played 1st.
Feature 9 September 1916 Chester Chronicle Page 5.
Sept 1916 COMPETITION – National Brass Band Championships, Crystal Palace, London.
NOT HELD DUE TO THE WAR.
3 Sept 1916 CONCERT - Chester (Paid £15)
One evening concert (S P Davies)
16 Sept 1916 CONCERT – Macclesfield (Paid £22)
2 Concerts
W H Braid, Biddulph (Tea Provided)
29 Oct 1916 CONCERT – LYCEUM THEATRE Crewe.
FODEN'S MOTOR WORKS BAND
In 2 Sacred Concerts for the Crewe Temperance Society.
Conductor Tom Hynes
(Tea Provided)
Small Feature Pg 8, 28 Oct Crewe Chronicle.
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1917 FODEN’S MOTOR WORKS BAND
Conductor William Halliwell
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1917 Edwin Firth (Cornet) left the band to join the 28th London Regiment (the Artists
Rifles) as a private. In February 1918 his company were posted to France and
Edwin decided to borrow a battered cornet he found in the band room to the
war so he could keep his lip in and left behind his main instrument for his return.
(see 21 Oct 1917 and 1918)
8 Apr 1917 CONCERT – Ashton in Makerfield (Paid £25)
Two Concerts
Miss or Mrs E Foden 1a Bryn Street, Ashton in Makerfield Nr Wigan.
27 to 28 May 1917 CONCERT – Coventry (Paid £60)
(Whit Sun and Mon) Two Concerts.
W J Cottell. Cemetery Lodge, Coventry
2 to 3 June 1917 CONCERT – Birmingham (Paid £60)
2 Concerts Both days
W H Morton, Parks Department, Council House, Birmingham.
9 June 1917 CONCERT – Groves Enclosure, Chester (Paid £16)
1 Concert (see also 23 June 1917, 21 July 1917, 11 Aug 1917)
17 June 1917 CONCERT – Northwich Patriotic Committee (Paid £27)
Two Concerts
Sec J A Breathnall 46, Victoria Road, Northwich.
23 June 1917 CONCERT – Groves Enclosure, Chester (Paid £16)
1 Concert (see also 9 June 1917, 21 July 1917, 11 Aug 1917)
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1/28th (COUNTY OF LONDON) BATTALION (ARTIST’S RIFLES)
28 June 1917 the Brigade transferred to the 190th Brigade in the 63rd (Royal Naval) Division.
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1 July 1917 CONCERT –
Longton Park (Paid £40/ 12 / 10 ½ from Collections made by Ourselves at gates)
7 July 1917 CONCERT – Northwich (Red Cross Society) Fate (Paid £15)
Miss G Reid, Struan, Northwich.
(Tea Provided)
8 July 1917 CONCERT – Coventry (Paid £35)
Two Concerts.
W J Cottell. Cemetery Lodge, Coventry
21 July 1917 CONCERT – Groves Enclosure, Chester (Paid £16)
1 Concert (see also 9 June 1917, 23 June 1917, 11 Aug 1917)
28 July 1917 CONCERT – Crewe
Crewe Amalgamated Bowling Clubs (Paid £15)
1 Evening concert in aid of Red Cross.
Dan Green, 105 Hungerford Road, Crewe.
4 Aug 1917 CONCERT – Audley
Audley Oddfellows Fate and Gala (Paid £22)
Secty. E Viggars 6 Chapel Street, Bignall Road.
(Tea Provided)
5 Aug 1917 CONCERT – Manchester Racecourse.
Pendleton and Salford Limited Friendly Societies Council (Paid £30)
Two Concerts on Manchester Racecourse.
Theo Reeves, 67 Lower Seedley Road, Seedley.
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A report and picture (Mr Arthur Stubbs) in the Sandbach Chronicle (Aug 1917) said that; -
LOCAL BANDSMAN DESCRIBED AS “THE GREATEST SOPRANO”
The following under “Manchester and District Notes” in the current issue of the “Brass Band News”, will afford great pleasure to all lovers of brass band music in Congleton:
And now about that treat I promised. Foden’s are coming. Yes, they are. And bringing a couple of programmes with them. The place that has the honour of receiving this famous organisation has been altered from the Manchester Racecourse to the Manchester United Football Ground. The reason for the change I have been told is that there has been such a rush for tickets that it was feared that the racecourse would not hold the tremendous crowd expected. Now I am given to understand that “United’s” ground is capable of holding millions, and it was thought that in the interest of humanity it would be better to have the concerts on the football ground. I am told, although as we all know, Foden’s are a galaxy of stars, that there is one in particular that we must all listen to, and that is the soprano player. The greatest soprano up-to-date. No one knows what thirty years hen might bring along, but in Mr Stubbs I believe we have it.
EXTRA INFO
The Manchester United Football Ground at the time was Old Trafford which in 1917 held 80,000 people. The report also mentions Arthur Stubbs on Soprano which presented a mystery as he had been the 2nd Cornet player with Band in 1915 and was a replacement following the Strike of that year which had seen the departure of Soprano player Joe Brookes who had been sacked by William Halliwell and replaced by a C Smith for a year before Arthur took over in 1916.
(See Spring 1915)
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11 Aug 1917 CONCERT – Groves Enclosure, Chester (Paid £16)
1 Concert (see also 9 June 1917, 23 June 1917, 21 July 1917)
On a brief leave from France, Edwin Firth played at the concert at Chester Groves,
by the River. One of the tunes he played was “Goodbye” by Tosti. Days later he
was due to be sent back to France. (see 1 September 1917)
12 Aug 1917 CONCERT – Winsford Hospital Saturday Committee (Paid £15)
One Concert
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UNKNOWN 17 August 1917 Nantwich Chronicle Page 2.
A Concert by Fodens Motor Works Band included a Grand Selection “Der Freischutz” and a solo from Edwin Firth of “The Mermaid’s Song” and the final item on the programme.
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18 Aug 1917 CONCERT – Sandbach Hospital Fate and Pageant (Paid £15)
J H Broad, Secty
(Tea Provided)
On the 18 August 1917 the Sandbach Fire Brigade led the procession in a parade
from the High Street to the Top of the Hill in Sandbach Heath and then back
via Middlewich Road followed by the Foden’s Band and various floats including
a tableau based on “Gypsy Life” and a party from Congleton with
Juvenile characters.
Others in the cavalcade were the Biddulph Band with Chief Marshall,
William T Rosson (Cab Proprietor) of 21 Crewe Road, Sandbach.
The event was part of the Sandbach Hospital Fate and Pagent organised by
various people including secretary Mr J.H. Broad to raise funds for the
Hospital based at Abbey Fields on Middlewich Road, Sandbach.
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UNKNOWN 24 August 1917 Nantwich Chronicle Page 3.
A Concert by Fodens Motor Works Band under Mr Tom Hynes included Overture “Bohemian Girl” (Balfe), “Valse Balmoral” (Gosling) a trombone solo “The Sailor’s Grave” and Mr Ellis Westwood grand Selection from “I’l Travatore” (Verdi) and a Cornet Solo (Possibly Edwin Firth)
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25 Aug 1917 CONCERT – Chester – One Evening Concert (Paid £16)
1 Sept 1917 COMPETITION – “British Open Championships”, Belle Vue, Manchester.
Test Piece “La Pre aux Clercs” by Herold arr C Godfrey.
The band came Sixth winning £8 / 3 / 0.
Conductor for Foden’s William Halliwell
FIRST Horwich RMI
SECOND Black Dyke Mills
THIRD Woodlands Village
FOURTH Glazebury Church
FIFTH Pemberton Old
SIXTH Foden’s Motor Works Band.
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Feature 1 September 1917 Chester Chronicle Page 2.
Edwin Firth was called by the Military to appear at Chester Castle on the following Wednesday to ask for an extension to his leave from the army as it would be awkward for Foden’s without their Chief Cornet player when they compete in the British Open at Belle Vue, Manchester.
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Sept 1917 COMPETITION – National Brass Band Championships, Crystal Palace, London.
NOT HELD DUE TO THE WAR.
8 Sept 1917 CONCERT - Nantwich (Red Cross Society) (Paid £20)
Selections and Dances 3 to 9.30pm
W Stonehewer Bank House, Nantwich
15 Sept 1917 CONCERT – Longton Park (Red Cross) (Paid £25)
Two Concerts
W H Jones, Sec.
(Tea Provided)
21 Oct 1917 CONCERT – LYCEUM THEATRE Crewe.
FODEN'S MOTOR WORKS BAND in
2 Concerts 3pm and 8pm
Conductor Tom Hynes
Soloists Arthur Webb (Horn)
Ellis Westwood (Trombone)
Private Edwin Firth (Cornet) (See 1918)
Hubert Shergold (Flugel Horn)
Fred Thorpe (Euphonium)
Small Feature Pg 8, 27 Oct Crewe Chronicle.
The Band were Paid £20. They were joined by Crewe Temperance Band.
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1/28th (COUNTY OF LONDON) BATTALION (ARTIST’S RIFLES)
In October 1917 EDWIN FIRTH JOINED THE REGIMENT
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11 Nov 1917 CONCERT – Burslem (Coliseum) (Paid £18)
One Concert
J Paterson Brodie, Lloyds bank Chambers, Burslem.
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1918 FODEN’S MOTOR WORKS BAND
Conductor William Halliwell
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1/28th (COUNTY OF LONDON) BATTALION (ARTIST’S RIFLES)
February 1918, and the Battalion was posted to France. Edwin Firth decided to borrow a battered Cornet he had found in the band room to play at the front so he could keep his lip in. He left his own cornet behind ready for his return.
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29 Mar 1918 CONCERT – Macclesfield (Paid £20)
(Good Friday) W H Braid 25 Bridge Street, Macclesfield
31 Mar 1918 CONCERT – Northwich (W J Yarwood) (Paid £20)
(Easter Sunday) Two Concerts 2.30pm and 7.30pm
(Tea Provided)
April 1918 In April 1918 Edwin Firth’s Doris wife gave birth to a son Edwin Twemlow Firth
but it was not a happy time as the baby’s father was still in France in a place called
Varennes, North West of Amiens and on the 1 June 1918 while returning to the
trenches a shell exploded just outside some woods killing Edwin and his party,
he was only 29 Year’s old.
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1/28th (COUNTY OF LONDON) BATTALION (ARTIST’S RIFLES)
The Regiment was in France in a place called Varennes, North West of Amiens and on the 1 June 1918 while returning to the trenches a shell exploded just outside some woods killing Edwin and the rest of his party.
Possible Picture of Edwin Firth 2nd from Left.
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1 June 1918 Private Edwin Firth 766890 died at the age of 29. He is buried in the
Verennes Military Cemetery near to Albert in France.
A Cul-de-sac in Sandbach is named after him, Edwin Firth close.
Feature 14 June 1918 Nantwich Guardian Page 2 and 3.
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1918 FODEN’S MOTOR WORKS BAND –
after EDWIN FIRTH
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May-June 1918 CONCERT – Silverdale (Paid 25)
(Whit Monday) Two Concerts
John Lowe 53 Abbey Street, Silverdale
(Tea Provided)
3 June 1918 CONCERT – Chester (Paid £16)
One Evening Concert
(see 13 July 1918, 5 Aug 1918, 24 Aug 1918, 14 Sept 1918)
23 June 1918 CONCERT – Elworth Red Cross (Paid Gratis)
6 to 7 July 1918 CONCERT – Birmingham Parks (Paid £65)
W.H. Morton, Council House, Birmingham.
10 July 1918 Tarporley (British Red Cross Society) (Paid £20)
Hons. Mrs Marshall Brookes.
Aux Military Hospital, Portal, Tarporley.
13 July 1918 CONCERT – Chester (Paid £16)
One Evening Concert
(see 8 June 1918, 5 Aug 1918, 24 Aug 1918, 14 Sept 1918)
20 July 1918 CONCERT – Abbey Fields Hospital, Sandbach (Paid – Gratis)
This was possibly a concert for the wounded soldiers at the hospital.
Between 1914 and 1918 during the The Great War between Britain and Germany
“Abbey Fields” on Middlewich Road, Sandbach was converted into a Hospital
for the wounded. The Reverend William Plaskett from the Hope Street Chapel was
the Free Church Chaplin at Abbey Fields. His wife and daughter Rene also
worked in the Hospital as VAD auxiliary nurses.
24 July 1918 CONCERT – Chester
Chester V.A.D. Hospital Upton (Paid £20)
Lady Grosvenor, Oakfields V.A.D. Hospital, Upton Nr Chester
(Tea Provided)
27 July 1918 CONCERT – Butt Lane, Primitive Methodist Chapel (Paid £25)
Geo. J Wise. 46 Woodshutts Street, Butt Lane, Talke.
3 Aug 1918 CONCERT – Audley Oddfellows Fate and Gala (Paid £25)
E Viggars, Chapel Street, Bignall End, Staffs.
(Tea Provided)
5 Aug 1918 CONCERT – Chester (Paid £30)
(Bank Holiday) Two Evening Concerts
(see 8 June 1918, 13 July 1918, 24 Aug 1918, 14 Sept 1918)
7 Aug 1918 CONCERT – Crewe Red Cross Garden Party (Paid £12)
Barklay Towers.
Mr Stringer, Butcher, Nantwich Road, Crewe.
(Tea Provided)
14 Aug 1918 CONCERT – Cholmondeley Castle (Paid £25)
3pm to 5pm
6 to 9pm Dancing
Lady Lettice Harrison
18 Aug 1918 CONCERT – Sandbach Hospital Fate (£15)
J H Broad Secty.
(Tea Provided)
24 Aug 1918 CONCERT – Chester (Paid £16)
One Evening Concert
(see 8 June 1918, 13 July 1918, 5 Aug 1918, 14 Sept 1918)
7 Sept 1918 COMPETITION – “British Open Championships”, Belle Vue, Manchester.
Test Piece “Il Bravo” by Marlini arr C Godfrey
Conductor for Foden’s William Halliwell
FIRST Wingates Temperance (W Halliwell)
SECOND Irwell Springs
THIRD Besses O’ The’ Barn
FOURTH Carlton Main
FIFTH Foden’s Motor Works Band. (W Halliwell)
The band came Fifth winning £11 / 3 / 0.
Foden’s hired deputies for the concert, Lawrence (G Trombone), George Rogerson
(Bb Player), J Sadler (2nd Baritone), Sam Wilkinson (Repiano).
8 Sept 1918 CONCERT – Northwich (Paid £20)
Two Concerts
W J Yarwood, The Dock, Northwich
(Tea Provided)
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NATIONAL NEWS
Sept 1918 COMPETITION – National Brass Band Championships, Crystal Palace, London.
NOT HELD DUE TO THE WAR.
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13 Sept 1918 CONCERT - Peel Park, Salford for LLOYD GEORGE’S VISIT (Paid £30)
Selections from 10am to 1pm.
J and C Lord, Weaste, Manchester.
The occasion included a visit from Prime Minister Lloyd George. Although the
Foden brothers were Liberals they still charged the highest fee they could for
the event.
14 Sept 1918 CONCERT – Chester (Paid £16)
One Evening Concert
(see 8 June 1918, 13 July 1918, 5 Aug 1918, 24 Aug 1918)
15 Sept 1918 CONCERT – Sacred Concert at New Brighton.
Victoria Gardens, New Brighton Promenade (Paid £30)
Two Concerts 3pm and 8.15pm
D P Charlesworth 25 Rice Lane, Egremont
(Earliest Programme available)
In Aid of New Brighton, Egremont, Edith Road and
Brighton Canteens for Wounded Soldiers and Sailors.
Under the patronage and presence of
His Worship the Mayor and Mayoress of Wallasey.
At 3pm and 8.15pm tickets 2/- (reserved) and 1/- and 6d.
AFTERNOON SHOW 3pm
1. The Victor’s Return (William Rimmer)
2. Masaniello (Daniel Francis-Esprit Auber .b. 1782 .D. 1871)
3. The Sailor’s Grave (Arthur Sullivan) Trombone Solo Mr Ellis Westwood
4. A Life for the Czar – Grand Selection
(Michael Ivanovitch Glinks .b. 1803 .D.1857)
INTERVAL
1. Rhapsody Number 1 (Franz Liszt arr William Rimmer)
2. Descriptive Fantasia – Rustic Scenes (William Rimmer)
3. Arbucklenian (St Jacome) Cornet Solo Mr James Thorpe
4. Grand Selection – Rossini’s Works (arr A Owen)
5. God Save the King
EVENING CONCERT 8.15pm
1. On the Quarterdeck (Ancliffe)
2. Overture Poet and Peasant (Suppe) Horn Solo Mr A Webb
3. The British Grenadiers (Hartmann) Euphonium Solo Mr Fred Thorpe
4. Grand Selection – Il Bravo (Marliani) (Test Piece Belle Vue 1918)
INTERVAL
1. Rhapsody No 2 (Franz Liszt)
2. The Village Blacksmith (Gaetas)
3. Cleopatra (Damare) Cornet Solo Mr James Thorpe
4. National Selection – The United Kingdom (William Rimmer)
5. God Save the King
25 Sept 1918 CONCERT – Chester
Broxton Red Cross Fate at Mrs Robert Barbours House “Bank Head” (Paid £25)
Selections and Dancing 2.30 to Dark
C Dennis Esq, Broxton Old Hall, Handley, Chester.
28 Sept 1918 CONCERT – Wesleyan Church, Kidsgrove (Paid £25)
W. H. Wright. The Mount, Kidsgrove.
(Tea Provided)
11 Nov 1918 The GREAT WORLD WAR ended at 5am with the signing of the
armistice in a railway carriage in the forest of Compiegne.
At the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month all fighting officially stopped.
17 Nov 1918 UNITED THANKSGIVING SERVICE at St Mary’s Parish Church, Sandbach, 3pm.
Opening Voluntary “Lead Kindly Light” played by Foden’s Band
Conductor Mr Hines.
HYMNS
1. All People that on Earth do dwell.
2. Psalm XLVI God is our Hope and Strength.
3. Psalm XCVIII O Sing unto the Lord a new Song.
4. Psalm XLVII God me merciful unto us.
5. Hymn 165 and 376
O God our Help in Ages Past
Now Thank we all our God.
7. Hymn - Oh King of Kings Whose Reign of Old.
8. The Hallelujah Chorus Played by Foden’s Band
9. The Trumpet of Victory Played by Mr W Nock on the Church Organ.
10. The National Anthem
11. Concluding Voluntary Played by Foden’s Band.
24 Nov 1918 CONCERT – Hippodrome Warrington (Paid £30)
Thos. Mather. 65 Laira Street, Warrington
(Tea Provided)
15 Dec 1918 CONCERT – LYCEUM THEATRE Crewe.
FODEN'S MOTOR WORKS BAND
In Two Concerts along with the Crewe Temperance Band (Paid £22)
Conductor Tom Hynes
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EDWIN FIRTH Biography.
(.b. 23 Dec 1888 .D. 1 June 1918)
Born on the 23 December 1888 Edwin was the eldest of 11 children to Squire and Clara Firth.
Edwin’s grandfather was Greenwood Firth a solo trombone player with the Black Dyke Band from 1855 to 1879 which also had Edwin’s father Squire Firth in the band world with Black Dyke as a cornet player and later a band trainer and professional coach.
Squire Firth was born in Queensbury, Bradford in 1865 and he alone moved to Earby in 1885 where he was to meet his future wife Clara Wright.
Edwin’s mother was called Clara Wright the daughter of William and Margaret Wright of Schoolfields, Earby, one of seven daughters (Mary J, Elizabeth E, Sarah A, Grace, CLARA, Kezia and Eleanor Wright) and two sons (Alfred and Fred Wright).
Squire Firth and Clara Wright married on the 6 February 1886 and moved to Lindley. Very soon their first child Alice Firth was born. Alice later married James Lindley the son of the Earby Schoolmaster.
Edwin was born in Clara’s Parents home at Schoolfields, Earby in 1888 the usual practice before the NHS as children felt safer having their babies with their mother nearby.
As a youngster Edwin was taught to play the cornet by his father and was also an accomplished singer with the local Parish Church choir in Bradford.
In 1889 the family moved from Lindley to Skipton and Squire Firth was soon enrolled in the Army but was in for less than a year as in 1890 Squire Firth became the landlord of the Wheatsheaf Inn in the High Street, Skipton (In 1908, the Inn closed and was demolished. A Halifax Building Society is now on the site).
In 1892 Squire Firth started conducting the Skipton Old Prize Band with their headquarters moving from the ‘Cock and Bottle’ Public House to his own ‘Wheatsheaf’.
In 1896 Squire Firth took over the Leeds City Band along with guest conducting about 20 other bands and the family including six children moved to Bradford.
In 1899 Squire Firth returned to run the “Wheatsheaf” public house in Skipton as well as running the ‘Skipton Old Prize Band’ again this time with Edwin Firth joining his father who was conducting at the time.
1901 was the year Squire Firth formed the “Skipton Permanent Orchestra” but was also a year of sadness as his and Clara’s daughter Beatrice died at the age of 11 at “Schoolfields” in Earby the home of Edwin’s Grandparents William and Margaret Wright along with their daughter Eleanor Wright / Pickles (.b. 1873 Sister of Clara born in Earby) and her husband Walter Pickles (.b. 1872 in Thornton) with their son Norman W Pickles (.b. 1897 in Earby). The 1901 Census shows Beatrice as a visitor to the house where she stayed until her untimely death with Eleanor, Walter and Norman also visiting the house at this time as according to relatives they lived nearby during this time and not at Schoolfields.
In 1902 Edwin made his debut at the Crystal Palace Competition as a thirteen-year-old Principal Cornet Player and the band came 3rd.
When the family moved to Earby in 1904, Edwin played for Barnsaldswick and Earby bands as well as playing for other bands as a guest soloist. Money from these guest appearances allowed Edwin to get professional tuition and hired Alexander Owen and William Rimmer to help with his playing. This helped his technique and soon his reputation soared.
In 1904 Squire and Clara Firth purchased the properties 4 to 8 Victoria Road, Earby from William Wright, Clara’s father and moved the family into number 8 with eight of their children.
Later Squire Firth let number 6 Victoria Road to a bank with his daughter’s Edith and Pattie (Martha) ran two running two ladies and children’s wear shops at 4 and 8 (After 1920) Victoria Road.
Today there are still a number of shops in the row of buildings.
In 1904, Edwin won his first significant contest in adult company at Bradford. With this success came engagements all over the area including a week at the Rochdale Circus and Hippodrome where he was billed as “Master Edwin Firth – Champion Boy Cornetist, Prize Winner and Gold medallist – a Musical marvel”. At Mexbrough he was billed as “Edwin Firth – Prize Cornet Soloist and Trumpet virtuoso”.
Edwin was in constant demand as a soloist and played with over 50 bands including “Brighouse and Rastrick”, “Black Dyke Band”, “Wingate’s Temperance” and in 1906 Edwin played Solo Cornet with the “Barnoldswick” at Crystal Palace when the band came 2nd in the competition with his father Square Firth conducting.
So popular was Edwin that “Fan’s” would wait outside 8 Victoria Road, Earby to hear him practice. A story from this time tells us that when he was ill his supporters spread straw on the road outside his house to deaden the noise from the horses and carts passing by.
In 1908, he attended the contest at the “Shoulder of Mutton Inn” at Mytholmroyd where he competed against 24 of the finest players in the country. Edwin came first winning 25 shillings but more significant were the players he beat into second and third place as they like Edwin would become members of Fodens Band. Second was Fred Mortimer from Hebden Bridge and third was Arthur Webb of Houghton Main. No one could have predicted how these three would have gone on to play such an important part of the history of the Sandbach band.
In 1908, a contest at Hanley, Stoke on Trent was attended by Edwin Firth and the players were watched by Edwin Foden and the scouting directors for the Fodens Motor Works Band who had already decided to offer the young player the job of Principal Cornet but needed to make sure. On listening to him playing “Fatherland” to perfection they were then in no doubt that they should offer him the position.
On the 23rd December 1908, William Foden wrote to Edwin’s father to invite his son to join the band (Because he was 20 years old and considered a minor).
Dear Sir
We were over at the solo contest last Saturday at Hanley and were pleased at the way your son went through his piece.
We have a first-class band connected with the works and are open to take on another Solo Cornet player. It is our intention to attend all the principal contests during the next season and have arranged with William Rimmer to come over every fortnight to a rehearsal (he lived in Southport) and go with us to the contests. We have a large Engineering Works and have several branches of trade associated with it.
We do not know whether your son has any special trade but we can come to terms with you, we would do our best to put a good trade in his fingers which would, we think, be helpful to him in the future.
We shall be glad if you can arrange to come over and bring your son to a practice. We will then go fully into the matter with you.
William Foden
Director.
In 1909 Edwin joined the band full time, but instead of joining the Foden Works he continued training as a Watchmaker as well as being a freelance musician.
On the 22 October 1909 an agreement was made between Fodens Limited and Squire Firth and his son Edwin. The Contract gave him 10/6d plus expenses with a 15-shilling payment for every concert and contest. The money was more than Edwin’s brothers and sisters were earning at the time in the cotton mills of Earby.
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EDWIN FIRTH’S CONTRACT
It is hereby agreed that the aforementioned Edwin Firth shall be engaged by Fodens Limited as their Principal Solo Cornet player at a payment of ten shillings and six pence plus expenses for every rehearsal attended, and fifteen shillings plus expenses for every contest and engagement.
It is understood that Edwin shall attend one rehearsal a week during the two years, and also attended every Contest and engagement at which his services shall be required by Fodens Limited.
(This arrangement was extended from the 31 December 1909 to the 31 December 1911.)
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In Edwin Firth’s diary it showed that he attended two rehearsals a week as well as playing in front of Edwin Foden (Founder of the Band) who was too ill to attend rehearsals.
1910 was a great year for the band as they won the Double Championships with the first being on the 5 September at the “British Open Championships”, Belle Vue, Manchester for the Jennison Trophy, when they played the test piece “Acis and Galatea” by Handel beating the Shaw Band (W Halliwell) into second place and Perfection Soap Works Band (W Halliwell) into third with William Halliwell winning all three places.
Next was on the 1 October 1910 at the “National Brass Band Championships” at Crystal Palace, London with the competition piece “Gems of Schubert” arranged by William Rimmer.
William Halliwell lost second place this time round as Irwell Springs conducted by Alexander Owen took that place and Mr Halliwell came third with the Spencer’s Steel Works Band (W Halliwell).
Success came at a price for Edwin Foden as he had to pay out 5/- (5 Shillings) to each of the old people of Elworth as a reward for the support from the local community towards the band a promise he had made before the championships. Edwin Foden was in bad health at the time but had rallied enough to announce the 5-shilling donation and a free tea and evening celebration which would be arranged for when the band returned to the town.
The 1911 Census shows that Edwin Firth was lodging with Joiner, John Mellow (.b. 1855) his wife Charlotte Elizabeth Mellor (.b. 1848) and daughter Beatrice Mellor (.b. 1884) at 9 Elworth.
On the 5 January 1912, Sam Twemlow offered Edwin a new contract. The contract was sent to Edwin’s parent’s home in Victoria Road, Earby.
Dear Edwin
Regarding renewal of Agreement, we have talked the matter over but cannot arrive at any decision until we know more of what your ideas are. Would you care to come and work here, say in the offices? Or would you prefer to go on as you are, with us paying you more money?
If you would suggest something by letter to give us an idea of what your future intentions are, we could think the matter over and settle something with you at the next rehearsal.
If your father would care to come with you we shall be pleased to see him and pay his expenses.
Sam Twelmow (Director)
In the event Edwin decided that he would like to do a combination of a job at Fodens Offices, plus a small remuneration for playing with the band.
Harry Mortimer in his biography recited that Edwin Firth who had come to Fodens from Earby was at the time a bachelor and Edwin Foden decided it was time for his daughters and grand-daughters to get married and so he persuaded his new cornet player to get to know one of them and they eventually married (Actually it was Doris, the daughter of Sam Twemlow and Grand-daughter of Edwin). The same introduction greeted Harry Mortimer when he came to the band but he managed to evade capture.
In 1913 The British Bandsman decided to hold a competition to find the best new March. It was won by Edwin Firth with his composition “Westwood Ho”.
1913 was also the year Edwin recorded his first records with Fodens Band and also a solo 78 with “Cleopatra” and “Pandora” becoming one of the classic recordings of any solo artist of the time and the people of his home town Earby purchased many of the original pressings on its release in March 1914.
In 1914 the country went to war with Germany and many of the men at the works and in the band wanted to sign up to take part in the fight for good. Edwin who was by now aged 25 years old stayed at the works.
In October 1915, Edwin played at a concert in Crewe (Possibly the Town Hall) performing as a soloist along with Miss Lillian Coper of Crewe (Singer), E Gibson (Violin), G K Dickinson (Viola) and F Morris (Cello).
In 1916 Edwin married Edwin Foden’s grand-daughter Doris Twemlow (.b. Jan 1892 .D. 31 Dec 1991 the daughter of Sam Twemlow)
The family moved into Springfield, Sandbach and Doris or Mrs E Firth as she was named, joined the Sandbach Red Cross working party to raise funds for the Abbey Field Hospital (Middlewich Road, Sandbach) putting in 3 hours a week for two years until April 1918.
Three years after the start of the war in 1917 Edwin Firth finally decided to leave the band to join the 28th London Regiment (the Artists Rifles) as a Private (766890).
At first Edwin was allowed home at the weekends to play with the band and to see his wife.
In September 1917 the Chester Chronicle reported that Edwin Firth had been called by the Military to appear at Chester Castle to ask for an extension to his leave from the army as it would be awkward for Foden’s without their Chief Cornet player when they compete in the British Open at Belle Vue, Manchester on the 1 September when they unfortunately came sixth.
At the end of 1917 on another brief leave from his regiment, Edwin Firth had played at Chester Groves (11 Aug 1917), by the River. One of the tunes he played as an encore was “Goodbye” by Tosti, he thought that it would be appropriate. However, his fellow band members tried to talk him out of playing it as they saw this as a bad omen. How right they were.
In October 1917, Edwin played one of his last concerts at the Lyceum Theatre, Crewe (21 Oct 1917) before he went to join his regiment for what would be his last deployment.
In February 1918 his company were posted to France and Edwin decided to borrow a battered cornet he had found in the band room which he took to the war so he could keep his lip in leaving behind his main instrument for his return.
One of Edwin’s fellow soldiers was a cartoonist with the Daily Express called “Strube” who later drew a picture of Edwin on a programme for a concert by the 28th London Artists Rifles. Sidney Conrad Strube was born on the 30 December 1892 and started working at the Daily Express in 1912 with the paper publishing his first book of cartoons in 1913. He was a Corporal in the 28th London Regiment (the Artists Rifles) in charge of Physical Training and Bayonet instruction. One day he filled a Bayonet dummy with red paint which when a new recruit punctured caused him to faint. By 1915 he was a Sergeant and continued to draw scenes and people during the war before he was finally demobbed in December 1918 after which he returned to the Daily Express where he continued for many years as their cartoonist. Strube died on the 4 March 1956.
In April 1918 Edwin Firth’s, Doris wife gave birth to a son Edwin Twemlow Firth (Known as Teddy) but it was not a happy time as the baby’s father was still fighting in France.
In May 1918, well known cornet player Arthur Laycock (Who had married and lived in Earby) told his brother Harold of Edwin and that he was at the Somme. When Harold was sent to the front he heard a cornet playing from the trenches and on enquiring found it to be Edwin Firth. They soon talked about Arthur Laycock and the people and places of Earby a final reminder of home for Edwin.
In a place called Varennes, North West of Amiens on the 1 June 1918, while returning to the trenches a shell exploded just outside some woods killing Edwin and his party, he was only 29 Year’s old.
Post Girl at the time was his sister Pattie (Martha Tatersall / Firth) who had to deliver the telegram to her parents saying he had been killed.
At this time Squire and Clara were still in 8 Victoria Road, Earby when they received the news of Edwin’s death as well as the news that two of Edwin’s brother’s, Walter and Wright had also been badly wounded during the war. Walter was gassed and invalided out of the army while his brother Wright had his leg amputated.
Private Edwin Firth 766890 of the London Regiment (Artists’ Rifles) is buried in the Verennes Military Cemetery near to Albert in France (Plot Number III E. 13).
Doris Firth received the following message on the death of her husband.
“Dear Mrs Firth
I regret exceedingly to inform you that your husband was killed in action on the night of June 1st by a shell. I am pleased to be able to tell you that his death was instantaneous. He was a keen and efficient soldier, and very popular with his comrades, by whom his loss is keenly felt.
With deepest sympathy, I am, yours Sincerely,
T LEGG, Captain.
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His family wrote at the time a poem.
His pleasant ways and smiling face
Are pleasant to recall;
He had a kindly word for each,
And was beloved by all.
No one knows the silent heartache,
None but those can tell
Who have lost their best and dearest
Without the last farewell.
(Father, Mother, Sisters and Brothers, 8 Victoria Road)
(Some Websites have the address at this time as 2 Victoria Road, Earby which is wrong
according to Squire Firth the son of Ceres Firth the brother of Edwin)
Edwin’s name appears on the Elworth War Memorial and a memorial stone on the family grave in St Mary’s Churchyard in Thornton-in-Craven is decorated with a cornet and the words “The Trumpet Shall Sound”.
Allan Littlemore persuaded the Sandbach Council to name “Firth Close” a cul-de-sac just off Bradwall Road after this remarkable player. (2009?)
LIFE AFTER EDWIN
In 1920 Squire Firth moved what was left of his family, those who had not left home, to “Heather view” in Green End Road, Earby about half a mile from their previous residence.
Four years later in 1924, Squire Firth died. He was given a huge funeral by his family and the town which included a procession from Earby to the St Mary’s Churchyard at Thornton where he is buried along with his wife Clara who died later in 1935.
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EDWIN FIRTH FAMILY TREE / CENSUS DETAILS
1881 at 4 Fieldhouse Square
Greenwood Firth (.b. 1833 Grandfather / Father of Squire Firth)
1881 = A Warp Dresser at Worsted Factory
1911 = A Warp Dresser, Living at 60 Saville Street, Bradford.
Martha Firth (.b. 1835-6 Grandmother / Mother of Squire Firth, Northowram, Yorkshire)
1911 = Martha had died before this Census
Annie E Firth (.b. 1859 Sister of Squire Firth)
Squire Firth (.b. 1865)
Job Firth (.b. 1868 Brother of Squire Firth)
Agnes Firth (.b. 1874 Sister of Squire Firth)
Arthur Firth (.b. 1878 Brother of Squire Firth)
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Squire Firth (.b. 1865 Father, Queensbury)
1881 = Solicitor’s Clark
1891 = Licenced Victualler (Pub landlord)
1911 = Cotton Warp Dresser. Living at 8 Victoria Rd, Earby via Colne.
Clara Firth / Clara Wright (.b. 1866 Mother, Earby, Yorkshire)
Alice A Firth (.b. 1887 Sister, Lindley in Yorkshire)
1911 = Hosier
EDWIN FIRTH (.b. 22 Dec 1888 .D. 1 June 1918)
Beatrice Firth (.b. 1890 .D. 15 July 1901 aged 11) (Not in Census Records)
Wright Firth (.b. 1894 Brother, in Skipton, Yorkshire)
1911 = Cotton Qwester
Walter Firth (.b. 1895 Brother, in Skipton, Yorkshire)
1911 = Clerk Co-operative Society
Edith Firth (.b. 1897 Sister, Skipton, Yorkshire)
1911 = Cotton Beamer
Gwladys Firth (.b. 1899 Sister, Earby, Yorkshire)
1911 = School
Martha Firth (.b. 1901 Sister, Skipton, Yorkshire)
1911 = School
Margaret / Madge (.b. 1903 Sister, Skipton, Yorkshire)
1911 = School
Ceres Firth (.b. 1906 Brother, Earby, Yorkshire)
1911 = School
Kathleen Firth (.b. 1909 Sister, Earby, Yorkshire)
1911 = School
Pattie Firth (Details not Known)
1891 Squire Firth’s Census included Servant Mary Jane Duggan from Newcastle .b. 1867.
1911 Census shows the family had 11 Children / 10 Living / 01 Died
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CLARA FIRTH’S FAMILY (Edwin Firth’s Mother)
Lived at School Fields, Earby, Yorkshire
William Wright (.b. 1827 Father of Clara born in Kelbrook, Yorkshire)
1881 = Cotton Weaver
Margaret Wright (.b. 1833 Mother of Clara born in Earby, Yorkshire)
Mary J Wright (.b. 1854 Sister of Clara born in Earby)
1881 = Cotton Weaver
Alfred Wright (.b. 1856 Brother of Clara born in Earby)
Elizabeth E Wright (.b. 1858 Sister of Clara born in Earby)
Frederick Wright (.b. 1859 Brother of Clara born in Earby)
Sarah A Wright (.b. 1862 Sister of Clara born in Earby)
Grace Wright (.b. 1865 Sister of Clara born in Earby)
CLARA WRIGHT (.b. 1866 born in Earby)
Kezia Wright (.b. 1868 or 1872 Sister of Clara born in Earby) (In Census also as Hezia)
1881 = Nurse
1891 = Grocer and Draper
Eleanor Wright (.b. 1873 Sister of Clara born in Earby)
1891 = Cotton Weaver
1901 CENSUS Married to Walter Pickles (.b. 1872 in Thornton)
CHILDREN Norman W Pickles (.b. 1897 in Earby)
Beatrice Firth (.b. 1892 in Earby)
(The 1901 Census records give Father and Mother of Beatrice as Walter and Eleanor,
However, she had been staying at the house at the time of the census and so the record
has been recorded wrong in the internet update / interpretation.)
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EDWIN FIRTH’S FAMILY HISTORY
GREENWOOD FIRTH (.b. 1833) Married MARTHA FIRTH (.b. 1836 .D. between 1891 and 1911)
CHILDREN
Annie E Firth (.b. 1859), SQUIRE FIRTH (.b. 1865 .D. 1924), Job Firth (.b. 1868) and Arthur Firth (.b. 1878)
SQUIRE FIRTH (.b. 1865 .D. 1924) Married CLARA WRIGHT (.b. 1866 .D. 1935)
CHILDREN
Alice A Firth (.b. 1887 in Lindley, Yorkshire) Married James Lindley
EDWIN FIRTH (.b. 23 Dec 1888 .D. 1 June 1918)
Married in 1916 - DORIS TWEMLOW (.b. Jan 1892 .D. 31 Dec 1991)
Children = Edwin Firth (Known as Teddy) (.b. Apr 1918 .D. 1994 aged 75)
Beatrice Firth (.b. 1890 .D. 1901 aged 11)
Wright Firth (.b. 1894)
Walter Firth (.b. 1895)
Edith Firth (.b. 1897)
Gwladys Firth (.b. 1899) Married Harold Astin
Children = Kathleen Astin (Daughter), Terry Astin (Son)
Martha Firth (Known as Pattie) (.b. 1901) Married Walter Tatersall
Children = David Tattersall (son), Hazel and Shirley (Daughters)
Margaret Firth (Known as Madge) (.b. 1903 .D. 2001)
Ceres Firth (Son .b. 1906) Married Violet Dennis
Children = Squire Firth
Kathleen Firth (.b. 1909) Married Lewis Wright
(Later Lord Lewis Wright who was the President of the TUC in 1968)
Children = Owen Wright
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EXTRA INFORMATION
LORD LEWIS TATAM WRIGHT, Baron Wright of Ashton Under Lyne CBE
Born on the 11 October 1903 with the name Lewis Trentam Styles.
DIED 15 Sept 1974.
Between 1940 and 1974 when Lewis died he lived at 12 Brookfield Grove, Ashton Under Lyne which has a Blue Plaque on its wall in recognition of his achievements which was unveiled on the 20 September 2005.
Lewis had worked for many years as a textile worker and in 1953 succeeded Andrew Naesmith as Secretary General of the Union. Between 1953 and 1968 Lewis was the General Secretary of the Textile Workers Union Amalgamated Weavers’ Association and on the 1 January 1964 was awarded the CBE for his many years of service. In 1968, was made a Life Peer and thus became a Member of the House of Lords. He was replaced as General Secretary by Harry Kershaw.
At the Blackpool Conference of the TUC (Trade Union Congress) Lewis was elected president to succeed Harry Douglass and served a term of one year in office before being replaced by John E Newton in Portsmouth at the Conference in 1969.
Between 1969 and 1970 he was the President of the Textile Institute in Manchester.
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EDWIN FIRTH’S TIME WITH FODEN’S BAND.
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1909 FODENS MOTOR WAGON
WORKS BAND
Conductor William Rimmer
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1909 With William Rimmer in charge Alf J. Jackson decided it was time to go as
Bandmaster. Mr Edwin Foden decided to appoint Ted Wormald to take over as
Bandmaster and by September he was leading the band in concerts.
Ted had come from Kingston Mills, at Hyde in North Cheshire.
11 Sept 1909 Crewe Chronicle Page 8
FODEN’S MOTOR WAGGON WORKS BAND, SANDBACH
Winners of Belle Vue September Contest.
1909 BAND MEMBERS
INSTRUMENT PLAYER
Organiser Edwin Foden (Organiser - Sponsor)
Bandmaster Ted Wormald
Conductor Ted Wormald (Conductor previously with Kingston Mills)
Conductor William Rimmer (Professional Conductor of Black Dyke,
Wingates Temperance etc.)
Cornet Edwin Firth (from Earby)
Cornet Herbert Harrison (assistant Solo Cornet from Stockport)
Cornet Joe Brookes (Cornet Soloist of Lindley and
Prize winner in solo contests)
Euphonium Percy Shaw (Solo Euphonium from Copley in Halifax
and Sowerby Bridge)
Euphonium Fred Risdale (Euphonium from Aberdare)
Trombone George Hinkinson
(Solo Trombone from Crewe who previously played with Horwich)
Solo Horn Fred Sowood (Formally with Wyke Temperance Band)
Cornet Jim Thorpe
Jack Hodgkinson
Jim Easthope
J Ward
T Bartles
J. H. Griffiths
A. E West
Harry Gresty
W Bamford
Ben Rowarth
F Foster
George Walker
Walter Cradleton
Harry Cornack
J Smith
Bill Sheard
Ernest Evans
S. Edgar Charlesworth
Librarian C Jones
Secretary Mr Don Henry Burgess
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JIM THORPE / JAMES THORPE Biography.
.b. 1883 Glossop.
Jim Thorpe had joined the band in 1909 and was to follow on from the late Edwin Firth as Principal cornet player with the band on his death in 1918.
By 1936 Mr Thorpe had won over 160 Gold and Silver Medals and a number of Silver Challenge cups.
Jim was also winner of the Empire Solo Championship at Belle Vue, Manchester.
From time to time he has assisted the Black Dyke Mills, Irwell Springs, Kensington Mills, Glossop, Royston, Barrow Shipyard, Rushton, Clydebank, Glasgow and Cumberland Brass Band.
In 1936 Mr Thorpe was teaching and adjudicating within the brass band world.
(Edited from a 1936 history of the Foden Motor Works Band)
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FRED SOWOOD Biography.
At the age of 14 Fred joined the Owram Brass Band followed at the age of 16 by the Bradford City Brass Band on soprano.
The Wyke Temperance Band was assisted by Fred on Solo Horn with their winning performances until 1908.
By 1915 Fred was the band’s Librarian a position he held for well over 21 years.
By 1936, Fred had not missed a single competition in his life with Foden’s Band and was the oldest serving member of the band and was also a member of the Number 1 Quartette.
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19 Sept 1909 CONCERT – LYCEUM THEATRE Crewe.
2 Concerts at 3.30pm and 8pm
Ted Foden (Organiser - Sponsor)
Conductor Edward Wormald.
Band Members Edwin Firth (Cornet)
Jim Thorpe (Solo Cornet)
Jack Hodgkinson (Solo Cornet)
Herbert Harrison (Solo Cornet)
E Foster (Cornet)
Sam Twemlow (Cornet)
George Walker (Cornet)
Jim Easthope (Cornet)
J. H. Griffiths (2nd Cornet)
Joe Brookes (Soprano Cornet)
J Ward (Flugel Horn)
T Bartles (Flugel Horn)
A. E. West (Solo Horn)
Fred Sowood (First Horn) (1908-9 to 2 Jan 1956)
Walter Cradleton (2nd Horn)
J Smith (Solo Baritone)
Harry Cornack (Baritone)
Harry Gresty (B Flat Bass)
W Bamford (B Flat Bass)
Percy Shaw (Solo Euphonium)
George Hinkinson (Solo Trombone)
S. Edgar Charlesworth (2nd Trombone)
Ernest Evans (Bass Trombone)
Bill Sheard (E Flat Bass)
Ben Rowarth (E Flat Bass)
(List from Crewe Chronicle Photograph and report)
Small Item and Photo Page 8, 11 Sept Crewe Chronicle on their Championship Win.
25 Sept 1909 COMPETITION – National Brass Band Championships at Crystal Palace, London.
For the Crystal Palace 1,000 guinea trophy.
(The Foden Band Diary puts the date at the 26 October 1909)
The test piece was Wagner’s “The Flying Dutchman” arranged by Sam Cope.
The band came second to William Rimmer’s other band “Shaw”.
Foden’s were awarded the “Daily Telegraph Cup” for Second place.
They won £100 and some instruments.
Test Piece “The Flying Dutchman” by Wagner arr C Godfrey.
Conductor William Rimmer.
RESULTS FIRST Shaw (W Rimmer)
SECOND Foden’s Motor Works (W Rimmer)
THIRD Perfection Soap Works (W Halliwell)
Sept 1909 William Rimmer told Edwin Foden that before the next Year’s competitions he
would be retiring from Competitions. He would be devoting his time to the Southport
Municipal Military Band and composing music. (See end of year for Biography)
1909 On Rimmer’s recommendation, Edwin Foden appointed William Halliwell as
Conductor and Professional Coach. Mr Halliwell originated from Roby Mill near
Wigan and had previously been with the Upholland Temperance Band where he had
been Solo Cornet and Bandmaster.
17 Nov 1909 CONCERT – For the Macclesfield Town Band
Two Concerts with tea provided (Paid £20)
20 Nov 1909 CONCERT – For the Stockport and £ and week Employees Band
Two Concerts including Tea (Paid £18)
1 Dec 1909 CONCERT - Winsford Hospital Saturday Committee
Evening Concert (Paid £12)
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WILLIAM HALLIWELL Biography.
.b. 11 March 1864 .D. 24 Apr 1946.
William was born in 1864 in Roby Mill a village next to Upholland and five miles from Wigan, Lancashire. He had a brother called David Halliwell who gained an MBE and was Chairman of the Roby Mills New Methodist Sunday School when they laid the foundation stone on the 2 September 1937 to a new school a sequel to the one that he and William had gone to in their earlier days.
William Halliwell’s musical life started as a Harmonium player with the hope of his parents that he would graduate to the organ. By the age of 12 William was good enough to play the organ at several places of worship.
At the age of 16 William had managed to change to the cornet by joining the Upholland Temperance Band where he gained a tutor and within twelve months he was playing solo cornet with the band. Four years later he was appointed Bandmaster and started doing solo cornet and trumpet engagements for concerts and oratorios with bands like the Wigan Orchestral Society.
In 1887 William was engaged by the Wigan Rifle Band as solo cornet appearing for his first outing at the Belle Vue contest in July. Success led to him being appointed Bandmaster with the Rifle’s, however his personnel engagements started to take over and he soon decided to resign his position.
In February 1893 William was asked to return to the Wigan Rifle Band as conductor to help improve the standard of musicianship. Although some of the members had moved on to the Pemberton Old Band William was able to make a noticeable improvement to the band.
William was also Senior Bandmaster to the whole Brigade of Territorials and in 1894 was asked to take charge of the Fifth Territorial Battalion, Manchester Regiment Band who provided the Guard of Honour when Queen Victoria opened the Manchester Ship Canal on the 21 May 1894 (The canal had been opened on the 1st January 1894 to traffic).
Over the year Mr Halliwell went on to conduct The Standish Brass Band.
In 1910 William Rimmer retired from conducting the famous Foden Motor Works Band and recommended William Halliwell to take on the role as Professional Conductor with the band.
At the National Championships in 1911, William Rimmer was conducting four of the top six prizewinning bands including Foden’s.
1911 RESULTS FIRST Perfection Soap Works (W Halliwell)
SECOND Foden Motor Works (W Halliwell)
FOURTH Shaw (W Halliwell)
SIXTH Spencer’s Steel Works (W Halliwell)
UNPLACED Hebden Bridge (W Halliwell)
UNPLACED Luton Red Cross (W Halliwell)
William Halliwell was no stranger to the Royal family playing in front of them at Crewe Hall with Foden’s in 1913 and in front of the King at Lambton Castle the home of Lord Durham and Buckingham Palace with St Hilda’s Colliery Band.
On leaving Foden’s for reasons that the band played better for Fred Mortimer than they did for him, he went on to conduct other bands, taking them to success at the National Competitions and Belle Vue.
Other bands Halliwell conducted included –
Irwell Springs, Nelson Old, Wingates, Black Dyke Mills, Clydebank Burgh,
Besses O ‘th Barn, Brighouse and Rastrick, Lincoln Melleable Works,
Sowerby Bridge, Harton Colliery, Munn and Feltons.
On the 24 April 1946 aged 82. He was buried in Upholland Church Cemetery.
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1910 FODEN’S MOTOR WAGON
WORKS BAND
Conductor William Halliwell
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5 Feb 1910 CONCERT – Sandbach Liberal Association (Paid £6)
18-26 Feb 1910 CONCERT – Manchester Motor Show
12 Concerts each day (Paid £110)
26 March 1910 COMPETITION – Barnsoldwick
(Easter Saturday) Awarded Third place winning £5.
28 Mar 1910 COMPETITION – Abergavenny
(Easter Mon) Awarded First place winning £47 / 10 / 0
28 Mar 1910 COMPETITION – Mountain Ash
The band came Second winning £12.
16 May 1910 COMPETITION – Hawarden.
The band came Third winning £8.
17 May 1910 CONCERT – For the Tamworth and District Band of Hope (Paid £35)
21 May 1910 COMPETITION – New Brighton.
The band came Third winning £15.
28 May 1910 COMPETITION – Darwin
The band came Fourth winning £4.
19 June 1910 Sacred Concerts at Crewe Alexandra Football Club (Paid £15)
25 June 1910 COMPETITION – Newtown.
The band came Second winning £20.
29 June 1910 CONCERT – Huddersfield Corporation
12 Concerts (Paid £32)
9 July 1910 Northwich Annual Fate (Paid £15)
16 July 1910 COMPETITION – Lister Park, Bradford, Yorkshire.
The band came Third winning £10.
24 July 1910 Sacred Concerts at Elworth (Paid £7/10/0)
30 July 1910 COMPETITION – White City, Manchester (Nr Old Trafford).
The band came Second winning £20.
4 Aug 1910 Market Drayton Horticultural Society (Paid £15)
6 Aug 1910 COMPETITION – New Brighton (Theatre), Wirral, Nr Liverpool.
Achieved first prize. Winning a Cup and Vase plus £80.
13 Aug 1910 Hugglescote Horticultural Improvement Society (2 Concerts – Paid £35)
20 Aug 1910 Elworth Show and Sports Day (Paid £10)
27 Aug 1910 Shipley and Cotmanhay Floral and Horticultural Society (Teas provided) (Paid £25)
5 Sept 1910 COMPETITION – “British Open Championships”, Belle Vue, Manchester.
(Jennison Trophy)
Test Piece “Acis and Galatea” by Handel.
The contest was held at the newly built Kings Hall at the Belle Vue site.
The Band came FIRST winning a Cup, Hawkes Cornet, three Medals and £134.
Conductor for Foden’s William Halliwell.
FIRST Foden’s Motor Works Band (W Halliwell).
SECOND Shaw (W Halliwell)
THIRD Perfection Soap Works (W Halliwell)
1910 BAND MEMBERS
INSTRUMENT PLAYER
Professional Conductor William Halliwell
Bandmaster Edward Wormald
Principal Cornet Edwin Firth
Ass Cornet Solo Herbert Harrison (assistant cornet soloist from Stockport)
Solo Cornet Jim Thorpe (.b. 1883 Joined Foden’s in 1909)
Solo Cornet Jack Hodgkinson
Soprano Cornet Soloist Joe Brookes
Repiano Cornet George Walker
2nd Cornet J. H. Griffiths
2nd Cornet Stephen Bartles
3rd Cornet F Foster
3rd Cornet Jim Easthope
Flugel Horn J Ward
First Horn Fred Sowood
Solo Horn A. E. West
2nd Horn Walter Cradleton
Solo Baritone J Smith
2nd Baritone Harry Cornack
Solo Trombone George Hinkinson
2nd Trombone S. Edgar Charlesworth
Bass Trombone Ernest Evans
Solo Euphonium Percy Shaw
2nd Euphonium Alf Crossley
E Flat bass Alec Bamford
E Flat bass (William) Bill Sheard
B Flat bass Ben Rowarth
B Flat bass Harry Gresty
Cornet T Brooks (Deputised for Joe Brookes)
Tenor Horn T Bartles
B Flat Bass W Bamford
Band Secretary Edwin R Foden
Band Secretary William Foden
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STEPHEN BARTLES Biography Solo Flugel / 2nd Cornet 1910 to 1912+
Stephen Bartles was born on the 4 March 1881 in Patricroft near Manchester.
At the age of eight years old he was learning to play the soprano cornet with the Swinton Schools Band whose bandmaster was a Mr R Kirk.
At the age of 12 Stephen won his first competition in September 1893 when he played the test piece a Set of Waltzes beating many older and experienced players.
When he reached the age of fourteen Stephen was drafted into the army and affiliated to the 10th Royal Hussars and their famous cavalry band where he played the French Horn, an instrument chosen for him by Mr R Wade of the 5th Lancers and Band Master of the 10th Hussars. He soon reached the position of Solo Horn and held this seat from 1899 to 1901 when he left the army gaining a marble clock from the band with an illuminated “Roll Call” on his departure n 1902.
Stephen’s first musical job after leaving the army was with the Eccles Borough Band but after eighteen months he decided to move on to the Pendleton Old Band where he had to swap from the Flugel to the Soprano Cornet as his instrument with the band. He continued in the role of soprano player with the Pendleton Band for five years assisting in their success in competitions. Their first contest promoted by the Oldham Rifles Band gained Stephen Bartles his first Gold Medal for the best Soprano player out of the twenty-five bands competing that day.
On leaving the Pendleton Old Band, Stephen moved to the Wingates Band and again took up the Soprano Cornet seat where he improved his knowledge of competitions and was soon head hunted by other bands including the South Wales Band “Cyfathefa and Merthyr Municipal Band”. While in South Wales he also assisted the Ferndale Band but he wanted more success with competitions and in 1910 he joined the Foden Motor Works Band in Sandbach on 2nd Cornet and according to a “British Bandsman” feature on the 24 February 1912, soon became a first cornet player before William Halliwell decided to move him to Solo Flugel.
At a competition at Gainsborough he was awarded first prize and cornet medal while at a Heanor Competition he was awarded fifth prize. His performance was even more remarkable as he had to play his part from memory as he had lost his copy of the music.
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ALFRED E CROSSLEY Biography 2nd Euphonium 1910 to 1913
Alfred was a member of the Border Mounted Rifles (Trooper Service Number 258) during the Boar War (1899 to 1902) and then the Highland Regiment.
The next time we have information about him was when he became a Steam Wagon Fitter with Foden’s Motor Works where he joined the Band on 2nd Euphonium.
By the end of 1925 he had immigrated to Montreal in Canada where he opened two butcher’s shops. Once set up in business he invited his wife and two children to join him.
He was however a drinker and in 1926 he fell down a staircase killing himself. His body was first buried in Montreal and then his wife moved back to Padiham with her husband’s body which was reburied in the local church. His sons did not attend the funeral as they had both left home at the ages of 13 and 14 with one of them joining the Navy.
(Died in Canada in 1926)
Information from Andrew Robert Crossley (Grandson of A. E. Crossley) June 2015
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17 Sept 1910 COMPETITION – Colwyn Bay.
The band came Second winning £15.
1 Oct 1910 COMPETITION – National Brass Band Championships at Crystal Palace, London.
Competition piece “Gems of Schubert” arranged by William Rimmer.
They were second to play in the competition a position many thought would be a
handicap but the band defied the odds and came FIRST gaining the double win.
They were awarded £40, a Boosey’s Cornet and medals along with the trophy
which had to be returned the following year.
DOUBLE WIN FOR FODEN’S
This was the first year Foden’s Band had won both the “British Open Championships”
and the “National Brass Band Championships” being one of only a handful to have
done this in the competitions History. They also managed to do it again in 2013.
(1 Oct 1910) COMPETITION – National Brass Band Championships, Crystal Palace, London
For the Crystal Palace 1,000 guinea trophy.
Test Piece “Gems of Schubert” by William Rimmer.
Conductor William Halliwell.
RESULTS FIRST Foden’s Motor Works (W Halliwell)
SECOND Irwell Springs (Alexander Owen)
THIRD Spencer’s Steel Works (W Halliwell)
FOURTH Shaw (W Hallipwell)
UNPLACED Goodshaw (W Halliwell)
Oct 1910 Success came at a price for Edwin Foden. 5/- (5 Shillings) to each of the old people
of Elworth a Reward for the support from the local community towards the band.
Edwin Foden was in bad health but rallied enough to announce the 5 shilling
donation and a free tea and evening celebration would be arranged for the bands
return.
16 Oct 1910 CONCERT – Crewe Borough Band – 65% of takings
23 Oct 1910 CONCERT – Crewe Borough Band (2 Concerts) – 65% of takings
30 Oct 1910 CONCERT – St Patrick’s Band, Wigan (2 Concerts) (Paid £30)
1 Nov 1910 CONCERT – Winsford Hospital Committee – Evening Concert (Paid £12)
A picture taken by Phyllis Hithirington shows Ted Wormald being lifted aloft
With Edwin Firth and Stephen Bartles at the front of the band.
5 Nov 1910 CONCERT – Rattering – Evening Concert (Paid 60% of the Takings)
6 Nov 1910 CONCERT – Leicester Boulevarde (Paid £35)
12 Nov 1910 CONCERT – Presbyterian Baptist Church, Wrexham (2 Concerts) (Paid £25)
14 Nov 1910 CONCERT – Congleton Liberal Association (Paid £14)
17 Nov 1910 CONCERT – Hanley Town Hall (On Our Own)
19 Nov 1910 CONCERT – Wilmslow Concert (Evening) (Paid £15)
20 Nov 1910 CONCERT – Northwich Salvation Army – 2 Concerts (Teas provided) (Paid £22)
22 Nov 1910 The day of the celebration of the National Brass Band Championship win
organised by Edwin Foden took place in the new extension to the factory, a
building that had not yet been occupied by the workers. For 70 years it was to
become the machine shop.
According to a report of the time, along with the old folk who stayed behind after
their celebratory tea the evening concert was attended by about three thousand
members of the public (Possibly exaggerated).
BAND PROGRAMME
March -King’s Courier (William Rimmer)
A Sailor’s Life (Cope)
Cleopatra (Damare) Solo Cornet Edwin Firth
A Military Church Parade (J. Ord Hume)
The Gypsy’s Warning (Hartmann) Solo Euphonium Percy Shaw
Winning Test Piece “Gems of Schubert” (Arranged Rimmer)
At the end of the evening Mr Edwin Foden arose from his chair at the side of the
stage and accepted the Crystal Palace Trophy from Mr Cooper.
National Anthem and Three Cheers for Edwin Foden.
Nov 1910 The win at Crystal Palace also saw the end of the band’s secretary
Mr Don Henry Burgess who had decided to retire.
He had held the position since the bands formation and he felt it was time to
leave on a high note.
1910 Arthur Webb (Snr) joined the band from Greasbrough and Parkgate bands and
played soprano with Houghton Main. Arthur hated working in the mines and decided
to take an audition on tenor horn for the Foden band and was selected for the position
and moved his family to Elworth.
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ARTHUR WEBB SNR Biography.
Born at 2 Oxford Row, Greasbro’ in 1882 he has become one of the most successful brass band soloists winning 201 Gold and Silver Medals, Six Silver Cups outright and more than 25 Silver Challenge Cups.
Joining from the Greasbrough Band under the direction of Mr F Hully and Parkgate Band (Under Conductor Mr I Dyson) along with the Houghton Main Band where he played the soprano for seven years. Arthur had also worked in the mines before coming to Sandbach.
When Arthur joined Foden’s Motor Works Band in 1910 he filled the Principal Tenor Horn position where he gained an international reputation for his quality and tone as a player.
Arthur was also a member of the “Foden’s Band Number 1 Quartette” which won a number of awards.
His Granddaughter Anne Corbett relates that Arthur had lost one of his teeth and to continue playing he fashioned a replacement tooth out of wood.
When the Foden Works started lying off players, Arthur was among those who went to the Foden family to ask for more money. Not able to get extra money from the company Arthur decided to sweep the yards to raise some extra cash. When William Foden found him doing this he went straight to the board and asked for more money for the band saying that he didn’t want to see his principal horn player sweeping the roads.
With a family to raise Arthur was forced to sell some of his 218 awards and medals to anyone who wanted them, usually at the Fox Inn at Elworth. He also donated a number of medals to the local bowling club as awards. Arthur was proud of his awards and wore many of them on regular occasions. Arthur Thompson was a local businessman who had acquired one of his medals and wore Arthur’s medal on his watch chain.
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27 Nov 1910 CONCERT – Macclesfield Town Band – 2 Concerts (Paid 65% of the takings)
30 Nov 1910 CONCERT – J H White, Chester (2 Concerts) (Paid 62½ % of the takings)
3 Dec 1910 CONCERT – J H White, Chester (2 Concerts) (Paid 62½ % of the takings)
16 Dec 1910 CONCERT – Stockport L and NWR Evening Concert (Paid £17)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1910 BAND MEMBERS (Taken from the Belle Vue Challenge Cup Programme)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Conductor William Halliwell (of Oak Lea, Spring Bank, Wigan)
Bandmaster Edward Wormald
Soprano Cornet Joe Brookes
Solo Cornet Edwin Firth (of Victoria Road. Earby)
1st Cornet James Thorpe
1st Cornet Herbert Harrison
1st Cornet Jack Hodgkinson
Repriano Cornet George Walker
2nd Cornet J. H. Griffiths
2nd Cornet Stephen Bartles
3rd Cornet F Foster
Flugel J Ward
Solo Tenor Horn A. E. West
1st Horn Fred Sowood
2nd Horn Walter Cradleton
1st Baritone J Smith
2nd Baritone Harry Cornack
Solo Euphonium Percy Shaw
2nd Euphonium Alf E. Crossley
Solo Trombone George Hinkinson
2nd Trombone S. Edgar Charlesworth
Bass Trombone Ernest Evans
E Flat Bass Alec Bamford
E Flat Bass J. William Sheard
B Flat Bass Harry Gesty
B Flat Bass Ben Rowarth
Drums / Percussion (Not in Programme)
###################################################################################
1911 FODEN’S MOTOR WORKS BAND
Conductor William Halliwell
###################################################################################
Jan 1911
Feb 1911
Mar 1911
6 Apr 1911 CONCERT – Blackpool, H Lees (2 Concerts) (Paid £33)
17 Apr 1911 COMPETITION – Abergavenny.
The band came First winning £46 / 10 / 0
7 May 1911 CONCERT – Stalybridge, H Lees (2 Concerts) (Paid £25)
20 May 1911 CONCERT – J H White, Chester (Paid 62½ % of the takings)
27 May 1911 CONCERT – Holmes Chapel (Tea Provided) (Paid £12)
29 May to 3 June 1911 CONCERT – Scottish Exhibition, Glasgow (Paid £140)
4 June 1911 CONCERT – Paisley, H Leas (Paid £30)
4-7 June 1911 CONCERT – Rothsay Council (Paid £70)
10 June 1911 COMPETITION – New Brighton.
The band came First winning £82 / 10 / 0.
(New Brighton Cup)
11 June 1911 CONCERT – Crewe Borough (Paid 65%)
17 June 1911 CONCERT – Harrisihead (Tea Provided) (Paid £14)
23 June 1911 CONCERT - Celebration for the Coronation of King George V.
Unlike the 1902 celebration when the band had a variety of venues booked it was
decided that the band would only play in Elworth.
Edwin Foden’s health was failing and he only heard the band as it passed by his
window.
Ted Wormald led the band in the Procession.
1 July 1911 COMPETITION – Douglas, Isle of Man.
The band came First winning £50 / 10 / 0
13 July 1911 CONCERT – Forsyths Brothers, Hoyton (Less 10%) (Paid £25)
15 July 1911 COMPETITION – Bradford, Lister Park.
The band came Second winning £15.
16 July 1911 CONCERT – Scarborough (Paid £40)
20 July 1911 CONCERT – Blackburn Corporation (Paid £30)
26 July 1911 CONCERT – Whitchurch Show (Paid £25)
28 July 1911 CONCERT – Market Drayton (Paid £18)
29 July 1911 COMPETITION – White City, Manchester (Nr Old Trafford).
The band came First winning £66.
3,4,5 and 7 Aug 1911 CONCERT – Royal Lancashire Show (Paid £87)
6 Aug 1911 CONCERT – Blackpool Palace, H Lees (Paid £35)
13 Aug 1911 CONCERT – Morecambe, H Lees (Paid £35)
19 Aug 1911 CONCERT – Hugglescote, Horticultural Society (Tea Provided) (Paid £35)
26-27 Aug 1911 CONCERT – Tow law (Lodgings Found) (Paid £60)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
FUNERAL PROCESSION
31 Aug 1911 On Thursday the 31 August 1911 Edwin Foden Died. The funeral cortège was led
by FODEN'S BAND playing Methodist Hymns.
Edwin was interred in Elworth Park Church cemetery.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
2 Sept 1911 Crewe Chronicle.
OBITUARY OF EDWIN FODEN (Part of the Article)
Apart from his love of engineering, Mr Foden’s chief recreation was in matters musical. In fact, one might say he had a passion for music. He was the prime mover in the formation of the Elworth Band, which was the forerunner of the present magnificent organisation known as Foden’s Band, an organisation which created such a sensation in brass band circles two years ago, and again last year when it carried off both the Belle Vue and Crystal palace trophies. Mr Foden has watched over the progress of this band with parental pride. When the original village band was disbanded Mr Foden provided at his own expense a complete new set of Bessons Silver instruments and from that time he determined that he should not cease his labours until the band had reached the highest pinnacle it was possible for a brass band to reach. The old players were gradually weeded out and classical players were engaged. Rehearsals were regularly held, and whenever it was possible for Mr Foden to be present he invariably attended, encouraging the players by his presence and good advice. Whenever possible he accompanied the band to the various contests at which they were engaged, and he had been known to make the journey from the Isle of Man and back again, just to spend the afternoon at one of the contests. Some months ago, Mr Foden, fearing the worse, asked that the band should play on the lawn in front of his house for the last time, as he very sorrowfully put it. Since then the band has frequently played for him on a Sunday morning, and this had been one of the great delights of his latter days. His passion for music was not confined to brass band playing. He was particularly fond of the organ, and although he was not himself proficient, had a very fine organ erected in his house for the use of his children, one of them in particular, Mrs S P Twemlow, having become a very accomplished organist. In all good music Mr Foden took a special delight and was always present as all first-class concerts and recitals in the district.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
4 Sept 1911 COMPETITION – “British Open Championships”, Belle Vue, Manchester.
Test Piece “Eugene Onegin” by Tchaikovsky arr C Godfrey.
The band came second behind Hebden Bridge winning £52 / 1 / 0.
Conductor for Foden’s William Halliwell.
FIRST Hebden Bridge (W Halliwell)
SECOND Foden’s Motor Works Band (W Halliwell).
THIRD Perfection Soap Works (W Halliwell)
7 Sept 1911 CONCERT – Smallthorn (Tea Provided) (Paid £20)
13 Sept 1911 CONCERT – Middlewich Show (Tea Provided) (Paid £14)
30 Sept 1911 COMPETITION – National Brass Band Championship, Crystal Palace, London.
For the Crystal Palace 1,000 guinea trophy.
Test Piece “Les Huguenots” by Giacomo Meyerbeer.
The band came Second to Perfection Soap Works winning £110 / 15 / 0.
Conductor William Halliwell.
RESULTS FIRST Perfection Soap Works (W Halliwell)
SECOND Foden Motor Works (W Halliwell)
THIRD Wingates Temperance (A Owen)
FOURTH Shaw (W Halliwell)
FIFTH Batley Old (A Gray)
SIXTH Spencer’s Steel Works (W Halliwell)
UNPLACED Hebden Bridge (W Halliwell)
UNPLACED Luton Red Cross (W Halliwell)
8 Oct 1911 CONCERT – For Ellenbrook and Boothstown band (Tea Provided) (Paid £30)
15 Oct 1911 CONCERT – LYCEUM THEATRE Crewe.
Proceeds from this concert went to the Crewe Cottage Hospital.
Musical Director / Conductor William Halliwell
Bandmaster Ted Wormald
(Details from the Crewe Chronicle)
(The bands Diary put the date at the 14 October 1911 Crewe Theatre – On Our Own
However, the advertising for the concert in the Chronicle puts it as the 15th)
25 Oct 1911 CONCERT – Congleton (Tea Provided) (Paid £20)
26 Nov 1911 CONCERT – Walkden (Tea Provided) (Paid £18)
26 Nov 1911 CONCERT – Nuneaton (Paid 60% of the Profits)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1911 BAND MEMBERS (Taken from the Belle Vue Challenge Cup Programme)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Conductor William Halliwell (of Oak Lea, Spring Bank, Wigan)
Bandmaster Edward Wormald
Soprano Cornet Joe Brookes
Solo Cornet Edwin Firth (of Victoria Road. Earby)
1st Cornet James Thorpe
1st Cornet Herbert Harrison
1st Cornet Jack Hodgkinson
Repriano Cornet George Walker
2nd Cornet J. H. Griffiths
2nd Cornet J Ward (Swapped from Flugel)
3rd Cornet F Foster
Flugel Stephen Bartles (Swapped from 2nd Cornet)
Solo Tenor Horn Arthur Webb
1st Horn Fred Sowood
2nd Horn Walter Cradleton
1st Baritone Frank Webb
2nd Baritone Harry Cornack
Solo Euphonium Percy Shaw
2nd Euphonium M Hinchcliffe
Solo Trombone George Hinkinson
Solo Trombone Matthew Cullen
2nd Trombone S. Edgar Charlesworth
Bass Trombone Ernest Evans
E Flat Bass Alec Bamford
E Flat Bass J. William Sheard
B Flat Bass A. H Crossley
B Flat Bass Ben Rowarth
Drums / Percussion (Not in Programme)
###################################################################################
1912 FODEN’S MOTOR WORKS BAND
Conductor William Halliwell
###################################################################################
1912 With the band playing more and more concerts a decision was made, not to enter
minor competitions in 1912. They did however win the British Open Championship
for the third time. (see 2 Oct 1912)
24 Mar 1912 CONCERT – Leigh – 2 Concerts (Paid £23)
27 May 1912 CONCERT – Shrewsbury Fate (Paid £26)
30 May 1912 CONCERT – Park Hall Oswestry (Teas Provided) (Paid £23)
1 June 1912 COMPETITION – New Brighton.
The band came Second winning £20.
6 June 1912 CONCERT – Blackburn (Paid £30)
22 June 1912 COMPETITION – Blackpool.
The band came Third winning £8.
29 June 1912 COMPETITION – Newtown.
Test Piece “Lohengrin” by Richard Wagner
Judge Mr J Ord Hume.
The band came second winning £22 / 2 / 0 (Band Book Entry)
MARCH CONTEST
FIRST Foden’s Motor Works Band
SECOND Ferndale
SELECTION CONTEST
FIRST Shaw
SECOND Foden’s Motor Works Band
THIRD Crossfield’s
FOURTH Abba Valley
FIFTH Goodshaw
30 June 1912 CONCERT – Newtown (Paid £20) (see above)
5 July 1912 Edwin Firth of Fodens Band was guest soloist in a concert conducted
by Mr Peter Fairhurst
Feature 5 July 1912 Todmorden and District News Page 4
14 July 1912 CONCERT – Sandbach and Elworth (Paid £17)
Spring 1912 At the Queensbury Solo Contest the band found a new player in the competition, one
was 18-year-old Charles Dawson.
He had been playing with Denaby Ambulance Band and beat off competition from
Harold Pinches of Black Dyke Mills Band to win the solo cornet competition.
1912 A concert in Blackpool Tower served as an audition for the young soloist Charles
Dawson (Charles Dawson .b. 1894 .D. Aug 1984) who played his winning
“Carnival de Venice” and he was acquired for the Elworth Band.
16 July 1912 Hubert Shergold was auditioned for the band by Edwin Foden, Billy Foden and
Sam Twemlow. The interviewers arranged for Hubert to have tea with a local lady
and by 7pm that night Hubert Shergold officially joined the band under the baton of
William Halliwell who had seen his potential at a competition.
Herbert had originated in Wilton, Dorset and moved with his family to Bridgnorth in
Shropshire where he was taught by his father to play the cornet and eventually joined
the local Volunteer Prize Band.
By 1911 he had joined the Gossages Soap Band but they were bought out by
Brunner Mold (Later to become ICI) and unhappy with the new style of management
Hurbert looked for another band to play with coming across Foden’s at a contest who
were in urgent need of a flugel player.
At his first rehearsal Hubert recalled that as the band struck up the hairs on the back
of his neck stood on end.
___________________________________________________________________________________
HUBERT SHERGOLD.
At some time in his life Hubert managed to poke out one of his eyes, which left him with a problem of not being able to see the conductor. Jimmy Charles (1960 onwards) recalls that most people didn’t know he had only one eye as he had a glass one fitted into the socket. Seeing the conductor with his good eye from the usual position in the band was another thing and so it was arranged that the Flugel position within the band was moved permanently onto the second row next to the Repiano Cornet so he could see what was going on and that was the arrangement until he left the band.
___________________________________________________________________________________
17 July 1912 CONCERT – Park Hall Oswestry (Teas Provided) (Paid £25)
31 July 1912 CONCERT – Whitchurch Show (Tea Provided) (Paid £25)
1-5 Aug 1912 CONCERT – Laves Show, Preston (Paid £92)
7 Aug 1912 CONCERT – Alfraton (Tea Provided) (Paid £40)
17 Aug 1912 CONCERT – Haslington (Paid £12)
24-25 Aug 1912 CONCERT – Tow Law (Board and Lodgings) (Paid £60)
28 Aug 1912 CONCERT – Chester Show (Paid £25)
At the Groves in Chester a regular venue for the band.
Coronation March (Le Prophete) (Giacomo Meyerbeer)
Overture from Zampa (Herold)
Selection from Tannhauser (Wagner)
Gypsy’s Warning (Hartmann)
Solo Euphonium Percy Shaw
Selection from Weber’s Works (Carl Maria von Weber)
Lend me your Aid (Gounod)
Trombone Solo George Hinkinson
INTERVAL
Overture Bohemian Girl (Balfe)
William Tell (Gioachino Rossini)
Cleopatra (Damare)
Solo Cornet Edwin Firth
Selection from L’Africaine (Meyeerbeer)
2 Sept 1912 COMPETITION – Open Championship, Belle Vue (Diamond Jubilee Event).
Test Piece “Les Diamants de la Couronne” (The Crown of Diamonds)
by Auber arr Lieut Charles Godfrey.
The band were drawn 19th in order of playing and won the competition wining £50
for the band and each member was given a Diamond Encrusted Gold Medal
(27 winning medals) in celebration of the event “A prize well worth Winning”.
Edwin Firth himself could also feel very proud as he was instrumental in the
success of the piece playing an important long descending chromatic solo near the
end of the music.
(The 27 medals had a single diamond at its centre)
Conductor for Foden’s Mr William Halliwell
FIRST Foden’s Motor Works Band (W Halliwell).
The band won £257 / 10 / 0
SECOND St Hilda Colliery (W Halliwell)
THIRD Shaw (W Halliwell)
1912 BAND Included.
Edwin Firth (Cornet)
Joe Brookes (Soprano Cornet)
Hubert Shergold (Flugel)
Arthur Webb (Tenor Horn)
Percy Shaw (Euphonium)
George Hinkinson (Trombone)
EXPENSES - COST OF THE TRIP TO LONDON
Rail fare and food £9- 12 Shillings
Mr W Halliwell’s fee £10
24 Men £1
Ted Wormald (Bandmaster) 10 Shillings
14 Sept 1912 CONCERT – Chester Regatta (Tea Provided) (Paid £18)
18 Sept 1912 CONCERT – Middlewich (Tea Provided) (Paid £13)
19 Sept 1912 CONCERT – Oswestry Show (Tea Provided) (Paid £30)
20 Sept 1912 CONCERT – Northallerton (Tea Provided) (Paid £40)
28 Sept 1912 COMPETITION – National Brass Band Championship, Crystal Palace, London.
For the Crystal Palace 1,000 guinea trophy.
The band came Third winning £33 / 13 / 0
(£20, a Highams Cornet and case Valued at 13 Guineas)
Test Piece “William Tell” by Rossini arr William Rimmer.
Conductor William Halliwell.
RESULTS FIRST St. Hilda Colliery (W Halliwell)
SECOND Irwell Springs (W Halliwell)
THIRD Foden’s Motor Works (W Halliwell)
EXPENSES - COST OF THE TRIP TO LONDON
Hotel Expenses £35
Rail fare £20
6 Oct 1912 CONCERT – LYCEUM THEATRE, Crewe.
FODEN’S BAND in 2 Concerts Foden’s Band Presents
Conductor Mr Edward (Ted) Wormald
Incl; Miss Chesters A.L.C.M. accompanist
Miss Lilian Cooper
Mr George Hinkinson (Solo Trombone)
(Tea Provided) (Paid £20)
Small Feature Pg 8, 12 Oct Crewe Chronicle.
Pic and Feature on FODEN’S in New Uniforms Pg 5, 9 Nov Crewe Chronicle.
23 Oct 1912 CONCERT – Congleton (Tea Provided) (Paid £20)
Conductor Mr E Wormald.
PROGRAMME INCLUDED
1. Les Diaments de la Couronne (Auber arr Lieut Charles Godfrey)
Test piece for Belle Vue.
2. Overture – Merry wives of Windsor
3. Air Varie – Maidstone
4. Pandora (Damare)
Cornet solo Mr Edwin Firth
5. The Lost Chord (Played in response to an encore for Mr Edwin Firth)
6. Ora pro nobis (unkn)
Trombone Solo Unknown
SOLOISTS Mr J Brooks (Soprano) and Mr Percy Shaw (Euphonium)
Arranged visit by Mr John Eaton Snr
Before the final selection Mr G.W. Stubbs briefly thanked Mr Wormald
for the excellent Concerts.
Mr Fred Birks ably carried out the details.
Feature November Congleton Chronicle.
3 Nov 1912 CONCERT – Leigh (Tea Provided) (Paid £25)
Audiences assembled at the Leigh Hippodrome in the afternoon and evening to
hear recitals by the famous Foden’s Motor Works Band.
Leigh Chronicle and Weekly District Advertiser 8 November 1912 Page 3.
17 Nov 1912 CONCERT – Wigan (Tea Provided) (Paid £30)
23 Nov 1912 CONCERT – Marple (Tea Provided) (Paid £20)
11 Dec 1912 CONCERT – Stockport – 1 Concert (Paid £17/10/-)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1912 BAND MEMBERS (Taken from the Belle Vue Challenge Cup Programme)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Conductor William Halliwell (of Oak Lea, Spring Bank, Wigan)
Bandmaster Edward Wormald
Soprano Cornet Joe Brookes
Solo Cornet Edwin Firth
1st Cornet James Thorpe
1st Cornet Herbert Harrison
1st Cornet Jack Hodgkinson / Jack W Hodgkinson
Repriano Cornet Charles Dawson
2nd Cornet Sam Wilkinson
2nd Cornet H Peers
3rd Cornet Edward Jenkins (Rejoined)
Flugel Hubert Shergold
Solo Tenor Horn Arthur Webb
1st Horn Fred Sowood
2nd Horn Walter Cradleton
1st Baritone John Heywood
2nd Baritone Harry Cornack
Solo Euphonium Percy Shaw
Bass Euphonium Frank Webb (Moved)
Solo Trombone George Hinkinson
2nd Trombone Matthew Cullen (Moved from solo trombone)
2nd Trombone Edward Wormald (Ted Wormald - bandmaster)
Bass Trombone Ernest Evans
E Flat Bass Alec Bamford
E Flat Bass J. William Sheard
E Flat Bass A. H Crossley (moved from Bb Bass)
B Flat Bass Harry Gresty
B Flat Bass Ben Rowarth
Drums / Percussion (Not in Programme)
###################################################################################
1913 FODEN’S MOTOR WORKS BAND
Conductor William Halliwell
###################################################################################
6-11 Jan 1913 CONCERT – Winter Exhibition Rusholme (Paid £95)
24 Mar 1913 COMPETITION – Abergavenny.
The band came Second winning £21.
Expenses for the trip were £23 including Mr Halliwell’s fee.
________________________________________________________________________________
SANDBACH
23 April 1913 King George V and Queen Mary visited Sandbach. They were accompanied by the
Marquis of Crewe, K.G.
A Special Medal was made for the tour with a picture of the King and Queen on
the Head and on the Tail side was the date they visited each town on their tour.
(see Below)
________________________________________________________________________________
23 Apr 1913 The band played for King George V and Queen Mary by Royal Command.
Having purchased new Uniforms back in 1912 these were first used in October 1912
at the Lyceum Crewe and were only considered good enough for playing on stage
and later in-front of royalty when the King and Queen came to Crewe, Congleton
and Sandbach.
Various designs had been considered but a “Prussian style” was ERF’s choice and
so was ordered from the “Uniform and Equipment Company of Clerkenwell Green,
London”.
These new uniforms were put to good use when in early 1913 it was announced that
King George and Queen Mary would be visiting the North West and Midlands in
April 1913 to see the “Industrial North” and would be staying at Crewe Hall the
residential home of the Marquis of Crewe.
A request for the band to play in front of the King and Queen and a programme was
put together with the assistance of Lady Crewe.
On the morning of the 23 April 1913 the band travelled by Steam Wagon to Crewe
Hall where they got into their new uniforms and at 9.30am they played the following
programme in front of the hall.
PROGRAMME
Overture from Bohemian Girl (Balf)
Merry Widow Selection (Lehar)
Selection from Tannhauser (Wagner)
The Lost Chord (Sullivan) (Cornet Solo Edwin Firth)
Selection from Yeomen of the Guard (Sullivan)
Waltz from The Dollar Princess (Fall)
After the band had played this selection of music the Marquis of Crewe was
instructed to convey their Majesties congratulations and asked the band if they would
be prepared to play the following day at 9am with a much longer programme.
This they did.
Selection from William Tell (Gioachino Rossini)
Waltz from Salome
Cleopatra (Damare) Cornet Solo Edwin Firth
Evening Bells
Waltz from Inspiration
March from The King’s Courier
Selection from The Quaker Girl
March ‘Honest Toil’ (William Rimmer)
Overture from Light Cavalry (Suppe)
Waltz from The Merry Widow (Lehar)
Overture from Tancredi (Gioachino Rossini)
March from Harlequin
After the event the King and Queen congratulated William Halliwell and the band
and as the Royal Cortège left Crewe Hall Foden’s played the National Anthem.
This was indeed a memorable event for the band and I am told the only time that
William Halliwell conducted the band in a concert outside of a competition.
BAND FOR THE EVENT
William Halliwell (Conductor)
Edward Wormald (Bandmaster)
Edwin Firth (Cornet)
James Thorpe (1st Cornet)
Herbert Harrison (1st Cornet)
Jack Hodgkinson (1st Cornet)
Joe Brookes (Soprano Cornet)
Charles Dawson (Repiano Cornet)
Hubert Shergold (Flugel)
Sam Wilkinson (2nd Cornet)
Horace Brookes (2nd Cornet)
Edward Jenkins (3rd Cornet)
Arthur Webb (Solo Tenor Horn)
Fred Sowood (1st Horn)
Walter Cradleton (2nd Horn)
Frank Haywood (1st Baritone)
Harry Cornack (2nd Baritone)
Percy Shaw (Solo Euphonium)
Frank Webb (2nd Euphonium)
George Hinkinson (Solo Trombone)
Matthew Cullen (2nd Trombone)
Ernest Evans (Bass Trombone)
J. William Sheard (E Flat Bass)
Alfred Crossley (E Flat Bass)
Harry Gesty (B Flat Bass)
Ben Rowarth (B Flat Bass)
James Easthope (Drums)
___________________________________________________________________________________
OTHER BAND MEMBERS in 1913
R Brookes (Cornet), R Cradleton (Horn), J Heywood (Horn), H Crossley (Euphonium),
G Easthorpe (Euphonium).
___________________________________________________________________________________
1913 The Royal Concert also sounded the end of (Edward) Ted Wormald’s five year
association with the band as bandmaster. His place was taken by Tom Hynes another
ex member of the Gossages Soap Band and friend of Hubert Shergold (Flugel)
12 May 1913 Shrewsbury United Friendly Society (Paid £26)
Mr Hughes 8 New Street, Shrewsbury (Tea Provided)
17 May 1913 COMPETITION – New Brighton.
The band came First winning £78 / 11 / 0
Expenses £4-10 shillings including rail fare from Crewe to Liverpool and the
Ferry Across the Mersey.
24 May 1913 CONCERT – Holmes Chapel (Tea Provided) (Paid £12)
28 May 1913 CONCERT – Groves Enclosure Chester (Wednesday 7.30pm) (Paid £15)
31 May 1913 CONCERT – County Borough, Stockport (Paid £22)
9 June 1913 CONCERT – Sheffield Corporation (Paid £35)
B.F. Pilley. 21 Newlyn Rd, Woodseats, Sheffield.
10 June 1913 CONCERT – A Ball Lower Peover, Tabley Arms Hotel (Paid £10)
Hours 5 until 8pm and Teas
15 June 1913 CONCERT – Crewe Sunday Concerts (Paid 62½ % - Made £30)
G Chesters, 62 Samuel Street, Crewe.
18 June 1913 CONCERT – Tilstone Fete Committee (Paid £25)
Tarporley Park.
Play for dancing, Hours to 10pm
Maurice Wooley (Tea Provided)
21 June 1913 COMPETITION – Newtown.
The band came First winning £35.
22 June 1913 CONCERT – Newtown (Paid £21/5/9½)
2 Concerts afternoon and evening on our own on Sports ground.
28 June 1913 CONCERT – Huddesfield Park (Paid £30)
5 July 1913 CONCERT – Higglescote – 2 Concerts (Paid £30 or £32)
Dinners and Teas
F Haywood, North Street.
6 July 1913 CONCERT – Leicester
S P Blackesley Leicester. Boulevard Leicester (Paid 50% of Door takings)
2 Concerts – Afternoon and Evening
9 July 1913 CONCERT – Wrenbury
Garden Party at the Royals, Aston, Wrenbury (Paid £20)
John Griffiths, The School House, Wrenbury, Nantwich.
Time of Playing 2 O Clock till 8pm. Teas at the interval.
12 July 1913 CONCERT – Groves Enclosure Chester (Saturday 7.30pm) (Paid £15)
13 July 1913 CONCERT – Groves Enclosure Chester (Sunday 8.15pm) (Paid £15)
26 July 1913 CONCERT – Skipton – 2 Concerts (Paid 60%)
Arthur Clifford, 14 Swadford Street, Skipton.
27 July 1913 CONCERT - Scarborough – 2 Concerts (Paid £40)
J Winder. Grand Floral Hall, Scarborough.
30 July 1913 CONCERT – Whitchurch
Whitchurch and District Agricultural Society (Paid £20)
Earnest E Wright (Secty) 56 High Street (Annual Show)
To Play during the afternoon and dancing in the evening till 8pm.
Leave Whitchurch 8.29pm (Depart Crewe 9.45am)
2 Aug 1913 CONCERT – Chester Groves Enclosure (Paid £15)
Evening Concert 7.30pm
3 Aug 1913 CONCERT – Elworth Recreation Ground
1 Evening Concert – Collection for Elworth Charity (Raised £15/2/11½)
4 Aug 1913 CONCERT – Stockport
County Borough of Stockport (Paid £20 or £25 if fine day)
2 Concerts – Vernon Park
10 Aug 1913 Hyde Football Club CANCELLED
H Houghton 38 Gowen Rd, Hyde, Cheshire (2 Concerts were to be paid £25)
12 Aug 1913 CONCERT – Hyde.
Clay Cross Floral Society Nr Chesterfield (Paid £32)
Playing 1-7.30pm
H Stanley, East Street.
18 Aug 1913 CONCERT – Cannock and District Horticultural Society (Paid £30)
27 Aug 1913 CONCERT – Chester
Chester Agricultural Show in Afternoon and Groves Enclosure at Night. (Paid £25)
2.30pm to 5.30pm / 7.30 to 9.30pm
28 Aug 1913 CONCERT – Audlem Flower Show (Paid £20)
Tea Provided.
1 Sept 1913 COMPETITION – “British Open Championships”, Belle Vue, Manchester.
Test Piece “A Souvenir of Gounod” arr by C Godfrey.
Conductor for Foden’s William Halliwell
FIRST Foden’s Motor Works Band (W Halliwell).
SECOND Shaw (W Halliwell)
THIRD Irwell Springs (W Halliwell)
Fifth Crosfields Soap Works (W Halliwell)
Sixth St Hilds Colliery (W Halliwell)
Unplaced Hebden Bridge
Unplaced Luton
Unplaced Mansfield Colliery
Unplaced Nelson Old
They won £182 / 17 / 0
Awarded first prize for the 4th time in five Year’s.
4 Sept 1913 CONCERT – Blackburn – 2 Concerts (Paid £30)
6 Sept 1913 CONCERT – Groves Enclosure Chester (Saturday 7.30pm) (Paid £15)
10 Sept 1913 CONCERT – Middlewich Show (Paid £14)
Tea Provided
18 Sept 1913 CONCERT – Ellesmere.
Oswestry and District Agricultural Society at Ellesmere (Paid £25)
Concerts at 12 to 2.30pm, 3pm to 5.30pm.
George Whitfield, Southfield St, Oswestry.
20 Sept 1913 CONCERT – Preston
Merigold Brothers Preston (Paid £30) (Saturday)
27 Sept 1913 COMPETITION – National Brass Band Championship, Royal Albert Hall, London.
For the Crystal Palace 1,000 guinea trophy.
For the first time an original composition was used as the test piece. It was called
“Labour of Love” and was composed by Percy Fletcher. Unfortunately
the band were unsuccessful in wining, coming a poor eighth place.
Test Piece “Labour and Love” by Percy Fletcher
Conductor William Halliwell.
RESULTS FIRST Irwell Springs (W Halliwell)
SECOND St. Hilda Colliery (W Halliwell)
THIRD Black Dyke Mills (J Greenwood)
FOURTH Crosfield’s Soap Works (W Halliwell)
UNPLACED Foden’s Motor Works (W Halliwell)
This was the last competition until 1920 due to the Great War.
1913 CONCERT – HASLINGTON FLOWER SHOW
The band played Selections in the afternoon and for dancing in the evening all
for a fee of £15.
18 Sept 1913 CONCERT – Ellesmere
Oswestry and District Agricultural Society at Ellesmere (Paid £25)
Concerts at 12 to 2.30pm, 3pm to 5.30pm.
George Whitfield, Southfield St, Oswestry.
20 Sept 1913 CONCERT – Preston
Merigold Brothers Preston (Paid £30) (Saturday)
29 Sept to 4 Oct 1913 CONCERT – Hanley
GRAND THEATRE, HANLEY Week of shows
The band played twice nightly.
Chas Elphinstone (Secretary and Manager)
21 Tunes nightly 20 Minutes for each for the sum of £75 (Lowest) if success £80.
EXTRA INFO The theatre was opened in 1898 on Trinity Street and later became
a cinema until it burnt down in 1932 being rebuilt as the ODEON Cinema in 1937.
Oct 1913 Following on from taking part in the National Championships the band were booked
for a series of twice nightly concerts at the Grand Theatre, Hanley, Stoke on Trent.
Normally this wouldn’t be a problem for members of the band but one member was
due to get married on the day of the Nationals and had postponed the date until the
following Monday which was then booked up for the series of concerts at the Grand.
The unfortunate Bridegroom, having gone through with the wedding during the
daytime he was then whisked away to Hanley to do the concerts in the evening.
(Information from “By Royal Command” by F D Burgess, Pg 18.)
5 Oct 1913 CONCERT – Widnes (Paid 25)
2 Concerts Tea Provided
Captain Byfield 13 Thomas Street, Runcorn.
11 Oct 1913 CONCERT – Alderley Edge (Paid £15)
S Bailey.
1 Concert about 2.30pm
12 Oct 1913 CONCERT – Northwich Victoria Football Club (Paid £15)
1 Afternoon Concert – Tea Provided.
F Richardson 23 Chester Road.
15 Oct 1913 CONCERT – Congleton Liberal Club (Paid £15)
1 Evening Concert
F J Birks 30 High Street, Congleton.
19 Oct 1913 CONCERT – Wigan Old Boys Reed Band (Paid £30)
2 Concerts
Rd Orchestra?. Sidlow lane, Wigan
22 Oct 1913 CONCERT – Macclesfield Old Town Silver Band (Paid £22)
2 Concerts
30 Nov 1913 CONCERT – Salford
Concert at Regent Theatre, Salford
For Eccles Borough Band (Paid £30)
G Leroft 148 Reushaw St, Partiecroft?
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EXTRA INFORMATION.
The REGENT THEATRE in Cross lane, Salford was built by Frank Matcham and opened on the 2 September 1895.
It was destroyed by fire in 1952.
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6 to 7 Dec 1913 EDDISON BELL at the FODEN WORKS (Recording a record) (Paid £40)
(Date from diary) J E Hough, Glengall Road, London
RECORDS
Black Dyke and Besses had produced recordings during the early part of the century
and in 1913 Foden’s were in negotiations with the Edison Bell Company to make a
recording.
The band booked a whole weekend off in December 1913 to make the recording at
the Elworth Works and duly on the Friday evening the main office floor was cleared
making way for the recording equipment and the band.
Recording a disc in those days involved making a master disc in wax that was
warmed to a specific temperature in an oven and then recorded on. These would them
be made into the 78 master discs.
All in all 12 items were recorded by the Quartet and 20 recordings were made of the
full band the first of which were released the following year.
CONDUCTOR Tom Hynes 10” 78 recordings
Released in January 1914.
Side 1. THE PILGRIM (FODEN’S QUARTET) Edison Bell 1357
Quartet 1. = Jack Hodgkinson (Cornet)
Charlie Dawson (Cornet)
George Hinkinson (Trombone)
Ernest Evans (Trombone)
Side 2. IN THIS HOUR OF SOFTENED SPLENDOUR
Quartet 2. = Edwin Firth (Cornet)
Jim Thorpe (Cornet)
Fred Sowood (Horn)
Percy Shaw (Euphonium)
Released Feb 1914
The Village Blacksmith (Part 1) Edison Bell 1355
The Village Blacksmith (Part 2) 1355 b
(SEE DISCOGRAPHY FOR MORE DETAILS)
The whole of 1914 saw eighteen recordings of the band issued on the Edison Bell
label.
14 Dec 1913 CONCERT – South Salford Silver Prize Band (Paid £25)
2 Concerts 3pm and 7.30pm
W Clarke 24 Derby Street.
21 Dec 1913 CONCERT – Ellesmere Port Church Silver Band. (Paid £30)
2 Concerts 3.15pm
George Griffiths 9 Grosvenor Street, Ellesmere Port.
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1913 BAND MEMBERS (Taken from the Belle Vue Challenge Cup Programme)
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Conductor William Halliwell (of Oak Lea, Spring Bank, Wigan)
Bandmaster Edward Wormald
Soprano Cornet Joe Brookes
Solo Cornet Edwin Firth
1st Cornet James Thorpe
1st Cornet Herbert Harrison
1st Cornet Jack Hodgkinson / Jack W Hodgkinson
Repriano Cornet Charles Dawson
2nd Cornet Sam Wilkinson
2nd Cornet F Brooks
3rd Cornet Edward Jenkins (Rejoined)
Flugel Hubert Shergold (F Shergold)
Solo Tenor Horn Arthur Webb
1st Horn Fred Sowood
2nd Horn Walter Cradleton
1st Baritone John Heywood
2nd Baritone Harry Cornack
Solo Euphonium Percy Shaw
2nd Euphonium Fred Thorpe
Solo Trombone George Hinkinson
2nd Trombone Matthew Cullen
Bass Trombone Ernest Evans
E Flat Bass Alfred Crossley
E Flat Bass J. William Sheard
E Flat Bass A. H Crossley (moved from Bb Bass)
B Flat Bass Harry Gresty
B Flat Bass Ben Rowarth
Drums / Percussion (Not in Programme)
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1914 FODEN’S MOTOR WORKS BAND
Conductor William Halliwell
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17 Jan 1914 CONCERT – Sheffield – Woodg??? Hall (Paid £30)
H J Kelly 89 Carvel Street, Sheffield
22 Feb 1914 CONCERT – Leigh Grand Theatre / Hippodrome Leigh (Paid £25)
William Woolstencroft Esq.
2 Concerts 3pm and 8pm
10 Mar 1914 CONCERT – Sandbach Town Band (Paid £15)
1 Concert
14 Mar 1914 CONCERT – Rookery Social Club and Institute (Paid £25)
H Leese, 26 Alderley Lane, Harriseahead, Tunstall
2 Concerts (Tea Provided)
18 Mar 1914 CONCERT – Royal Buckley Town Band (Paid £25)
11 Windwell Rd, Buckley
R E Bellis Society
22 Mar 1914 CONCERT – South Salford Silver Band (Paid £30)
W Clarke 20 Derby Street.
2 Concerts 3 O Clock and 7.30pm
29 Mar 1914 CONCERT – LYCEUM THEATRE Crewe.
During the early 1900’s it was still considered to be in bad taste if you produced a
concert or entertainment on the Sabbath and so many such shows were advertised as
“Sacred Concerts” and included a couple of Hymns for authenticity. The same was
true of the shows at the Lyceum Theatre.
2 GRAND SACRED CONCERTS by Foden’s Band
Incl; Foden’s Band
Miss Gregory L.L.C.M. (Soprano)
Madam Partington (Contralto)
Miss Ann Stubbs L.L.C.M. (Piano Accompanist)
Tickets were also available for this concert from Mr J Stubbs Music Warehouse,
High Street, Crewe.
1914 Quartet 1. = Jack Hodgkinson (Cornet)
Charlie Dawson (Cornet)
George Hinkinson (Trombone)
Ernest Evans (Trombone)
1914 Quartet 2. = Edwin Firth (Cornet)
Jim Thorpe (Cornet)
Fred Sowood (Horn)
Percy Shaw (Euphonium)
The Band Diary gives the date as being with the Crewe Temperance Band (Paid £20)
Two Concerts
Sec; W B Wrigley, 46, Henry Street, Crewe.
11 April 1914 CONCERT – Official opening of CONGLETON PARK (Easter Sunday).
The band played at 2pm for the official opening of the Bandstand in Congleton Park
followed in the evening by a concert at Congleton Town Hall. The band were paid
£16 for the day’s events.
(Dr Tern, Bradshaw House, Congleton)
2 May 1914 CONCERT – Knutsford Jubilee Festival (Paid £20)
Jas H Dean 2 Minshull Street, Knutsford (Tea Included)
The Band played at the Knutsford May Day celebrations and were driven there by a
new Steam bus called “Puffing Billy” a three-ton chassis with a body built by
Jackson’s of Smallwood. (Registration M 6359)
Mr Jackson (the coach builder) accompanied the new bus to iron out any problems
on this “Test Run” for the vehicle. However, he dislodged one of the flugel horns
from the storage space and the bus had to be stopped while it was retrieved from the
verge. E R Foden who was monitoring the fuel consumption was not pleased as
the stoppage messed up his calculations.
16 May 1914 CONCERT – Heaton Park, Manchester (Paid £25)
R Laint, General Superintendent
17 May 1914 CONCERT – Vernon Park, Stockport (Paid £25)
2 Concerts 3 to 5pm and 7 to 9pm
F Harris Sup.
If wet to play in the Town Hall 3.30 to 7.30pm
20 May 1914 CONCERT – Chester Concerts in the Groves (Paid £16)
(Wed) S P Davies
24 May 1914 CONCERT – Northwich Victoria Football Club
Terms (Paid £15 if takings are not more than £30)
(Paid £20 if takings are not more than £50)
(Paid £25 if takings are more than £50)
Sec J C Brain “Crown Hotel” Northwich.
1 June 1914 CONCERT – Shrewsbury
Shrewsbury Whit Monday Friendly Society Fate (Paid £26)
Geo. J Eccleston, 23 King Street, Shrewsbury.
(Tea Included)
6 June 1914 COMPETITION – New Brighton (Merseyside).
The band came Second winning £15.
10 June 1914 CONCERT – Knutsford Division Liberal Association (Paid £18)
H Cliffe Sec, 26 Cranford Avenue, Knutsford.
(Tea Provided)
14 June 1914 CONCERT – Heaton Park, Manchester (Paid £25)
R Laint, General Superintendent
17 June 1914 CONCERT – Chester Concerts in the Groves (Paid £16)
(Wed) S P Davies
20 June 1914 CONCERT – County Borough of Stockport (Paid £22)
Park Department Vernon Park
F Harris Esq, Stockport
3 to 5pm and 7 to 9pm.
27 June 1914 COMPETITION – Newtown.
The band came Second winning £21.
29 June to 4 July 1914 CONCERT – Douglas Isle of Man (Paid £110 Inclusive)
A Robertson, Town Clark, Douglas.
11 July 1914 CONCERT – Heaton Park, Manchester (Paid £25)
R Laint, General Superintendent
The concert included the Trombone Solo “Victory” (Hume)
by Mr George Hinkinson. The “Bohemian Girl”, “Barcarolle”, “Tales of Hoffman”
A cornet solo by Edwin Firth and “The Village Blacksmith”.
12 July 1914 CONCERT – Chester Concerts in the Groves (Paid £16)
S P Davies
17 July 1914 CONCERT – Driffield Show (Paid £32)
G R Kirby, The Falcon, Driffield.
18 July 1914 CONCERT – Armley Park, Leeds (Paid 60% of the Takings - £349.30)
Jo Sharp 2 Christ Church View, Armley, Leeds.
19 July 1914 CONCERT – Scarborough (Paid £40)
J Winder
22 July 1914 CONCERT – Bolton Parks Committee. (Paid £20)
J Partington 12 Henry Street, Bolton
2 Concerts.
25 and 26 July 1914 CONCERT – Chester Concerts in the Groves (Paid £16)
S P Davies
2 Aug 1914 CONCERT – Chester Concerts in the Groves (Paid £16)
(Sun) S P Davies – Evening Concert.
(Also, 20 May / 17 June / 25 July / 26 July / 2 Aug)
4 Aug1914 WAR BROKE OUT
The first casualty of the war was the Prussian style uniforms that ER Foden had
purchased for the band a year ago as anything German may offend; they were
dropped in favour of a less offensive uniform.
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1/28th (COUNTY OF LONDON) BATTALION (ARTIST’S RIFLES)
In August 1914 the 28th London Regiment the Artist’s Rifles were formed.
The Battalion was based at Dukes Road, Euston Road.
The Army Troops were attached to the 2nd London Division and moved on Mobilisation to the St Albans area.
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4 Aug 1914 CONCERT – Alexandra Park Oldham (Paid £25)
(Tues) Two Concerts Inclusive.
Alfred Barlow Secretary.
7 Aug 1914 CONCERT – Wem and District Agricultural Association (Paid £25)
Philip Lee Secretary. (Tea Provided)
8 Aug 1914 CONCERT – Frodsham Horticultural Society (Paid £20)
Endowed Boys School CANCELLED
1 Concert from 2pm
11 Aug 1914 CONCERT – Clay Cross, Chesterfield (Paid £40)
Times of Playing 1pm to 8.30pm
H Stanley, East Street, Clay Cross.
13 Aug 1914 Market Drayton Flower Show (Paid £20) CANCELLED
C B Jones, Alexandra Road.
Playing 2.30pm to 9pm
(Tea Provided)
15 Aug 1914 CONCERT – Haslington Flower Show (Paid £15)
Selections in Afternoon commencing 2 O Clock and dancing till 9pm in the evening.
R White, Merefield Cottage, Henry Street, Haslington.
17 Aug 1914 Cannock and District Horticultural Society (Paid £30) CANCELLED
John Bud Market Place, Cannock
18 Aug 1914 CONCERT – Biddulph Show (Paid £20)
Playing from 2 to 7pm
A Proctor Sec. 56 Tunstall Rd, Biddulph.
(Tea Provided)
20 Aug 1914 CONCERT – Blackburn Park (Two Concerts) (£30)
Lewis Beard, Town Hall, Blackburn.
23 Aug 1914 CONCERT – Heaton Park, Manchester (Paid £25)
R Laint, General Superintendent
(16 May / 14 June / 11 July and 23 Aug 1914 Saturdays 3 to 5pm and 6.30 to 8.30pm
Sundays 3.30pm to 5pm)
27 Aug 1914 Middlewich Floral and Horticultural Society (Paid £20) CANCELLED
2 Concerts 3pm to 5pm and 6.15pm to 9pm
7 Sept 1914 COMPETITION – “British Open Championships”, Belle Vue, Manchester.
Test Piece “Joseph und Seine Bruder (Joseph and his Brethren)” by Mehul
arr C Godfrey.
The band came Third winning £44.
Conductor for Foden’s William Halliwell
FIRST Black Dyke Mills
SECOND Wingates
THIRD Foden’s Motor Works Band.
Sept 1914 COMPETITION – National Brass Band Championships, Crystal Palace, London.
NOT HELD DUE TO THE WAR.
11 Sept 1914 CONCERT – Blackburn Park (Paid £30)
Two Concerts
Lewis Beard, Town Hall.
12 Sept 1914 CONCERT – Sandbach
Sandbach Co-op Society’s Fate (Paid £12)
Commencing 1.45pm. Play in Procession (Tea Provided)
17 Sept 1914 Oswestry Show at Oswastry (Paid £25) CANCELLED
George Whitfield Secretary, Smithfield Street, Oswastry.
19 Sept 1914 CONCERT – Chester (Paid £3)
One Concert for National Relief Fund.
Including a solo by Mr George Hinkinson playing “Death of Nelson”,
a Solo by Edwin Firth, “Rule Britannia” and other selections which
evoked a great appreciation of “Memories of Britain”.
Nantwich Guardian 25 September 1914 Page 5.
27 Sept 1914 CONCERT – Sandbach
One Afternoon concert for National Relief Fund.
If wet 4 Oct 1914
4 Oct 1914 CONCERT – Keighley (Paid £25)
Two Concerts.
Dinner and Tea.
19 Oct 1914 (Week long engagement) CONCERT - Grand Theatre, Hanley (Paid £80)
Performances Twice Nightly
Conductor Tom Hynes (Bandmaster)
Monday 19th GRAND THEATRE HANLEY 7pm and 9pm
1. March “With Sword and Lance”
a. Bugle Call
b. Marseillaise
c. La Brabanconne
d. It’s a Long Way to Tipperary
e. British Grenadiers
f. Garry Owen
g. The Girl I Left behind Me
h. Last Post
2. Descriptive Selection “Episodes of the War”
i. See the Conquering Hero Come
j. Rule Britannia
k. National Anthem
3. Cornet Solo “Cleopatra” (Damare)
Solo Cornet Edwin Firth
ENCORE
4. The Rosary
5. The British Hero (J H White)
GUEST ARTISTS
Anita Correze (Mezzo Soprano from Hanley and wife of the
Grand Theatre’s Manager Mr Bert Wilbraham)
Harold Heath (Light Comedian)
Fred Carey (Comedian)
New Macs (Popular Comedians)
The Dandy Mascots
Harry Mason and Lily Bart (Gymnasts on the High Trapeze)
Tuesday 20th GRAND THEATRE HANLEY 7pm and 9pm
1. March “British Phalanx”
2. Descriptive Selection “A Sailor’s Life”
3. Cornet Solo “Pandora”
Solo Cornet Edwin Firth
Wednesday 21th GRAND THEATRE HANLEY 7pm and 9pm
1. March “Old Comrades”
2. Grand Selection “Reminiscences of Tschaikowsky”
3. Trombone Solo “The Sailor’s Grave”
Solo Trombone George Hinkinson
Thursday 22nd GRAND THEATRE HANLEY 7pm and 9pm
1. March “Harlequin”
2. Grand Selection “Tannhauser”
3. Cornet Solo “Rule Britannia”
Solo Cornet Edwin Firth
Friday 23rd GRAND THEATRE HANLEY 7pm and 9pm
1. March “Mephistopheles”
2. Grand Selection “William Tell”
3. Euphonium Solo “La Belle Americaine”
Solo Euphonium Percy Shaw
Saturday 24th GRAND THEATRE HANLEY 7pm and 9pm
1. March “Honest Toil”
2. Descriptive Selection “A Sailor’s Life”
3. Cornet Solo “Rule Britannia”
Solo Cornet Edwin Firth
OTHER ACTS ON THE SAME BILL DURING THE WEEK
Incl; JosieDelaine (Versatile Little Lady)
The Mascots (Musical Comedy)
Harold Heath (Light Comedian)
Fred Carey (Comedian)
Mason and Bary (Novelty Gymnasts)
New Macs (Popular Comedians)
And GRAND PICTURES
Review Staffordshire Sentinel 20 October 1914, Page 4.
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Critical report Tuesday 20 October 1914, page 4(Researched by Paul Niblett Aug 2014)
GRAND THEATRE, HANLEY.
A special attraction at the Hanley Grand Theatre of Varieties this week is the appearance there of the English Champion brass band which the proprietors of Foden’s Motor Works, Sandbach, have organised and equipped. Foden’s Brass Band is known wherever people take delight in the music of wind instruments. It has not been before the public so long as some of the famous Yorkshire and Lancashire bands, but it has outstripped several of these older organisations of repute, through the efficiency of the men who have been secured, and the earnest purpose of those in control. Last night the band won enthusiastic favour not only by reason of the popularity of the music instrumented, but even more for the excellence of the interpretations. The ensemble of this band is magnificent, the tone rich, full-bodied, and mellow, and all effects are secured by legitimate means. It was natural that much of its music at the present time should take on a quasi-military character. Its principal contribution was a descriptive selection of patriotic airs, welded together in an interesting manner by the conductor, Mr. Thomas Hynes. The selection opened with a bugle call, the assembling of troops, and their marching to the inspiriting strains of the “Marseillaise,” “La Braban̤çonne,” “It’s a long way to Tipperary,” “British Grenadiers,” “Garry Owen,” and “The girl I left behind me.” An encampment follows, and things settle down after the sounding of the “Last Post.” The quiet, however, is disturbed by a surprise of the enemy. The bugle sounds to action, and after some battle music, the bugle calls “Cease firing.” Then is heard “See the conquering hero comes,” “Rule, Britannia,” and the National Anthem. Mr. Edwin Firth, who had already done notable work in perfect triplet playing, gave as a cornet solo Demare’s concert polka “Cleopatra,” exhibiting not only a brilliant tone, but a perfect mastery of his instrument, and as an encore piece “The Rosary.” The band good-naturedly responded to the applause given it for the selection by playing a march “The British Hero” (J.H. White). It may interest a number to know that the band consists of 24 instrumentalists, arranged as follows: Four basses, two double basses with a 32ft. tone and two with a 16ft. tone; three trombones, two tenors and one bass; first and second euphoniums; two baritones; three tenor horns; one fugal horn; and nine cornets in B flat and one in E flat; together with drums and effects. Another selection will be given to-night, when strains which have long been associated with the Navy will be honoured.
Among the other artists is a lady professionally known as Anita Correze, a mezzo-soprano vocalist. Since many in the audience at once recognised the singer as a Hanley lady, it is not disclosing much of a secret to add that in private life Anita Correze is Mrs. Bert Wilbraham, the wife of the popular manager of the Grand. Since last singing in this hall, the lady’s powers of expression have developed considerably, her voice has grown in volume while maintaining its timbre. Her two items included a song of sentiment, and a number with a taking waltz rhythm. The comedians include Fred Cary, Harold Heath, and the New Macs. The former is a very whimsical fellow, with a style that is individualistic and songs and patter that have the merit of freshness. Harold Heath’s strength lies in his dancing powers, which are considerable. The New Macs are very entertaining fellows indeed, and last night they held the attention of the house and kept everyone laughing. The Dandy Mascots are responsible for a pretty turn: and Harry Mason and Lily Bart are excellent gymnasts on the high trapeze.
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1/28th (COUNTY OF LONDON) BATTALION (ARTIST’S RIFLES)
28 October 1914 the company left Division and moved to FRANCE. The Company was Established as an Officer Training Corps based at Bailleul. (See Apr 1915)
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8 Nov 1914 MARCH - Chester Lord Mayor’s Church Parade (Paid £10)
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1914 BAND MEMBERS (Taken from the Belle Vue Challenge Cup Programme)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Conductor William Halliwell (of Oak Lea, Spring Bank, Wigan)
Bandmaster Edward Wormald
Soprano Cornet Joe Brookes
Solo Cornet Edwin Firth
1st Cornet James Thorpe
1st Cornet Herbert Harrison
1st Cornet Jack Hodgkinson
Repriano Cornet Charles Dawson
2nd Cornet Sam Wilkinson
2nd Cornet H Jenkins
3rd Cornet Edward Jenkins
Flugel Hubert Shergold / (F Shergold in Programme)
Solo Tenor Horn Arthur Webb
1st Horn Fred Sowood
2nd Horn Walter Cradleton
1st Baritone Frank Haywood / (J Haywood in programme)
2nd Baritone Harry Cornack
Solo Euphonium Percy Shaw
2nd Euphonium Fred Thorpe
Solo Trombone George Hinkinson
2nd Trombone Matthew Cullen
Bass Trombone Ernest Evans
E Flat Bass K Sadler
E Flat Bass J. William Sheard
B Flat Bass Harry Gesty
B Flat Bass Ben Rowarth
Drums / Percussion James Easthope (Not in Programme)
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1915 FODEN’S MOTOR WORKS BAND
Conductor William Halliwell
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1/28th (COUNTY OF LONDON) BATTALION (ARTIST’S RIFLES)
April 1915 The Battalion moved to St Omer in France.
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1915 By the spring of 1915 employees of FODEN’S (Steam engine Manufacturer) were
demanding more pay and better conditions leading to a strike at the factory.
Workers were having to work long hours in the factory and the burden of trying to
meet increasing demand for government requirements and personal casualties of war
took their toll on the employees and arguments with management led to the strike.
As the band members were employed by the company this also affected the band
Twelve members of the band, who thought their position within the band gave them
some sort of special power, decided to form a picket line at the works entrance of
Foden’s. They were mistaken as after the strike all twelve were dismissed.
Many others were forced to find employment elsewhere as the full-blown strike at
the factory started to take hold.
Among those who left the band were –
Joe Brookes (Soprano)
Percy Shaw (Euphonium)
George Hinkinson (Trombone)
John Heywood (Baritone)
Harry Cornack (Baritone)
With the end of the strike and a return to work the band started recruiting new
members and what good players they found. At the Belle Vue contest the judge
commented “From the opening bars to the last note the playing of this band was
almost flawless – it was a musical treat”
Spring 1915 Replacements for the players that had been given the sack during the strike included
C Smith who played Soprano at the British Championships in September 1915 with
an ARTHUR STUBBS on Second Cornet.
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ARTHUR STUBBS Biography
During his time with the Foden Motor Works Band Arthur Stubbs lived at George Street in Elworth (1928 had moved to Clifton Road) having joined the band as their 2nd Cornet player at a time when various members of the band had been removed from the line-up after a strike in the spring of 1915. It was at a time during the Great War (WW1) when the factory was increasing its workload to fulfil Government contracts including the making of ammunition and equipment for the front which left the workers with very few rights, bad conditions and little pay. Joe Brookes (Soprano who went to Horwich RMI Band), Percy Shaw (Euphonium), George Hinkinson (Trombone), John Heywood (Baritone) and Harry Cornack (Baritone) were among the players who decided to move to other bands at this time rather than continue to work at the factory as well as combining their band engagements.
These retirements left positions available to be filled by outsiders including C Smith on Soprano Cornet and Arthur Stubbs on cornet.
At the September 1915, British Open Championships, Arthur Stubbs was playing 2nd Cornet at Belle Vue, Manchester with the test piece “Il Furioso” by Donizetti arr C Godfrey. Conductor for Foden’s was the great William Halliwell who took the band to first place beating Horwich RMI into 2nd place and Kings Cross Band into third. This band line-up also had well known players, Edwin Firth on Solo Cornet with Charlie Dawson on Repriano Cornet, C Smith on Soprano Cornet, Bob Shepley on 2nd Cornet and Arthur Webb Snr on Solo Horn.
By the 2 September 1916, British Championships Arthur Stubbs had replaced C Smith on Soprano after Mr Smith had played with the band for one year in that particular seat. This change of seating within Foden’s led to an article in an August 1917, Sandbach Chronicle where they described Arthur thus “Foden’s are a galaxy of stars, that there is one in particular that we must all listen to, and that is the soprano player. The greatest soprano up-to-date. No one knows what thirty years hen might bring along, but in Mr Stubbs I believe we have it.” If this was just publicity or the opinion of that night’s performance by the Sandbach Chronicle reporter we will never know but he certainly didn’t keep up the reputation over the next few years as he was moved from one instrument to another by various conductors. The reason for the article was the popularity of the band as a fundraiser for the war effort and after an article in Brass Band News.
“And now about that treat I promised. Foden’s are coming. Yes, they are. And bringing a couple of programmes with them. The place that has the honour of receiving this famous organisation has been altered from the Manchester Racecourse to the Manchester United Football Ground. The reason for the change I have been told is that there has been such a rush for tickets that it was feared that the racecourse would not hold the tremendous crowd expected. Now I am given to understand that “United’s” ground is capable of holding millions, and it was thought that in the interest of humanity it would be better to have the concerts on the football ground.”
Arthur was again part of the band when they took part in the Belle Vue Competition in 1916 when they came in 2nd. The following year on the 1 September 1917, when they again played at the Belle Vue, Manchester venue for the British Championships when they unfortunately came sixth with Arthur still playing on Soprano Cornet.
For the 1918 Competition, Conductor Tom Haynes (Joint conductor of the band with William Halliwell) decided to move Arthur Stubbs back to Second Cornet and replaced him with Charlie Dawson who would stay in that role until 1923.
On the 1 December 1924, Tom Haynes was asked to resign as conductor of the band and was replaced by Fred Mortimer who attended his first rehearsal on the 8 December 1924 alongside William Halliwell who would also conduct the band for their competitions. Fred decided to have another change of personnel and Arthur Stubbs was moved to Repriano Cornet with George Clarke (With Foden’s between 11 Sept 1923 to 28 Dec 1928) on Soprano for the 1926 Belle Vue Competition when they played “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” by Dr Thomas Keighley, with the band coming first winning £2228 / 7 / 0.
After this win on the 7 October 1926, Arthur Stubbs officially left the band.
Nearly a year later with George Clarke still on Soprano during the 5 September 1927 competition for the Jennison Trophy at Belle Vue, listed among the members of the Foden’s Band was Arthur Stubbs who was again playing on Soprano Cornet this time possibly as a deputy player brought in for the event only. With Arthur on Soprano the band produced a win for the second year in a row, playing the test piece “Merry Wives of Windsor” by Dr Thomas Keighley.
This was possibly not the end of Arthur Stubbs on Soprano as for the 3 September 1928 British Open Championship at Belle Vue, Manchester he was listed as 2nd Soprano Cornet alongside George Clark and possibly the greatest line-up of musicians the band has known, or should that be the most well-known musicians with conductor William Halliwell making his last appearance with the band, Harry Mortimer on Solo Cornet alongside Charles Dawson, with Reg Moores and Fred Mortimer (Harry’s Father and usual conductor of the band) on Repriano Cornets and 1st Euphonium player Alex Mortimer with his brother Rex Mortimer on Trombone. In terms of named players each one now has a place in the banding hall of fame so it was no wonder that Foden’s Motor Works Band won the Jennison Trophy for the third and final time as they were entitled to keep the trophy after winning three times in a row.
This highlight was possibly the last appearance of Arthur Stubbs with the band as there are no more records of him playing with Foden’s or any other band, which is sad because he obviously impressed the Sandbach Chronicle reporter and with all those wins under his belt he was part of the “best band in the land”.
3 Sept 1928 FODEN’S MOTOR WORKS BAND PLAYERS
INSTRUMENT NAME ADDRESS
Conductor William Halliwell Spring Bank, Wigan
Soprano Cornet George Clark Clifton Road
Soprano Cornet Arthur Stubbs Clifton Road
Cornet Harry Mortimer Post Office (Elworth)
Cornet Charles Dawson Ye Iron Graye
(Middlewich Rd, Sandbach)
Cornet Herbert Harrison Kinderton (Middlewich)
Cornet William Pedley Congleton Road, Sandbach
(Bill Pedley from Congleton)
Repriano Cornet Reg Moores Clifton Road
Repriano Cornet Fred Mortimer Clifton Road
2nd Cornet R Smedley Garden City NEW
2nd Cornet Edwin Statham George Street
(Ted Statham)
3rd Cornet Edward Jenkins George Street
3rd Cornet H Coppenhall George Street NEW
Flugel Hubert Shergold Marsh Green Road
1st Horn Arthur Webb (Snr) Marsh Green Road
2nd Horn F Sawood Hill Street NEW
3rd Horn J Cottrill Congleton Road NEW
1st Baritone Albert Statham George Street
2nd Baritone Basil Stokes George Street
1st Euphonium Alex Mortimer Clifton Road
2nd Euphonium Don Stokes George Street
Trombone Robert Knott George Street
Trombone Harold Stubbs Clifton Road
Trombone Rex Mortimer Clifton Road
Bass Trombone Joe Moores Clifton Road
Bass Alex Hilton George Street
Bass Matthew Cullen Marsh Green Road
Bass B Raworth George Street NEW
Bass Joe Poole George Street
#################################################################################
13 May 1915 Blackburn (Paid £30) CANCELLED
Two Concerts.
Lewis Beard, Town Hall
16 May 1915 Vernon Park, Stockport (Paid £20) CANCELLED
2 Concerts
F Harris Parks Department, Vernon Park, Stockport.
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1/28th (COUNTY OF LONDON) BATTALION (ARTIST’S RIFLES)
In July 1915 the Regiment moved from Richmond Park to Epping Forest.
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4 July 1915 Coventry (Paid £32) CANCELLED
J Cattell, Superintendents Office
Coventry Lodge, Coventry
17 July 1915 CONCERT – Chester (Paid £15)
One Concert
(See 18 July 1915, 31 July 1915, 1 Aug 1915, 2 Aug 1915)
18 July 1915 CONCERT – Chester (Paid £15)
One Concert
(See 17 July 1915, 31 July 1915, 1 Aug 1915, 2 Aug 1915)
31 July 1915 CONCERT – Chester (Paid £15)
One Concert
(See 17 July 1915, 18 July 1915, 1 Aug 1915, 2 Aug 1915)
1 to 2 Aug 1915 CONCERT – Chester (Paid £15)
One Concert
(See 17 July 1915, 18 July 1915, 31 July 1915)
3 Aug 1915 Oldham Alexandra Park (Paid £25) CANCELLED
Two Concerts
15 Aug 1915 Coventry (Paid £32) CANCELLED
J Cattell, Superintendents Office
Coventry Lodge, Coventry
15 Aug 1915 CONCERT – Northwich
Northwich (Paid £15. If a success £20) (Actually Paid £18)
Wm. Yarwood, The Mount, Castle, Northwich.
(Tea Provided)
22 Aug 1915 CONCERT – Winsford
Winsford Working Men’s Hospital Saturday Committee. (Paid £16)
Sec. W F Nenrall 44 School Road.
2 Concerts
4 Sept 1915 COMPETITION – “British Open Championships”, Belle Vue, Manchester.
(or 6 Sept 1915) Test Piece “Il Furioso” by Donizetti arr C Godfrey.
Conductor for Foden’s William Halliwell
FIRST Foden’s Motor Works Band.
SECOND Horwich RMI
THIRD Kings Cross
The band won £134 / 18 /0
Sept 1915 COMPETITION – National Brass Band Championships, Crystal Palace, London.
NOT HELD DUE TO THE WAR.
5 Sept 1915 CONCERT – White Heather Society, Altringham (Paid £20)
Sec. A Chadwick 35 Finchley Road.
Tea Provided.
26 Sept 1915 CONCERT – Northwich
Northwich Patriotic Committee (Paid £20)
S Dunaut 54 Witton Street, Northwich
(Tea Provided)
3 Oct 1915 CONCERT – Macclesfield
Macclesfield Volunteer Fire Brigade (Paid £22)
W H Braid 25 Bridge St, Macclesfield.
2 Concerts
##########################################################################################
1/28th (COUNTY OF LONDON) BATTALION (ARTIST’S RIFLES)
In November 1915 the 28th (County of London) Battalion (Artist’s Rifles) were absorbed into the 1/28th Battalion and the 3/28th Battalion became the 2/28th Battalion.
##########################################################################################
15 Nov 1915 CONCERT – Grand Theatre, Hanley (Paid £80)
One week (2 performances Nightly 20 to 30 Minutes) Not less 25 Performers.
5 Dec 1915 CONCERT – LYCEUM THEATRE Crewe.
FODEN'S MOTOR WORKS BAND
Two Sacred Concerts (Paid £20)
In Connection with Crewe Temperance.
Conductor Mr Tom Hynes
Included music from “Faust”, “Prelude in C Sharp Minor” and Mr Edwin Firth
playing “Irene”.
Feature 10 December 1915 Nantwich Guardian Page 4.
Feature 21 January 1916 Nantwich Guardian Page 4.
###################################################################################
1916 FODEN’S MOTOR WORKS BAND
Conductor William Halliwell
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1916 Edwin Firth (Cornet) married Doris Twemlow (.b. Jan 1892 .D. 31 Dec 1991)
the daughter of Sam Twemlow and granddaughter of Edwin Foden the founder of
the band.
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RED CROSS HELPERS AT ABBEY FIELDS / FUNDRAISERS
A website produced by the Red Cross gave details of the hours and jobs done by members of the public in Hospitals all round England. Many Nurses details were also given and as the information was catalogued under the town’s name we can find out about local helpers at Abbey Fields (Middlewich Road)
##################################################
Mrs Edwin Firth Details not known
(Doris Twemlow. Daughter of Samual Poole Twemlow and Fanny Foden (Edwin Foden’s daughter)
(Lived at Springfield, Sandbach as part of the Working Party and did 3 hours weekly for 2 years
– Mrs Edwin Firth / Mrs Doris Firth helped between 1916 and April 1918.
She married Edwin Firth a cornet player with Fodens’s band who died on the 1 June 1918
and had a son called Edwin Jnr in April 1918 which is why she left the Red Cross.
##################################################
Miss Hesba Twemlow
(Essba Twemlow Daughter of Samual Poole Twemlow and Fanny Foden (Edwin Foden’s daughter)
(Lived at Springfield, Bradwall, Sandbach and was a Nurse in LIVERPOOL / CONGLETON)
Miss Nora Twemlow May 1917
(Lived at Springfields, Sandbach and worked at the Abbey Field Hospital as a General Worker
putting in 957 hours until after 1919.)
Mrs S. P. Twemlow Details not known
(Lived at Springfield, Sandbach and was the Honorary Secretary of the Sandbach Working Party
putting in 3 hours a week for 3 years as well as working at home.)
##################################################
Miss Amy Foden September 1917
(Lived at Elworth House, Elworth worked at Dowery House, Nantwich
as a general helper until October 1918 doing 101 hours)
Miss Dorothy Foden June 1917
(Lived at Hilary House, Crewe, worked at Abbey fields until January 1919.
She worked 716 Hours during her time.)
Mrs Ellen Foden 1915
(Lived at Westfields, Middlewich Road, Sandbach and was a member of the
Red Cross Working Party and the organiser of Whist Drives for Working Parties making £50
(Red Cross working party Ref No 1293) and worked 100 hours at the job until 1917)
Mrs W Foden Details not known
(Lived at Westfields, Middlewich Road, Sandbach and was a member of the Red Cross Working Party
doing 3 hours a week for 1 year)
1866 SAMUAL POOLE TWEMLOW Married to Edwin Foden’s daughter Fanny. .d. 1928
Foden Ltd Company secretary then Director.
DAUGHTERS - Essba Twemlow (Married) and Doris (Married Edwin Firth)
1906 EDWIN TWEMLOW Son of Samual Twemlow and Fanny Foden .d.
Joint managing director from 1951 to 1972.
1938 STEPHEN PATRICK TWEMLOW Son of Edwin Twemlow .d.
Joined the company in the 1960's
###################################################################################
23 Apr 1916 CONCERT – Macclesfield
Macclesfield Volunteer Fire Brigade (Paid £22)
Two Concerts (Easter Sunday)
W H Braid 25 Bridge Street
(Tea Provided)
27 May 1916 CONCERT – Sandbach
Sandbach May Festival (Teas Provided)
A picture has come to our attention via the book “Cheshire Life” by Mike Eddison
and John Hopkins which shows what happed to the “Prussian Style Uniforms” that
were worn by Foden’s band but had to be abandoned because if their association with
the Great War (Purchased in 1913). It shows Joiners at Foden’s Motor Works winning
first prize at the Sandbach Festival with a mock up German Zeppelin on top of a
Steam Wagon wearing the uniforms along with other soldiers in costume.
(ISBN 978-0-7524-4364-5) A Postcard of the float was made available.
The festival raised £538 which after expenses was reduced to £371.00
of which £300 was donated to make a Y.M.C.A. Hut in France to be named
the “Sandbach Hut”.
Whit Weekend Groves Enclosure Chester (Paid £20) CANCELLED
(May-June 1916) Two Concerts S P Davies, Town Hall Chester
4 June 1916 CONCERT – Vernon Park, Stockport (Paid £25)
Two Concerts (Sunday) 3-5pm and 7-9pm
Frank Harris Supt.
Originally booked for the 28 May.
18 June 1916 CONCERT – Northwich (Paid £20)
W J Harwood, The Mount, Castle, Northwich.
(Tea Provided)
24 June 1916 CONCERT – Northwich (Paid £15)
F W Brock Esq. Heyeswood, Hartford
Garden Party (Tea Provided)
1 July 1916 CONCERT – Coventry (Paid £15)
W J Cottell Cemetery
1 Evening Concert (Tea Provided)
2 July 1916 CONCERT – Coventry (Paid £35)
W J Cottell Cemetery Lodge, Coventry
Included “Memories of Britain” (Rimmer), “The Village Blacksmith” (Gaetas)
Solo Edwin Firth playing Pandora (Damare),
Grand Selection “Samson and Delilah” (Saint Saens) and
the March Militaire.
Feature 3 July 1916 Coventry Evening Telegraph Page 2.
12 July 1916 CONCERT – Groves Enclosure Chester (Paid £15)
One Evening Concert
(see also 29 July 1916, 30 July 1916)
13 July 1916 CONCERT – Tunstall (Paid £20)
Two Concerts (Tea Provided)
W H Flint, “Lynton” Queens Avenue, Tunstall
___________________________________________________________________________________
Feature 15 July 1916 Chester Chronicle Page 5.
Feature on a concert at Chester with Edwin Firth giving solos with universal applause.
___________________________________________________________________________________
15 July 1916 CONCERT – Matlock Bath (Paid £30)
Two Concerts (3 and 7pm)
C Randle, Council Chamberts, Matlock Bath.
(Tea Provided)
16 July 1916 CONCERT – Burnley (Paid £30)
Two Concerts (Sunday)
P Thomas Esq. Town Hall, Burnley.
Afternoon Townley Park, Evening Queen’s Park.
29 July 1916 CONCERT – Groves Enclosure Chester (Paid £15)
One Evening Concert
(see also 12 July 1916, 30 July 1916)
30 July 1916 CONCERT – Groves Enclosure Chester (Paid £15)
One Evening Concert
(see also 12 July 1916, 29 July 1916)
6 Aug 1916 CONCERT – Matlock Bath (Paid £15)
E Randle (Tea Provided)
2 Aug 1916 CONCERT – MIDDLEWICH CONCERTS
The band played two concerts for Roland Seddon a local Salt Baron to help
with the War effort. The band were paid £15 for 2 Concerts.
The band played at Chadwick Fields, Middlewich
7 Aug 1916 CONCERT – Alfreton Flower Show (Paid £40)
W Helliwell, Sunny Bank, Alfreton.
(Tea Provided)
12 Aug 1916 CONCERT – Biddulph (Paid £20)
Jas. Harrison 46 Well Street, Biddulph
(Tea Provided)
A report in the Congleton Chronicle tells us that this was “Wakes Week” in
Biddulph and the band were playing at Biddulph in two concerts to help
raise funds for the North Staffordshire Infirmary (the local Hospital).
The concert was conducted by Mr Tom Hynes in-front of a large crowd at
both concerts (Afternoon and Evening).
13 Aug 1916 CONCERT – Vernon Park Stockport (Paid £25)
26 to 27 Aug 1916 CONCERT – Winsford
Winsford Hospital Saturday Committee (Paid £30)
Two Concerts Both Days.
W F Newall, Station Road. Winsford.
2 Sept 1916 COMPETITION – “British Open Championships”, Belle Vue, Manchester.
Test Piece “La Traviata” by G Verdi arr C Godfrey Jnr.
Foden’s came in 2nd place to Horwich RMI winning £40 / 15 /0.
Conductor for Foden’s William Halliwell (Paid £11 by Foden’s for the day)
FIRST Horwich RMI
SECOND Foden’s Motor Works Band (Played 5th).
THIRD Black Dyke Mills
William Halliwell also conducted Irwell Springs who came 6th and played 1st.
Feature 9 September 1916 Chester Chronicle Page 5.
Sept 1916 COMPETITION – National Brass Band Championships, Crystal Palace, London.
NOT HELD DUE TO THE WAR.
3 Sept 1916 CONCERT - Chester (Paid £15)
One evening concert (S P Davies)
16 Sept 1916 CONCERT – Macclesfield (Paid £22)
2 Concerts
W H Braid, Biddulph (Tea Provided)
29 Oct 1916 CONCERT – LYCEUM THEATRE Crewe.
FODEN'S MOTOR WORKS BAND
In 2 Sacred Concerts for the Crewe Temperance Society.
Conductor Tom Hynes
(Tea Provided)
Small Feature Pg 8, 28 Oct Crewe Chronicle.
###################################################################################
1917 FODEN’S MOTOR WORKS BAND
Conductor William Halliwell
###################################################################################
1917 Edwin Firth (Cornet) left the band to join the 28th London Regiment (the Artists
Rifles) as a private. In February 1918 his company were posted to France and
Edwin decided to borrow a battered cornet he found in the band room to the
war so he could keep his lip in and left behind his main instrument for his return.
(see 21 Oct 1917 and 1918)
8 Apr 1917 CONCERT – Ashton in Makerfield (Paid £25)
Two Concerts
Miss or Mrs E Foden 1a Bryn Street, Ashton in Makerfield Nr Wigan.
27 to 28 May 1917 CONCERT – Coventry (Paid £60)
(Whit Sun and Mon) Two Concerts.
W J Cottell. Cemetery Lodge, Coventry
2 to 3 June 1917 CONCERT – Birmingham (Paid £60)
2 Concerts Both days
W H Morton, Parks Department, Council House, Birmingham.
9 June 1917 CONCERT – Groves Enclosure, Chester (Paid £16)
1 Concert (see also 23 June 1917, 21 July 1917, 11 Aug 1917)
17 June 1917 CONCERT – Northwich Patriotic Committee (Paid £27)
Two Concerts
Sec J A Breathnall 46, Victoria Road, Northwich.
23 June 1917 CONCERT – Groves Enclosure, Chester (Paid £16)
1 Concert (see also 9 June 1917, 21 July 1917, 11 Aug 1917)
##########################################################################################
1/28th (COUNTY OF LONDON) BATTALION (ARTIST’S RIFLES)
28 June 1917 the Brigade transferred to the 190th Brigade in the 63rd (Royal Naval) Division.
##########################################################################################
1 July 1917 CONCERT –
Longton Park (Paid £40/ 12 / 10 ½ from Collections made by Ourselves at gates)
7 July 1917 CONCERT – Northwich (Red Cross Society) Fate (Paid £15)
Miss G Reid, Struan, Northwich.
(Tea Provided)
8 July 1917 CONCERT – Coventry (Paid £35)
Two Concerts.
W J Cottell. Cemetery Lodge, Coventry
21 July 1917 CONCERT – Groves Enclosure, Chester (Paid £16)
1 Concert (see also 9 June 1917, 23 June 1917, 11 Aug 1917)
28 July 1917 CONCERT – Crewe
Crewe Amalgamated Bowling Clubs (Paid £15)
1 Evening concert in aid of Red Cross.
Dan Green, 105 Hungerford Road, Crewe.
4 Aug 1917 CONCERT – Audley
Audley Oddfellows Fate and Gala (Paid £22)
Secty. E Viggars 6 Chapel Street, Bignall Road.
(Tea Provided)
5 Aug 1917 CONCERT – Manchester Racecourse.
Pendleton and Salford Limited Friendly Societies Council (Paid £30)
Two Concerts on Manchester Racecourse.
Theo Reeves, 67 Lower Seedley Road, Seedley.
___________________________________________________________________________________
A report and picture (Mr Arthur Stubbs) in the Sandbach Chronicle (Aug 1917) said that; -
LOCAL BANDSMAN DESCRIBED AS “THE GREATEST SOPRANO”
The following under “Manchester and District Notes” in the current issue of the “Brass Band News”, will afford great pleasure to all lovers of brass band music in Congleton:
And now about that treat I promised. Foden’s are coming. Yes, they are. And bringing a couple of programmes with them. The place that has the honour of receiving this famous organisation has been altered from the Manchester Racecourse to the Manchester United Football Ground. The reason for the change I have been told is that there has been such a rush for tickets that it was feared that the racecourse would not hold the tremendous crowd expected. Now I am given to understand that “United’s” ground is capable of holding millions, and it was thought that in the interest of humanity it would be better to have the concerts on the football ground. I am told, although as we all know, Foden’s are a galaxy of stars, that there is one in particular that we must all listen to, and that is the soprano player. The greatest soprano up-to-date. No one knows what thirty years hen might bring along, but in Mr Stubbs I believe we have it.
EXTRA INFO
The Manchester United Football Ground at the time was Old Trafford which in 1917 held 80,000 people. The report also mentions Arthur Stubbs on Soprano which presented a mystery as he had been the 2nd Cornet player with Band in 1915 and was a replacement following the Strike of that year which had seen the departure of Soprano player Joe Brookes who had been sacked by William Halliwell and replaced by a C Smith for a year before Arthur took over in 1916.
(See Spring 1915)
___________________________________________________________________________________
11 Aug 1917 CONCERT – Groves Enclosure, Chester (Paid £16)
1 Concert (see also 9 June 1917, 23 June 1917, 21 July 1917)
On a brief leave from France, Edwin Firth played at the concert at Chester Groves,
by the River. One of the tunes he played was “Goodbye” by Tosti. Days later he
was due to be sent back to France. (see 1 September 1917)
12 Aug 1917 CONCERT – Winsford Hospital Saturday Committee (Paid £15)
One Concert
_________________________________________________________________________________
UNKNOWN 17 August 1917 Nantwich Chronicle Page 2.
A Concert by Fodens Motor Works Band included a Grand Selection “Der Freischutz” and a solo from Edwin Firth of “The Mermaid’s Song” and the final item on the programme.
_________________________________________________________________________________
18 Aug 1917 CONCERT – Sandbach Hospital Fate and Pageant (Paid £15)
J H Broad, Secty
(Tea Provided)
On the 18 August 1917 the Sandbach Fire Brigade led the procession in a parade
from the High Street to the Top of the Hill in Sandbach Heath and then back
via Middlewich Road followed by the Foden’s Band and various floats including
a tableau based on “Gypsy Life” and a party from Congleton with
Juvenile characters.
Others in the cavalcade were the Biddulph Band with Chief Marshall,
William T Rosson (Cab Proprietor) of 21 Crewe Road, Sandbach.
The event was part of the Sandbach Hospital Fate and Pagent organised by
various people including secretary Mr J.H. Broad to raise funds for the
Hospital based at Abbey Fields on Middlewich Road, Sandbach.
_________________________________________________________________________________
UNKNOWN 24 August 1917 Nantwich Chronicle Page 3.
A Concert by Fodens Motor Works Band under Mr Tom Hynes included Overture “Bohemian Girl” (Balfe), “Valse Balmoral” (Gosling) a trombone solo “The Sailor’s Grave” and Mr Ellis Westwood grand Selection from “I’l Travatore” (Verdi) and a Cornet Solo (Possibly Edwin Firth)
_________________________________________________________________________________
25 Aug 1917 CONCERT – Chester – One Evening Concert (Paid £16)
1 Sept 1917 COMPETITION – “British Open Championships”, Belle Vue, Manchester.
Test Piece “La Pre aux Clercs” by Herold arr C Godfrey.
The band came Sixth winning £8 / 3 / 0.
Conductor for Foden’s William Halliwell
FIRST Horwich RMI
SECOND Black Dyke Mills
THIRD Woodlands Village
FOURTH Glazebury Church
FIFTH Pemberton Old
SIXTH Foden’s Motor Works Band.
___________________________________________________________________________________
Feature 1 September 1917 Chester Chronicle Page 2.
Edwin Firth was called by the Military to appear at Chester Castle on the following Wednesday to ask for an extension to his leave from the army as it would be awkward for Foden’s without their Chief Cornet player when they compete in the British Open at Belle Vue, Manchester.
___________________________________________________________________________________
Sept 1917 COMPETITION – National Brass Band Championships, Crystal Palace, London.
NOT HELD DUE TO THE WAR.
8 Sept 1917 CONCERT - Nantwich (Red Cross Society) (Paid £20)
Selections and Dances 3 to 9.30pm
W Stonehewer Bank House, Nantwich
15 Sept 1917 CONCERT – Longton Park (Red Cross) (Paid £25)
Two Concerts
W H Jones, Sec.
(Tea Provided)
21 Oct 1917 CONCERT – LYCEUM THEATRE Crewe.
FODEN'S MOTOR WORKS BAND in
2 Concerts 3pm and 8pm
Conductor Tom Hynes
Soloists Arthur Webb (Horn)
Ellis Westwood (Trombone)
Private Edwin Firth (Cornet) (See 1918)
Hubert Shergold (Flugel Horn)
Fred Thorpe (Euphonium)
Small Feature Pg 8, 27 Oct Crewe Chronicle.
The Band were Paid £20. They were joined by Crewe Temperance Band.
##########################################################################################
1/28th (COUNTY OF LONDON) BATTALION (ARTIST’S RIFLES)
In October 1917 EDWIN FIRTH JOINED THE REGIMENT
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11 Nov 1917 CONCERT – Burslem (Coliseum) (Paid £18)
One Concert
J Paterson Brodie, Lloyds bank Chambers, Burslem.
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1918 FODEN’S MOTOR WORKS BAND
Conductor William Halliwell
##########################################################################################
##########################################################################################
1/28th (COUNTY OF LONDON) BATTALION (ARTIST’S RIFLES)
February 1918, and the Battalion was posted to France. Edwin Firth decided to borrow a battered Cornet he had found in the band room to play at the front so he could keep his lip in. He left his own cornet behind ready for his return.
##########################################################################################
29 Mar 1918 CONCERT – Macclesfield (Paid £20)
(Good Friday) W H Braid 25 Bridge Street, Macclesfield
31 Mar 1918 CONCERT – Northwich (W J Yarwood) (Paid £20)
(Easter Sunday) Two Concerts 2.30pm and 7.30pm
(Tea Provided)
April 1918 In April 1918 Edwin Firth’s Doris wife gave birth to a son Edwin Twemlow Firth
but it was not a happy time as the baby’s father was still in France in a place called
Varennes, North West of Amiens and on the 1 June 1918 while returning to the
trenches a shell exploded just outside some woods killing Edwin and his party,
he was only 29 Year’s old.
##########################################################################################
1/28th (COUNTY OF LONDON) BATTALION (ARTIST’S RIFLES)
The Regiment was in France in a place called Varennes, North West of Amiens and on the 1 June 1918 while returning to the trenches a shell exploded just outside some woods killing Edwin and the rest of his party.
Possible Picture of Edwin Firth 2nd from Left.
##########################################################################################
1 June 1918 Private Edwin Firth 766890 died at the age of 29. He is buried in the
Verennes Military Cemetery near to Albert in France.
A Cul-de-sac in Sandbach is named after him, Edwin Firth close.
Feature 14 June 1918 Nantwich Guardian Page 2 and 3.
###################################################################################
1918 FODEN’S MOTOR WORKS BAND –
after EDWIN FIRTH
###################################################################################
May-June 1918 CONCERT – Silverdale (Paid 25)
(Whit Monday) Two Concerts
John Lowe 53 Abbey Street, Silverdale
(Tea Provided)
3 June 1918 CONCERT – Chester (Paid £16)
One Evening Concert
(see 13 July 1918, 5 Aug 1918, 24 Aug 1918, 14 Sept 1918)
23 June 1918 CONCERT – Elworth Red Cross (Paid Gratis)
6 to 7 July 1918 CONCERT – Birmingham Parks (Paid £65)
W.H. Morton, Council House, Birmingham.
10 July 1918 Tarporley (British Red Cross Society) (Paid £20)
Hons. Mrs Marshall Brookes.
Aux Military Hospital, Portal, Tarporley.
13 July 1918 CONCERT – Chester (Paid £16)
One Evening Concert
(see 8 June 1918, 5 Aug 1918, 24 Aug 1918, 14 Sept 1918)
20 July 1918 CONCERT – Abbey Fields Hospital, Sandbach (Paid – Gratis)
This was possibly a concert for the wounded soldiers at the hospital.
Between 1914 and 1918 during the The Great War between Britain and Germany
“Abbey Fields” on Middlewich Road, Sandbach was converted into a Hospital
for the wounded. The Reverend William Plaskett from the Hope Street Chapel was
the Free Church Chaplin at Abbey Fields. His wife and daughter Rene also
worked in the Hospital as VAD auxiliary nurses.
24 July 1918 CONCERT – Chester
Chester V.A.D. Hospital Upton (Paid £20)
Lady Grosvenor, Oakfields V.A.D. Hospital, Upton Nr Chester
(Tea Provided)
27 July 1918 CONCERT – Butt Lane, Primitive Methodist Chapel (Paid £25)
Geo. J Wise. 46 Woodshutts Street, Butt Lane, Talke.
3 Aug 1918 CONCERT – Audley Oddfellows Fate and Gala (Paid £25)
E Viggars, Chapel Street, Bignall End, Staffs.
(Tea Provided)
5 Aug 1918 CONCERT – Chester (Paid £30)
(Bank Holiday) Two Evening Concerts
(see 8 June 1918, 13 July 1918, 24 Aug 1918, 14 Sept 1918)
7 Aug 1918 CONCERT – Crewe Red Cross Garden Party (Paid £12)
Barklay Towers.
Mr Stringer, Butcher, Nantwich Road, Crewe.
(Tea Provided)
14 Aug 1918 CONCERT – Cholmondeley Castle (Paid £25)
3pm to 5pm
6 to 9pm Dancing
Lady Lettice Harrison
18 Aug 1918 CONCERT – Sandbach Hospital Fate (£15)
J H Broad Secty.
(Tea Provided)
24 Aug 1918 CONCERT – Chester (Paid £16)
One Evening Concert
(see 8 June 1918, 13 July 1918, 5 Aug 1918, 14 Sept 1918)
7 Sept 1918 COMPETITION – “British Open Championships”, Belle Vue, Manchester.
Test Piece “Il Bravo” by Marlini arr C Godfrey
Conductor for Foden’s William Halliwell
FIRST Wingates Temperance (W Halliwell)
SECOND Irwell Springs
THIRD Besses O’ The’ Barn
FOURTH Carlton Main
FIFTH Foden’s Motor Works Band. (W Halliwell)
The band came Fifth winning £11 / 3 / 0.
Foden’s hired deputies for the concert, Lawrence (G Trombone), George Rogerson
(Bb Player), J Sadler (2nd Baritone), Sam Wilkinson (Repiano).
8 Sept 1918 CONCERT – Northwich (Paid £20)
Two Concerts
W J Yarwood, The Dock, Northwich
(Tea Provided)
___________________________________________________________________________________
NATIONAL NEWS
Sept 1918 COMPETITION – National Brass Band Championships, Crystal Palace, London.
NOT HELD DUE TO THE WAR.
___________________________________________________________________________________
13 Sept 1918 CONCERT - Peel Park, Salford for LLOYD GEORGE’S VISIT (Paid £30)
Selections from 10am to 1pm.
J and C Lord, Weaste, Manchester.
The occasion included a visit from Prime Minister Lloyd George. Although the
Foden brothers were Liberals they still charged the highest fee they could for
the event.
14 Sept 1918 CONCERT – Chester (Paid £16)
One Evening Concert
(see 8 June 1918, 13 July 1918, 5 Aug 1918, 24 Aug 1918)
15 Sept 1918 CONCERT – Sacred Concert at New Brighton.
Victoria Gardens, New Brighton Promenade (Paid £30)
Two Concerts 3pm and 8.15pm
D P Charlesworth 25 Rice Lane, Egremont
(Earliest Programme available)
In Aid of New Brighton, Egremont, Edith Road and
Brighton Canteens for Wounded Soldiers and Sailors.
Under the patronage and presence of
His Worship the Mayor and Mayoress of Wallasey.
At 3pm and 8.15pm tickets 2/- (reserved) and 1/- and 6d.
AFTERNOON SHOW 3pm
1. The Victor’s Return (William Rimmer)
2. Masaniello (Daniel Francis-Esprit Auber .b. 1782 .D. 1871)
3. The Sailor’s Grave (Arthur Sullivan) Trombone Solo Mr Ellis Westwood
4. A Life for the Czar – Grand Selection
(Michael Ivanovitch Glinks .b. 1803 .D.1857)
INTERVAL
1. Rhapsody Number 1 (Franz Liszt arr William Rimmer)
2. Descriptive Fantasia – Rustic Scenes (William Rimmer)
3. Arbucklenian (St Jacome) Cornet Solo Mr James Thorpe
4. Grand Selection – Rossini’s Works (arr A Owen)
5. God Save the King
EVENING CONCERT 8.15pm
1. On the Quarterdeck (Ancliffe)
2. Overture Poet and Peasant (Suppe) Horn Solo Mr A Webb
3. The British Grenadiers (Hartmann) Euphonium Solo Mr Fred Thorpe
4. Grand Selection – Il Bravo (Marliani) (Test Piece Belle Vue 1918)
INTERVAL
1. Rhapsody No 2 (Franz Liszt)
2. The Village Blacksmith (Gaetas)
3. Cleopatra (Damare) Cornet Solo Mr James Thorpe
4. National Selection – The United Kingdom (William Rimmer)
5. God Save the King
25 Sept 1918 CONCERT – Chester
Broxton Red Cross Fate at Mrs Robert Barbours House “Bank Head” (Paid £25)
Selections and Dancing 2.30 to Dark
C Dennis Esq, Broxton Old Hall, Handley, Chester.
28 Sept 1918 CONCERT – Wesleyan Church, Kidsgrove (Paid £25)
W. H. Wright. The Mount, Kidsgrove.
(Tea Provided)
11 Nov 1918 The GREAT WORLD WAR ended at 5am with the signing of the
armistice in a railway carriage in the forest of Compiegne.
At the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month all fighting officially stopped.
17 Nov 1918 UNITED THANKSGIVING SERVICE at St Mary’s Parish Church, Sandbach, 3pm.
Opening Voluntary “Lead Kindly Light” played by Foden’s Band
Conductor Mr Hines.
HYMNS
1. All People that on Earth do dwell.
2. Psalm XLVI God is our Hope and Strength.
3. Psalm XCVIII O Sing unto the Lord a new Song.
4. Psalm XLVII God me merciful unto us.
5. Hymn 165 and 376
O God our Help in Ages Past
Now Thank we all our God.
7. Hymn - Oh King of Kings Whose Reign of Old.
8. The Hallelujah Chorus Played by Foden’s Band
9. The Trumpet of Victory Played by Mr W Nock on the Church Organ.
10. The National Anthem
11. Concluding Voluntary Played by Foden’s Band.
24 Nov 1918 CONCERT – Hippodrome Warrington (Paid £30)
Thos. Mather. 65 Laira Street, Warrington
(Tea Provided)
15 Dec 1918 CONCERT – LYCEUM THEATRE Crewe.
FODEN'S MOTOR WORKS BAND
In Two Concerts along with the Crewe Temperance Band (Paid £22)
Conductor Tom Hynes
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A PDF History of Edwin Firth's Life is available above. Click on the Picture to Down Load.
