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GISLINGHAM SILVER BAND

The Band in action! Gislingham Silver Band have been providing music to the local community for 125 years! It is believed to be the longest established village band in Suffolk. Membership of the band is open to anyone who has a desire to play irrespective of ability level. We currently have 27 members whose ages range from 8 and 78! The band can be seen performing on the following website. http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/suffolk/hi/people_and_places/arts_and_culture/newsid_8731000/8731651.stm

The band practices every Tuesday evening from 7.30pm to 9.30pm in their band room in Mill Street, IP23 8JT. New members always welcome.

During the year we perform at various concerts, fetes, open gardens etc.

Our engagements for 2010

Saturday 31st July 5pm - 7.30pm
Oak House, Mill Street, Gislingham
Private party

Sunday 29th Aug 12 noon - 2pm
Tollgate Inn, Bury St Edmunds
Music Festival

Mon 30th Aug 2pm – 4pm
Memorial Hall, Walsham le Willow
Open Gardens – open air concert

Sat 4th Sept 2pm – 4pm
Eye – outside Town Hall
Street Fair

Sun 5th Sept 3pm – 5pm
Church Farm, Gislingham
Band garden party
Tickets £5, to include afternoon tea, from Peter Lucas 01379 788411

Sun 19th Sept 7.30pm
Stradbrook, Civic parade
Provisional
Fri 24th Sept 7pm
Gislingham School
Concert with school band

Provisional
Sun 26th Sept 2pm - 4pm
Needham Market
Civic parade

Provisional
Saturday 16th October
Diss Corn Exchange
Beer festival

Provisional
Friday 12th Nov 7.30pm
Bacton Church
Remembrance Concert

Sun 14th Nov 10.30am – 12
Dickleburgh
Remembrance parade and service

Sun 14th Nov 2.30pm – 4.30pm
Botesdale
Remembrance parade

Sat 11th Dec 9.30am – 11.30am
Rickinghall Farmer’s market
Christmas carols etc

Tues 14th Dec 7.30pm – 9.30pm
Gislingham Village Hall
Christmas Concert

Sun 19th Dec 3pm – 4pm
Thornham Magna Church
Carol service

Mon 20th Dec 7.30pm – 9.30pm
Cherry Tree, Yaxley
Christmas carols etc

Our engagement diary for 2011 is filling fast.

A SHORT HISTORY OF THE BAND

The first record found of the band is the Diss Express newspaper dated Friday 29th May 1885 when the band paraded through the village on Whit Monday.

One person who was the backbone of the Band for over seventy years was Cecil Carter – a local farmer. Without Cecil’s generosity, perseverance, tenacity and determination the band would have folded on several occasions.

Cecil joined the Gislingham Brass Band in 1929 at the age of 16 because there was nothing to do in the village of an evening and he was keen on Lily Ruffles whose father, Joseph, and her brother ‘Puffer’, were both members of the village brass band.

Cecil was earning ten shillings a week and he saved up three pounds and ten shillings to buy his first trombone, by mail order, from Boosey and Hawkes of London.

Nobody else in the Band had every played a trombone so he had to teach himself to play.
In 1932, at the age of 19, Cecil became the band secretary – a post he was to hold for nearly seventy years!

The band were donated a side drum and a bass drum and became The Gislingham British Legion Band playing for rallies and parades (a tradition that continues to this day.)

Cecil Carter was in West Suffolk Hospital for his 90th birthday. The band was given permission to play on the ward for him.

Cecil did not return home and died on the 25th May 2003.

The band met in the Old ‘Free’ School in Mill Street for over thirty years.

The ‘Free’ School was sold in 1959 and the band moved to The Mission Hut in Mill Street that had been redundant for several years.

Originally the Mission Hut was a First World War army hut. After the war it had been purchased by Mr Edmund Broadbent of Oak House to be used for missionary meetings and services. Later it was sold to Tom Fisher who kindly allowed the band to use the hut rent free.

Tom Fisher died in 1976 and his wife two years later and in 1982, Eric Fisher, the vendor, sold the Mission Hut to the Trustees of the Gislingham Silver Band for £1. The conveyance relating to the drive and car parking area to the rear of the hut was completed in 1989 – purchase price £1.

The band were becoming restless being tied to the British Legion and dictated to as to what they could and couldn’t do so they broke away and became the Gislingham Silver Band as most of the instruments were silver plated.

Ron Wright joined the band in 1983 as musical director. Ron had played as a lad in the Markham Main Colliery Band and joined the senior band at the age of twelve. After doing his National Service in the Army he went to Bretton Hall College, at the age of twenty-six, where he specialised in music. He took up a teaching post, at Eye Secondary Modern School, as Head of the Music Department in 1970. Here he encouraged many pupils to take up an instrument and join the School Band. Many of his were later to become Gislingham Silver Band members.

To anyone entering the band hut it is like entering a time warp. The walls are lined with photographs of the band performing over the years.

How you can get involved

Contact the secretary Peter Lucas on 01379 788411 or by e mail or simply come along to one of our practice nights. You will be very welcome.

Office holders

* indicates main contact

Chairman and Treasurer: Mr Julian Moore
Secretary: Mr Peter Lucas* - Email Peter Lucas
Librarian: Mrs Kay Lucas
Committee member: Mrs Iris Dubbock
Musical Director: Mr Ron Wright
Assistant Musical Director: Mr David Cawdell
President: Mr Chris Pursehouse

Associated news stories

GISLINGHAM SILVER BAND STILL MARCHING AFTER 125 YEARS!

Dated: 23rd June, 2010 - In 1885 the newly formed Gislingham Brass Band marched through Gislingham - now 125 years later the band repeats the event by leading the procession from the village hall to the school for the Village Fair.
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THE GISLINGHAM SILVER BAND ON THE TELE!

Dated: 10th May, 2010 - The BBC Look East were at All Saints Church, Thorndon on Saturday 8th May and filmed the Gislingham Silver Band.
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TICKETS GO ON SALE FOR 'TUNES AND TALENTS'

Dated: 9th April, 2010 - Don't be disappointed! Tickets are now on sale for a special concert by The Gislingham Silver Band and other local talent.
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A BAND FOR BRITAIN

Dated: 10th March, 2010 - Did you see 'A Band for Britain' on Monday on BBC2? Well Gislingham Silver Band are also on the look out for new members.
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CALLING ALL BRASS PLAYERS!

Dated: 4th December, 2009 - The Gislingham Silver Band will celebrate its 125th birthday in 2010 making it, we believe, the longest established village band in Suffolk. We welcome all new members.
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GISLINGHAM SILVER BAND CHRISTMAS CONCERT

Dated: 3rd December, 2009 - Tickets are now on sale for the annual Gislingham Silver Band's Christmas concert.
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Forthcoming events

3rd August, 2010 - GISLINGHAM SILVER BAND PRACTICE NIGHT