UBIQUITOUS AMBASSADORS
KNOTTINGLEY SILVER BAND
by TERRY SPENCER B.A. (Hons), Ph D.
CHAPTER FOUR - PAGE ONE
THE POST WAR PERIOD 1945 - 1960
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During almost a century and a half of existence Knottingley Band has
experienced many vicissitudes but when faced with problems the Band has
overcome them largely by the efforts of its members. As the late Band
Secretary, Bill Hodgson, once stated,
“We have never been so short of money
because we have gone to the people to earn it.” (1)
The statement, while essentially true, particularly with regard to the
effort made by the Band to earn money, tends to minimise the fact that
while the Band may never have lacked cash entirely, there have been
times when funds were in short supply, hence the need to earn money.
Such a period appears to have been experienced in the immediate
aftermath of the Second World War.
The years between 1945 and 1953 were potentially ones of prosperity as
full employment combined with the gratuity payments made to discharged
service personnel created a flood of surplus money in the pockets of a
public seeking entertainment and pleasure as an antidote to the
restrictions and impositions of the war economy. Ironically, post war
austerity with its shortages of fuel and materials and the necessity for
continued rationing constrained the production of luxury goods and
services and restricted the outlets for individual expenditure. In such
circumstances it might be thought that former pleasures, including band
concerts and dances would have attracted considerable patronage. The
mood of the public, however, was characterised by the desire for change.
The simple pleasures which had served former generations were now
largely regarded as somewhat old fashioned and passé and while in the
absence of anything more innovative they drew a measure of support it
was not of the former magnitude. To compound the problem the winter of
1946-47 was one of the most severe on record. Fuel shortages affected
both gas and electricity supplies. To prevent themselves freezing within
the confines of their own homes many able-bodied people spent the bulk
of each day ‘cinder picking’ on the ash tips located in local disused
limestone quarries and in the vicinity of Ferrybridge Power Station
which were the deposit sites of waste from the furnaces of local coal
burning industries. A thriving commerce developed between some who
purchased sacks of cinders from those who regarded ‘cinder picking’ as a
secondary occupation undertaken to obtain beer and ‘fag’ money. To
digress: in the midst of such activity petty-minded officialdom backed
by the forces of law and order asserted itself, fervent in pursuit of
trespassers even as the old and frail and young and vulnerable lacked a
modicum of essential warmth. Many were the tales of luck and ingenuity
concerning the outwitting of the forces of authority which regaled a
generally sympathetic public. Not all outcomes were lucky ones, however,
for on numerous occasions, having spent many finger-numbing hours
sieving dross to acquire a sack of cinders, an unfortunate picker was
accosted by officials who confiscated the hard won booty.
The above digression serves to illustrate the point that sitting in a
cold, dimly lit public hall listening to (or even playing) music was not
in vogue in the period when snow fell in January and in many locations
was still on the ground in April. Unsurprisingly such conditions
adversely affected the principal means whereby the Silver Prize band
normally obtained public support. Even when the belated appearance of
spring heralded a superbly contrasting and favourable summer season,
Band engagements, civic functions apart, appear to have been limited in
number thereby restricting the means for supplementing the limited funds
of the Band.
Even more fundamental than the disruptive influences of economic
austerity, changing fashion and meteorological conditions was the
involuntary change to the administrative structure of the Band in the
early post war period. For four decades from 1907, the affairs of the
Band whilst nominally under the supervisory aegis of the Band Committee
had been administered de facto by a ‘benevolent dictatorship’ of the
bandmaster, Samuel Marshall. The death of Marshall in 1949 was therefore
a watershed in the governance of the Band, a manifestation of which was
the recommencement of formal minutes arising from the deliberations of
the Committee, after a hiatus of more than quarter of a century.
Following Marshall’s demise Joe Pollard was unanimously selected as the
new bandmaster, holding the post until 1954 when poor health compelled
his resignation. Simultaneous to the appointment of Pollard steps were
taken to form a management committee. Nominated and elected by the votes
of attendant members at a general meeting convened in February 1949, an
eight man Committee was selected from 19 nominees, together with four
officers, being the Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer.
The Chairmanship was conferred upon Tom Tindall who obtained 8 votes
compared to 7 for Frank Spencer and 4 for Joe Pollard, Spencer as the
runner-up being declared Vice President. The newly elected Secretary was
G.W. Hodgson who was to retain the post in unbroken sequence until
October 1985. The office of Treasurer was held by T. Clayton and the
Committeemen were F. Spencer, S. Rowbottom, R. Heys, E. Ellis, T.
Pollard, F. Rowbottom, R. Sarvant and A. Wilde, the latter being
selected by a show of hands following a tie with B. Pollard in the votes
cast. (2)
The initial task of the committee, with the unanimous approval of the
rank and file members, was to arrange a meeting with Marshall
executrices and negotiate a settlement concerning Band Funds and
repossession of sundry items of equipment surrendered in 1907 as
security for the money loaned to the Band by the Marshall family. (3) A
delegation of five senior members was deputed to meet the Misses
Marshall to seek the transfer of money held on behalf of the Band,
together with bills and during correspondence concerning the affairs of
the Band. It is indicative of the degree of control exercised by the
late bandmaster that the committee appear to have had little idea of the
amount of funds held in the name of the Band. It was initially decided
to seek the sum of £250 but upon reflection the amount was later
advanced to £400. (4)
The negotiations appear to have been of brief duration and resulted in a
satisfactory outcome for by late February the delegates were
complemented by the Committee upon the settlement obtained. (5)
The original code of rules dating from 1880 was retained as a temporary
measure pending the formation of an amended version which was to be
displayed in the bandroom for perusal by the membership prior to its
adoption. In addition the Treasurer was instructed to make enquiries at
the Yorkshire Penny Bank with a view to opening a bank account in
respect of which trustees were to be appointed. Committee meetings were
scheduled to be held on the first Monday of each month but this date was
subsequently changed to the second Monday in order to more easily
accommodate members who were shift workers. (6)
The necessary reorganisation of the administrative structure of the Band
resulted in a more democratic ambience which was the precursor of
further change. At the Annual General Meeting of 1949 a new practice was
introduced which allowed non-playing personnel, hitherto not regarded as
band members to attend and participate in general meetings. (7) However,
the officers and committeemen were all senior members of the Band and
although some matters were referred to the whole membership these were
of a generalised nature and subject to the discretion of the Committee
which formulated policy. (8) The virtual autonomy of the Committee is
seen in the occasional delegation of power to the Secretary to undertake
business on behalf of the Band in matters affecting the entire
membership. (9) The widening of the membership base and accompanying
participation in general affairs was nevertheless subject to some
qualification. In 1951 voting was formally restricted to all persons 16
years of age or over and while in theory membership of the Band
Committee was open to non-playing members it was exclusively composed of
senior bandsmen, presumably on the premise that they best appreciated
the requirements of the Band and furnished the greatest degree of
experience and collective wisdom to fulfil those requirements. To this
end a resolution was framed in 1951 excluding all but bandsmen from
serving as officers of the Band but was rejected by 8 votes to 5. (10)
The following year new ground was broken when at the suggestion of Brian
Pollard, the election of the Committee was conducted by means of a paper
ballot in order to cater for members who were unable to attend the A.G.M.
(11) It is interesting to note a strong correlation in the result of the
election conducted under the new system and that which previously
appertained, with five of the committeemen elected in 1951 retaining
their places in the balloted election of 1952. (12) The outcome is all
the more surprising perhaps as an element of the retiring Committee
appears to have been neglectful in attendance, prompting a resolution at
the 1952 A.G.M. that
“Any Committeemen absent without good cause for 3 consecutive meetings
to be relieved of his duties.” (13)
The resolution appears to have had little impact for a Committee meeting
later that year was abandoned when only four members were present
although the fact that the meeting was held in the holiday season of
August may be a contributory factor to the sparse attendance on that
occasion. (14)
The contribution made to the welfare of the Band by the wives, mothers
and others associated with the bandsmen had always been a feature of
Band activity and one made all the more valuable for being largely taken
for granted. Whether raising funds or pressing shirts and uniforms,
providing and serving refreshments at Band functions or contributing to
the morale and physical welfare, the ‘woman’s touch’ was, and remains,
an indispensable asset for if, as has been asserted, the character of a
band is a reflection of that of its members, the quality of its
character is sustained by the contribution of the womenfolk. Recognition
of this fact was acknowledged in part by the decision in 1949 to allow
‘friends’ of the Band to attend general meetings. Further
acknowledgement of the service rendered by the womenfolk and the
desirability of harnessing the potential such service afforded is seen
in the Committee’s decision the following year to formalise the
arrangement through the establishment of a Ladies Committee. (15) In
furtherance of this objective a meeting was convened in the bandroom in
February 1951, ostensibly in connection with the organisation of a
fund-raising dance. (16) Notwithstanding the apparently satisfactory
outcome of the venture further action appears to have been deferred for
it was not until the middle of the following year that a formal
resolution that
“the ladies be got together to form their own Committee to organise
raffles etc.,”
was adopted by the Band Committee. (17) If the resolution
appears less than visionary it at least had the merit of providing the
Ladies with a formal, semi-autonomous role in the organisation and the
resultant establishment of the Ladies Committee was to prove its worth
through the provision of substantial support of a practical nature in
subsequent decades. (18) It is interesting to note en passant, the
retention of a degree of the male chauvinism which had informed the
proposed function of the Ladies Committee in 1952 for some five years
later it was decided by the Band Committee that the annual dinner at the
Golden Lion, Ferrybridge, should be a ‘men only’ event. (19)
In no area was the effect of war time conditions more evident than in
the physical appearance of the Band in the years immediately following
the conflict. In an effort to rectify the situation the bandmaster, Joe
Pollard, suggested the establishment of an instrument and uniform fund.
In order to accrue funds quickly it was decided by the Committee that a
moiety of all fees obtained from engagements should be placed in the
fund. However, the suggestion appears to have met with a lukewarm
response from the rank and file members resulting in a compromise
whereby the proceeds from engagements were to be disbursed amongst the
players to the nearest shilling per capita and the residue transferred
to the instrument and uniform fund. (20) It was also decided to embark
on a series of tours of the neighbourhood in order to obtain small
public donations and whilst application for the necessary police permits
was pending a general meeting was called to draw up a schedule to enable
regular public collections to be undertaken. (21) The accumulation of
money by such means was obviously a slow process and the financial
problems of the Band were compounded by the fact that for several years
following the end of the war rationing of foodstuffs and materials
remained a feature of everyday life which meant that the proposed
purchase of uniforms had to be accompanied by a requisite number of
clothing coupons. Given the practical difficulties it is perhaps
unsurprising that as late as the spring of 1950 the subject of new
uniforms was still under consideration and that even at that time it was
felt to be necessary to leave it for further consideration. (22)
An article by John Hargreaves which appeared in the local newspaper at
that period eloquently summarised the situation;
“The Knottingley Silver Prize band uniforms are 20 years old and look
it but the Band can’t afford new ones which cost £400… and what has the
Band got apart from an insufficient sum raised by its own efforts and
the donations of a few friends? Musical skill which is considerable; a
spirit if independence which is incorrigible; a Micawberish faith in
providence and an almost pathetic eagerness to bring credit to the town…
Honour with the knees out – there is the Band’s biggest asset – its
public spirit.” (23)
By November 1950 the Band Secretary had made enquiries of the Yorkshire
Copper Works’ Band concerning the subject of uniforms and members of the
Prize Band had been asked to bring in their existent uniforms for
inspection. (24) Following discussion a style specimen was sent to
Beevers Ltd., Featherstone, early in the New Year, together with
instructions concerning the same. The move was followed up by a visit to
the factory by a Band representative in order to ascertain details
concerning quality and price. The visit appears to have been
non-productive, however, for in April 1951 a decision was taken by the
Committee to place an order with the Uniquip company. (25)
The extent to which the article by John Hargreaves had engendered a
sympathetic response on the part of the public is conjectural but it
seems likely that the outcome was favourable for in May 1951 it was
reported that many donations had been received and that before the end
of the summer new uniforms, wine in hue with contrasting piping, would
be obtained. (26) Recalling the euphoria two decades earlier when the
last ‘kitting-out’ took place, Hargreaves humorously wrote;
“Some remember 20 years ago when the silver braid was new how the
Band beat 7 bells out of Colonel Bogey and blew hard enough to shatter
every window in Chapel Street – Majestic – the judges at Leicester
thought so and gave them first prize for deportment.” (27)
A degree of ambivalence and (in a couple of cases) unreliability amongst
some members of the Band concerning the procurement of a new uniform
resulted in the Committee deciding that;
“Members who have proved themselves enthusiastic be measure
immediately with the rest upon whom the Band could (sic) not depend be
deferred till such time as they prove themselves worthy and that the
period elapsing before they are eventually fixed up with uniform be
accepted as a suspensionary (sic) punishment.” (28)
However, following an assurance by the recalcitrant members regarding
their future intent it was also agreed to allow them to be measured for
new uniforms. (29)
In a proposed break with past practice it was decided to seek a price
from a rag mill as a means of disposing of the old uniforms as a single
lot. (30) However, an element of the membership sought to have the
decision overthrown and it was ultimately decided that each bandsman
should retain his old uniform gratis. (31) Whether from pride or mere
utility is unclear but wearing the new outfit proved so popular that the
Committee took the unprecedented step of posting a notice in the
bandroom stating that the new uniforms should only be worn in the
service of the Band. (32)
Terry Spencer 2006
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