Band
It is generally acknowledged that the first Salvation Army band was established in Salisbury in 1878. Salvation Army evangelists were having trouble with local hooligans so Charles Fry, a builder and leader of a Methodist orchestra, and his three sons offered to act as bodyguards while the Salvationists sang in the marketplace. As an afterthought they took along their brass instruments to accompany the singing. It was in this rather unwitting fashion that the first Salvation Army band was born. Their immediate success led Fry to sell his business and the whole family became full-time musicians in The Salvation Army. Within the next few years, Salvation Army bands sprung up all over the country.
The Salvation Army had already arrived in Chatham in 1873 although a band was not formed until 1881. These beginnings were humble – just eight players using old instruments fixed up by a local plumber!
Nowadays, no members of Salvation Army corps bands are remunerated financially for being part of the band. Quite the opposite, in fact, as members, as well as providing their own uniforms, contribute to the expense of running the band by paying a monthly subscription. Further support comes from kind donations from the public and the band’s own fund-raising activities. Chatham Band members are engaged in a rich variety of professions from accountants to military musicians, from policemen to financial advisors and from nursery nurses to quality control managers.
Bandmaster Carl WoodmanThe band is led by Carl Woodman who was commissioned as Bandmaster in January 2005 in succession to Ray Maycock. The son of Salvation Army officer parents, Carl’s graduate training was in music where he gained a BA (Hons) degree and ARCM and LTCL performer’s diplomas for tuba. Following a career in distribution, Carl joined Salvationist Publishing and Supplies Limited (SP&S) in 2002 where he is now Business Development Manager. Carl has been a member of The Salvation Army’s International Staff Band since 1993 and was therefore part of an illustrious tuba section that remained unchanged for over 12 years. Carl is ably assisted by a support team consisting of Deputy Bandmaster Nigel Lockwood, Band Secretary (Retired Bandmaster) Ray Maycock and Assistant Sergeant Rosemary Steadman-Allen.
L to R: Nigel, Ray & Rosemary
The band takes part in both Sunday services and can also be heard at various other events throughout the year in Chatham and beyond. If you would like to know more please CONTACT US or, better still, come and hear the band at the various meetings and services in which it participates.
Click here to listen to the Band playing “Greater Things”