Past Concerts and Events - 1940s

Details of concerts by the band before the 1970s are very limited. Unfortunately early band account books, which would have provided some pointers to non-charity concerts simply by recording a payment, were mislaid during a bandroom move a number of years ago. Concerts listed here are from personal memories, or the chance appearance of a document detailing the event. (Local paper cuttings, old programmes, Gravesend Corporation minutes etc.)

1940	Date	Venue	Time
	20/11/1940	Corporation Of Gravesend Finance and General Purposes Committee minutes para. 1182 shows - "TOWN BAND INSTRUMENTS. The Town Clerk reported that arrangements had been made for the instruments to be stored at St. Mary's School and he was notifying the Secretary and the Insurance Company accordingly."
1941	Date	Venue	Time
	25/06/1941	Corporation Of Gravesend Finance and General Purposes Committee minutes para. 1778 shows - "GRAVESEND TOWN SILVER BAND. The question of re-forming the above band was referred to the following Sub-Committee:—The Mayor, Alderman Hodge, Councillors Dr. Hagard, Edmonds, Croft and Ricketts."
	16/07/1941	Corporation Of Gravesend Finance and General Purposes Committee minutes para. 1838 shows - "BAND PERFORMANCES. An application by His Worship the Mayor for permission for the Police Band to play in Fort Gardens was granted. The members congratulated the Mayor for organising these performances which were greatly appreciated by the general public."
	16/07/1941	Corporation Of Gravesend Finance and General Purposes Committee minutes para. 1839 shows - "TOWN BAND. A letter from the Gravesend Town Silver Band suggesting that a joint meeting be held with the Council’s Band Sub-Cormmittee was referred to the Town Clerk to fix a date."
1942	Date	Venue	Time
	27/05/1942	Corporation Of Gravesend Finance and General Purposes Committee minutes para. 2606 shows - "HOME GUARD BAND. A letter was received from the Officer Commanding the 16th (Gravesend) Battalion Kent Home Guard, stating that they hoped to form a Home Guard Band and asking if it is possible for the Town Band Instruments, which are in the custody of the Council, to be loaned to them. This matter was referred to a Sub-Committee consisting of The Mayor, Deputy Mayor and Councillors Howcroft, Cole and Fletcher."
1943	Date	Venue	Time
	11/1943	Corporation Of Gravesend Finance and Law Committee minutes para. 72 shows - "TOWN BAND INSTRUMENTS. A letter was received from Mr. Ernest A. Allen, of 4, Wilfred Street, Gravesend, suggesting that use be made of the Town Band instruments and the Committee recommend that this matter be deferred for the duration of the war."
1944	Date	Venue	Time
	23/11/1944	Corporation Of Gravesend Whole Court in Committee minutes paragraph 25 shows - "TOWN BAND—JUNIOR SECTION. The Town Band Sub-Committee have taken up the suggestion of Councillor Harding as to the formation of this section being of opinion that the movement is both desirable and practicable. They have taken certain preliminary steps but, before going further, they wish to have the approval and sanction of the Council. In response to advertisement 150 youths from the age of 12 upward have applied for enrolment, a most gratifying response. The applicants are being sorted out by Mr. Stopford, the conductor of the Town Band, and it is proposed that as many as possible should go into training at once but the number is limited by the fact that there are only about 25 instruments, recently supplemented by a gift of two instruments from Mr. J. P. Thompson. A room at the Chantry is suggested for instructional headquarters. The Sub-Committee are of opinion that this movement is likely to prove of the utmost value as not only will the boys be taught a useful and possibly profitable accomplishment but they will be given an interest and be able to occupy their spare hours to advantage. As a preliminary step the Sub-Committee ask the Council to sanction an initial expenditure of £50 to enable the movement to be financed up to the end of the current year. Recommended that the report of the Sub-Committee he adopted and that a grant of £50 he made and the use of the Chantry for headquarters."	10.30
	25/11/1944	Letter to the Editor of the Gravesend Reporter. Sir,—inaugurated by Councillor E.J. Harding a movement is on foot to revive and invigorate the Town Band by the formation of a Junior Section (boys from 12 years of age and upward); and already a most promising beginning has been made. In response to invitation 150 boys have presented themselves for enrolment and a process of preliminary selection is in hand. It is inteded that every boy who shows sufficient musical aptitude shall have the opportunity of learning to play an instrument and so provide himself with recreation in his spare time and in addition secure an accomplishment which will benefit him in his career. Mr. Stopford, late of the Loyal Regt., will be the Bandmaster and Chief Inspector, and he will have as assistants members of the old Band. A practice room is being arranged for. The Band Committee of the Council are to some extent handicapped by the fact that for these 150 applicants they have less than 30 instruments, but the difficulty is not insuperable, and the Committee look confidently to the general body of the townspeople to assist them by gifts or loan of instruments and by donations in cash. There must be in the Borough many musical instruments laid aside by owners who have no longer time or inclination for the pursuit of their old hobby. Will such owners give or lend them for the benefit of these young boys? Will the people of Gravesend who have shown their generosity in so many directions help the Committee by gifts or loans of instruments, and if that is not possible by subscriptions which may enable some poor boy who cannot afford the modest subscription of 6d. a week to have his share in the musical life of the Borough. All communications on the subject may be addressed to the undersigned and suggestions will be cordially welcomed—Yours sincerely, H.H. Brown, Town Clerk.
1945	Date	Venue	Time
	09/01/1945	Corporation Of Gravesend Town Band Sub-Committee minutes para. 42 shows - "TOWN BAND. The Band Sub-Committee met on 9th January and submitted the following report and recommendations:— That Mr. T. Stopford be appointed Band Master and Instructor at a remuneration of £100 per annum. That Mr. H. Langridge be appointed Secretary and Assistant Instructor and that he carry out the duties of Caretaker at the Band's new headquarters at the Chantry and that he be paid a wage of 1/10/0 per week as from 10th January. All the instruments and Band equipment have been transferred from St. Mary's School to the Chantry and have been insured. Uniforms.—Most of these were found to be either worn out or moth eaten and the question of providing uniforms was referred to the Council. Accounts.—The Sub-Committee recommend that all accounts be passed to the Borough Treasurer. Heating and Lighting.—The Borough Architect has been asked to present a report on this matter. Financial.—The Sub-Committee recommend that the Council take full financial responsibility in respect of the above arrangements under the powers contained in Section 56 of the Public Health Act, 1925. Recommended that the report be approved with the exception of (d) and (f) and that these matters come up for further consideration at a later meeting."
	post-War	Band practice room - Milton Chantry, Fort Gardens, Gravesend
	19/04/1945	Corporation Of Gravesend Town Band Sub-Committee minutes shows - "Present.—Alderman Gooding, Councillor Haiding, Mr. Langridge, Mr. Starvis, Mr. Stopford, Town Clerk. Progress Report.—Mr. Stopford reported that there were at present 26 boys under instruction, there being 26 instruments available. He was satisfied that reasonably good progress was being made. Electric Heaters.—The question of the purchase of three electric heaters offered by the Civil Defence Organisation was left to the Town Clerk in consultation with the Chairman. Visits by Committee.—Resolved that in consultation with Mr. Stopford the Committee arrange to make periodical visits to the band practices. Blackboard.—The Town Clerk was instructed to arrange for the provision of a blackboard, Councillor Harding undertaking to have the necessary lines painted on it. Stationery.—Recommended that suitable stationery be purchased for the use of the Band Secretary. Petty Cash.—The Town Clerk was asked to discuss with the Borough Treasurer the provision of a small sum to the bandmaster to cover postages and small outlays."	19.00
	08/05/1945	V-E Day
1946	Date	Venue	Time
	1946	Chalk Youth Club Band formed, it practiced in Chalk Village Hall. The band was renamed to Chalk Village Band later in its life, but remained a band for young musicians.
1947	Date	Venue	Time
1948	Date	Venue	Time
	1948 ?	Soon after the end of the Second World War the band was renamed from "Gravesend Town Silver Band" to "Gravesend Borough Band".
	1948	New uniforms
1949	Date	Venue	Time