Redhill Town Bands

It is not known what the band is that is marching down Brighton Road, Redhill, in a parade to raise money for the lifeboat service in 1907. It seems probable that it was from either Redhill or Reigate as these parades were organised locally, and the Reigate Borough Fire Brigade can be seen at the rear.

(Picture courtesy Brian Burrows)

Another picture of the 1907 lifeboat parade. It is separate part of the parade and the band is a different one from the above picture.

(Picture courtesy Brian Burrows)

Although taken in the same year as the above photos this is a different parade to the two above and was held to raise money for the Redhill Cottage Hospital that was then on Whitepost Hill. Again it is almost certain that the band would have been local. The fire brigade are again in attendance but this time are marching instead of riding on their horse-drawn engine as in the first of these three 1907 pictures.

(Picture courtesy Brian Burrows)

This picture is from a postcard that was postally used in March 1913. The building behind the band has what look like two old shop signs above its windows. On seems to bear the address of 65 Station Road, the other 2 High Street. The location could be the original Redhill Football Club stand and the signs advertising boards. Unfortunately none of the names of the band members are known with one exception. Linda Offen emailed to say that she believes that the man 6th from the left in the back row is her grandfather, John Herbert Offen, who played the cornet with the band for many years. Thanks to Linda for that information.

(Picture courtesy James Buckland)2

A similar picture to those from 1907 above but this time the object of the parade has not been put on the card.
There is a other information here, however, as the banner proclaims 'Redhill Men's Own'. Likewise the 1914 picture below is captioned 'Redhill Men's Own Band'. The Men's Own Association was founded as a religious organisation in the late 1800s or early 190%s by Mr William Connolly who was one of the founders of the Presbyterian Church at Shaws Corner and the instigator of the building of the Colman Institute in London Road, Redhill. The Men's Own Association clearly had a band but whether this band was separate from the Redhill Town Band or was one and the same thing is unknown but it is likely that it later developed into it.

(Picture courtesy Brian Burrows)

Taken at Horley on Easter Monday April 1914. A.H.T.Burrows (Tom snr) 6th from left standing; on tenor horn Maurice Buckman 7th from left standing. Rest unknown.

Following on from the note above about the connection between the Redhill Men's Own Band and the Redhill Town Band, as Maurice Buckman and Tom Burrows appear elsewhere in pictures of the Redhill Band on this page it would seem that the connection was fairly strong.

(Picture courtesy Brian Burrows)

Tom Burrows snr, back row 2nd left. Tom Burrows jnr is the little boy in front with tie on. Picture date June 1925. (Picture courtesy Brian Burrows)

Right: - Tom Burrows snr in Band uniform with Son Tom
late 1920s at 69 St Johns Road. Redhill
(Picture courtesy Brian Burrows)

Another postcard, this time from around 1929-30. The location is the rebuilt Redhill Football Club stand. The band members are named as:
Back row - T Burrows (snr), C Jenner, G Lucas, McCarthy, Unknown, M Buckman, F Rummery.
Middle row - Unknown, L Pottle, E Edwards (jnr), unknown, T Burrows (jnr), J Morley, Peto (jnr), unknown, unknown, Clayton, A Edwards (snr)
Front row - Unknown, J Brophy, Peto (snr), Summers (conductor), W Day, W Bull (jnr), W Bull (snr), unknown.

(Picture courtesy James Buckland)

Reigate Priory, August 1935. Tom Burrows 3rd from right standing. Tom Burrows jnr 4th from right standing. Maurice Buckman 6 th from right standing.

(Picture courtesy Brian Burrows)

A postcard from approximately 1936 or 37. The band was the winner of the Southern Counties contest held at Crawley and the cups are displayed on the drum. Once again thelocation would seem to be Redhill Sports Ground, the terrace end.
Back row - Harold, uknown, W King (jnr), T Burrows (jnr), unknown, S Head, C Jenner, unknown.
Middle row - M Bartram, R Westbury, E Sticklee, T Burrows (snr), G Lucas, W Day, F Rummery, J Barnes, unknown.
Front row - W Bull (snr), unknown, Pettit, L Pottle, C Young, W King (snr), A Edwards (snr), J Brophy, unknown.

(Picture courtesy James Buckland)

Tom Burrows snr 2nd from left. Tom Burrows jnr wearing glasses. Written on back of photo - 'Whitson 1937 Reigate Southern Counties'.

(Picture courtesy Brian Burrows)

Right: - Tom Burrows jnr with wife to be Margaret Morley, June 1937
(Picture courtesy Brian Burrows)

Tom Burrows snr and wife Matilda June 1937

(Picture courtesy Brian Burrows)

Tom Burrows jnr and snr
on Earlswood Common
in the late 1930s

(Picture courtesy Brian Burrows)

The Redhill Town Band playing in the Sportsground in 1942. It is not known what the event was but it looks as though there's a children's race in progress on the left.

Picture kindly sent in by Brian Burrows who wrote: - My late father, Tom Burrows, and grandfather Tom Burrows snr, were in the Redhill Town band. Also my grandfather was in the band in 1965 and a member of the band for 54 years. He was a friend of Maurice Buckman,who was also his best man in 1915.

(Picture courtesy Brian Burrows)

Brian Burrows sent this picture and said: - 'This picture was taken at the top of the Castle Grounds Reigate in the 1950s. The band might now be called the Reigate Band (Borough of). Several band members worked at the Monotype at Salfords and played for the Monotype brass band in the 50s and 60s. Also some of the Redhill band members that did not work at the Monotype played for them when invited. As a boy in 1950-54 I went on band competitions with the Monotype band to Tonbridge Wells and Brighton (non playing bored boy !)'

(Picture courtesy Brian Burrows)

The Monotype Band playing outside the power house (at Salfords), during the works dinner break in the early 1950s. Bandsmen facing on Cornet, first left is Tom Burrows jnr; 2nd left George Evans; 5th left Jack Barnes. They were also Redhill Band members.

(Picture courtesy Brian Burrows)

Monotype band outside the works canteen 1953

(Picture courtesy Brian Burrows)

Monotype Band practicing on the sports field after work about late 1950s

(Picture courtesy Brian Burrows)