The Rushden Windmill Band (a.k.a. Rushden Temperance Band, 'The Temps') have in their possession a marvellous collection of newspaper cuttings dating back to the beginning of the 20th century. Most are taken from the BRITISH BANDSMAN and local journals.

Here is the earliest known photograph of 'The Temps' taken on 23rd January 1904.

The Band was:

Top Row: F Denton, C Baker, W Noble, B Smith (Hon. Treasurer), S Gibbs, W Bates, H Rice.

Middle Row: C Fox (Baritone), H Morris, A Robinson, F Taffs, E Souter, A Robinson Jr. (Soprano), J Barker, A E Abbott (Trombone) - see below, D W Percival, G Hartwell, A E Fox (Euphonium).

Bottom Row: J Abbott, C Shrives, A E West (Horn), Charles Ashby (Secretary) - see below, C H Baker (Conductor) - see below, T Robinson (Bandmaster), F Robinson (Cornet), R Fuller, J Mackness.

At the time their Professional Conductor was Alexander Owen - see below.

Here is a little bit more information on some of the players named above.

Mr Charles H. Baker - Conductor !!

The information here is taken from an article printed in 1905. Mr Baker was born in Rushden on 2nd August 1874. He was a member of the Rushden National Band (which seems to be a Junior or 'National' school Band). In 1886, he moved to Finedon. At a time when almost ALL small villages and towns had several Brass Bands he immediately joined the Finedon Dolben Band, before moving on to the Finedon Town Band in 1890. In 1895 he switched to conducting and took up the baton of the Rushden Temperance Band in 1898, achieving many contest wins. He also seems to have conducted most of the other bands in the area, including: Raunds Temperance, Bedford Town, Wellingborough Town, Burton Latimer, Woollaston and Olney. Mr Baker was a total abstainer and a keen singer and he also conducted the Finedon Temperance Choir - and all this without a car...how did he have the time...!!!!!

Mr Charles Ashby (Junior) - Band Secretary.

The information here comes from an article written by Mr C. Cross (Editor) and appeared in the Rushden Echo on October 28th, 1905. Mr Ashby was born in Higham Ferrers (next to Rushden) on 1st September 1868. At the age of 8 he began learning the violin - luckily he grew out of it...!! Sadly, when he was 9 his father died and his family moved to Rushden and he began working in a shoe factory (no surprises there..!!), in fact, he worked in the shoe industry all his life. At 17 he joined the Rushden Temperance Band on cornet. In 1892 he was appointed Band Secretary and with the help of a local Solicitor (!!) kept things under control. Indeed it was Mr Ashby that persuaded Mr Baker to conduct the band. Another total abstainer - he (and the Band) adhered strictly to the temperance principles of the day.

Mr A.E. Abbott - Trombonist!!

This gentleman is featured in a newspaper article dated 17th November 1906. It states that he was born in Irchester, (a village between Rushden and Wellingborough) and like Mr Baker, seems to have been a learner with the Rushden National Band. When he was 13 he joined the Rushden Temperance Band. At the date of the article he had played for the band for 19 years (do the'maths' and work out his age, birth year..etc..etc..!) and had won many solo prizes and contests.

He was also highly regarded by Alexander Owen, who was a serious 'shaker & mover' in the Brass Band movement in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, but even in 1906 it was recognised that the greatest Brass Bands were in the North...

 

"Had our friend been in the North...in the thick of...brass bands...his name would probably would have become a household one, but Rushden is isolated, and no one could have done better than he in such a place (!)"

Now...after digesting all this history...

'Click' here to return to the 'archive photo's' page, go back to the top of this page' or back to the 'home' page.