1881 : Beginnings

The cornerstone of this Chronicle is literally a stone tablet in one corner of the former property of the Rothwell Temperance Society.

Four foundation stones were laid in 1904 and the one concerning us reads:

LAID BY THOMAS BLACKBURN IN THE NAME OF THE ROTHWELL TEMPERANCE BAND ESTABLISHED 1881

Although we have no documentation in the form of minute books etc. the fading inscription on that stone can be illuminated by reference to various sources.

Here are the words of the late Tom Beckwith, who joined the Band shortly after its foundation and played for 41 years. He is recalled by some present day [1981] members as a venerable President, with distinctive moustache which serves to identify him amongst the Bass players on many early photographs.

Speaking in 1932:- "50 years ago there was, and is still, a Band called the Rothwell Old Band. As a result of a quarrel on the question of drink, eight members left to form the Temperance Band. These men were Tom Blackburn, John Blackburn, Andrew Blackburn, John Smith, Walter Dacre, Tom Dacre, Joe Ward and Alfred Cripps.

"When we got a good band together we picked up a set of second-hand Lancer uniforms - black tunics with white fronts, with white stripes down the trousers. We looked smart I assure you but one day an army officer saw us and it was all up with our uniform."

Nevertheless several excellent photographs exist of the Band in the Lancers uniform, purchased in 1883.

The notebooks of the late Arthur Newton add further information gleaned from the reminiscences of past players.

"The Old Band was noted as being good. But the trouble always came after an engagement when the playing members were paid in cash for their services. £2 to £4 was considered at that time a good day's pay for 24 men. 1/9 to 3/6 was good pay, as most working could not earn above 3/6 a day in the pits, in the early 70's or 80's.

"When the men got their pay, half of the Band wanted to stay and have a royal time drinking and playing and the other part of the Band had better use for their money at home. The public houses could close when they pleased before midnight, beer being two pence per pint (long pull).

"This had caused friction for years in the Old Band, so in 1881 several of the members got together and tried to form another Band which became The Temperance Band. When the men left the Old Band it was no easy matter to form another Band as money was very hard to find, even in subscriptions, a shilling subscription was considered a very good amount and a Brass Cornet cost £4 and £100 was needed to get a set second hand.""

Contemporary newspaper reports also shed light on the quarrel referred to by Tom Beckwith and place a little more emphasis on the role of the Temperance Society in originating the Rothwell Temperance Band.

At a Temperance Mission held in 1881 several members of the Rothwell Model Band became abstainers and, as the Rothwell Times dated 6th January 1882 reports, "They had stuck out so bravely since June and during this Christmas, that the Publican at whose house the Band meets has felt the loss of their customer so much, as to decline giving the usual "Kick Up." The members have accordingly quarrelled and there is some talk of a Temperance Brass Band."

A band existed in Rothwell for 40 years before 1881, and was apparently called Rothwell Model at the time the tee-totallers broke away to form their new band. Whereupon the name Rothwell Old came into immediate usage for the original group - which still contained at least another three members of the Blackburn family.