1954 Whitstable Recreation Ground
1970 at Gilwell Park
1972 at the Band Group Scout HQ
In 1988 the Band made a one-off return to the contest arena, competing in a Southern Counties brass band contest in Sussex; the Band acquitted itself remarkably well considering the average age of its members was just twenty one.
1980 at the Band Group Scout HQ
1986 Concert at Whitstable Playhouse
2009 at the Band Group Scout HQ
The Band was founded in 1919 by Scoutmaster Billy Blyth as a drum and bugle band; it soon developed into a brass band and has continued in that form to the present day. The band's first engagement was at Teynham YMCA in 1920 and in two years later they played for the Prince of Wales at Crystal Palace. During the 1920's and 1930's the band was very popular at local events and gained first place in the 'Village Orchestra' section of the 1928 Kent Music Festival.
History
At the coming of war in 1939 adult members joining the armed forces caused depletion in numbers and the remaining players affiliated with the Auxiliary Firemen's Band. In 1942 Bill Blyth (junior) reformed the band, mostly from boys in the Scout Troop, and it began giving performances again. In 1944 the Band played in an audition for 'Bandsmen of Tomorrow' with the BBC.
Unfortunately by the end of 1996, due to key players moving away from the area and a lack of Scouts wanting to join, the Band faced extinction. It was saved at the eleventh hour by a handful of local musicians, who thought it a shame that a band with such a proud history such should cease to exist, and so stepped in to help. The Band made the most of this reprieve and has evolved once again into a full brass band giving regular quality performances in the local area, as well as a number of trips to France and Germany.
A regular engagement of this time was at local football matches. In 1966 the Band played at the Camping and Outdoor Life exhibition at Olympia and for several years at Gilwell Park, the home of World Scouting. The 1960s and 70s saw the purchase of more new instruments, competitions, parades and concerts, together with a trips abroad to Calais and Lille and a string of successes in brass band contests around the South East.
Following a low point in 1977, when most of the adult members left to form an alternative band in the town, the Band flourished throughout the 1980s, with a steady stream of boys from the Scout Troop eager to tackle the daunting task of learning to play a brass instrument. Their growing ability saw the Band’s concert performances increase; they once again played at Gilwell Park, as well as venturing to Germany at the invitation of Borken town council to play for both the inaugural Twinning Association dance and, two years, later the ceremonial opening of the town’s new swimming pool
Our Next Performance
Saturday 14th December 2024
Christmas Spectacular
With Carols and Gospel Choir
7.00 - 9.15pm
St John's Methodist Church
Argyle Road
CT5 1JS
1st Whitstable Scout Group Band
Founded 1919