Broughton Banners, Bands and Temperance

That Broughton has never been a stranger to alcohol is confirmed by a short report in the Andover Advertiser of 8 August 1862. A “correspondent” in Broughton writes:

“We cannot help calling the attention of the authorities to the disgraceful scenes of drunkenness and disorder which so frequently occur in this village late at night, to the great annoyance of the peaceable inhabitants.  On Saturday night last, the place was in an uproar about 12 o’clock by the turning out of a number of drunk people, men and women, from the public houses. A fight took place, women were struggling with each other, and screaming, men swearing, etc., forming altogether a terrible scene of rioting. The policeman was present, but he took no-one into custody! How is this? We do not hear that drunkards have been summoned before the magistrates! Moreover, how is it that beer and public houses are allowed to keep open till midnight? If one policeman is not sufficient to keep order in a small village on a Saturday night surely Capt. Forrest could send another to assist him? ”  Parr cat. Old Broughton Essays p191, 1550

A community of Baptists had been established in Broughton shortly after the Civil War, at first informally, as a house group, in 1655, and then in some converted cottages on the site of what was to become the Baptist Chapel, built in 1816. Together with the Methodists, whose chapel in Chapel Lane was built in 1819, they formed a sizeable body of people whose teachings steered them firmly towards hard work and self discipline, and away from the abuse of alcohol.

The Band of Hope began in Leeds in 1847, and became a national movement in 1855. Its aim was to rescue folk whose lives had been adversely affected by alcohol, and to provide activities for children which would teach them the importance of sobriety and teetotalism (abstinence from alcohol).  By the time of Queen Victoria’s Jubilee in 1897, it had an estimated membership of 3.25 million. (Wikipedia)

A Band of Hope was formed in Broughton in February 1882, according to the banner which its members proudly paraded, so it was well established by the time of this photograph, taken during the village gathering to mark the 1897 Jubilee. The banner is well made, of silk with applied motifs and lettering, on a linen background. There is a decorative cord and tassel to keep it under control. Its wording is “Broughton Temperance Society. Example better than precept. Established Feb. 1882. Band of Hope”.

Broughton Celebrates 1887 Jubilee

Broughton Celebrates 1887 Jubilee

The second, anonymous flag on the left of the picture is not identified, but we might assume that the Band of Hope was not universally popular in the village, so there may have been an alternative group.

The Band of Hope continued in the village until about 1959. Minutes of the later years confirmed that the regular activities were children’s tea parties, and social evenings for the adults, with talks and music from local individuals and groups. The refreshments were tea and squash, cakes and sandwiches. (20th century minutes in archive. Lansley collection)

A banner implies a parade, and a parade needs a band.  About 18 months after the formation of the Band of Hope, which judging by the excellent needlework on the banner might have been a female led  group, a Temperance Band was formed,  all male. This too was meant to keep its members out of the pubs.  Mr Kirk was a gardener who could play brass instruments, and he offered to teach young men to play. In return for a small sum of money each week, he created a fund for purchasing instruments. Within a short time, they had raised £23, and bought a range of instruments, with a donation of £4 for a drum. They started with simple tunes, and visited private houses to give a short performance, but by the end of their first year they were confident enough to don their new black and silver uniforms, and parade the streets of the village, finishing up at Mr Kirk’s house, where they had a good supper, and continued to play  “in a very happy way, vocal and instrumental music being given”. (Andover Advertiser press report of August 1884. Parr cat 3231)

The photograph below shows the Band and the Banner together, in 1909, gathering as if for a procession, outside Manor Farm.

Broughton Band and Band of Hope Banner at Manor Farm

Broughton Band and Band of Hope Banner at Manor Farm

The Band continued to play until the start of the second world war, when the dispersal of many of its members  forced it to stop.  It has never re-started, although the drum survives and has occasionally been used in village events.

Here they are in about 1912, in their uniforms, and with their then conductor, Tommy Holt the curate. This suggests that by then the Band was more interested in musicianship than adherence to chapel or church.        Parr cat. 654. Copy. Original missing

Broughton Band 1912

The Band of Hope continued with its promotion of abstinence from alcohol. Its records contain several blank copies of the “pledge” card, which young people were encouraged to sign as a life-long promise to abstain. (see below)   Parr cat. 4358.

Personal Pledge Card

Personal Pledge Card

There are no signed copies in the archive, but a request to the Broughton Memories Facebook  (September 2020) group elicited the following:

“As children we used to go to the Band of Hope in the Methodist chapel. We loved it, but one day we had a speaker who told us that we must never go into the house of sin down in the Square. Well my grandfather kept the Greyhound (pub) so I was a little confused and upset.”  Greta Webster

“I was frightened because we were told not to drink alcohol and my Dad liked his pint in the Greyhound”. Valerie Bevan

“I signed the pledge at the Band of Hope. Where did I go wrong?” Joy Goodwin

“ My Mum said when she was young she ‘signed the pledge’ never to drink and she never did”.

And “ Well, I did sign the pledge, and I am teetotal out of choice. I just don’t like it. The Band of Hope was great fun. My Mum used to go when she was a girl and I was linked to the Methodist Church.” Shirley Howell

“ I went to the Band of Hope, once a week. We were greeted with orange squash and two biscuits. I believe us children probably signed the pledge against The Demon Drink. My grandma was a strict Methodist and never touched alcohol, then discovered it in later life and was furious she had missed out.” Pat Kitcher.

The banner is now in the Community Archive, having been looked after for many years first by Ethel Davis, then Pat Edwards. It is too fragile to display properly, and very large, so also hard to photograph well.

Banner 2020

Banner 2020

Banners have continued to play a part in village life. In 2000, a very large project to mark the Millenium included the making of a silk banner for each of the village clubs and societies.  These were paraded in a celebratory procession through the village, which is recorded on film, and included in the archive collection.  Designs for the banners, and workshops to make them, were managed by Elizabeth Nash, an artist printer who works mainly on silk. The banners emerge from storage from time to time, and have been displayed in the church on special occasions.

Banners in the Church - photo by Barbara Perry

Banners in the Church – photo by Barbara Perry

During the first lockdown of the Coronovirus pandemic in 2020, it became the custom for people to emerge from their houses and clap in support of the National Health Service staff. A variety of banners appeared around the village, such as the one pictured below, hung on the school’s railings.

Banner outside the School - photo by Tracey O'Callaghan

Banner outside the School – photo by Tracey O’Callaghan

(Note -Band Members, 1930s :  Arch Maidment – Cornet; Charlie Ralph – Cornet; Frank Cable (Wallop), – Cornet; Arch Stone – Cornet; Ted Lansley – Cornet; George Pragnell – Tenor Horn; Harry Munday – Tenor Horn ; Harry Davis – Baritone Horn;John Stone – Euphonium;Steb Russell – Trombone;Jack Knight – B flat Bass; Fred Brewer – Circular Bass; Jack Lewington – Kettle drum; Bill Lansley – Bass drum;                         Fred Musselwhite – Tenor horn;  Conductor – Horace Lansley                                                                                      Reported to and recorded by Rosemary Dawkins, from HAC (Bimbo) Palmer. October 1988.)

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