Past Concerts and Events - 1910s

Details of concerts by the Band before the 1970s are very limited. Unfortunately early band account books, which would have provided some pointers to non-charity concerts simply by recording a payment, were mislaid during a bandroom move a number of years ago. Concerts listed here are from the chance appearance of a document detailing the event. (Local paper cuttings, old programmes, Gravesend Corporation minutes etc.)
This page also details some of the other musical events going on in Gravesend during the years.

1910	Date	Venue	Time
	1910	Various Corporation Of Gravesend Committee minutes show that - "Market: Use of..—The use of the Market was granted to the Loyal United Order of Anglo-Saxon's Friendly Society for a Concert on the 13th April, at a fee of £2 2s. 0d."
Tue	15/02/1910	Corporation Of Gravesend Town Hall and Market Committee minutes line 98 shows - "Market Music.—Read a letter from the Town Band asking to be allowed to have the Band Stand erected in the centre of the Market as heretofore, instead of at the side of the Market as at present. After careful consideration it was recommended that the request be not acceded to, the Committee being of the opinion that better order was being kept under the present condition than was previously the case."
Tue	20/09/1910	Corporation Of Gravesend Town Hall and Market Committee minutes line 28 shows - "Market: Bands.—Applications having been received from the Town Band, the (Kent) R.G.A., and from the Northfleet Band for permission to play in the Market on Sunday evenings, it was recommended that permission be given to the Town Band to play in the Market on three evenings in four, and the (Kent) R.G.A. Band on the fourth Sunday, on the same conditions as laid down by the Committee last year. The application of the Northfleet band was not acceded to." [R.G.A. = Royal Garrison Artillery]
1911	Date	Venue	Time
Mon	09/10/1911	Corporation Of Gravesend Town Hall and Market Committee minutes line 63 shows - "Market (Bands).—Applications were considered from the Gravesend Town Band and the Northfleet Silver Band for permission to play in the Market on Sunday evenings, and it was Resolved—That permission be granted to the Town Band only to play in the Market on Sunday evenings, the arrangements in the Hall being left to the band Comittee."
1912	Date	Venue	Time
	1912	Various Corporation Of Gravesend Committee minutes show that - "Orchestral concerts continued in Windmill Hill Gardens of a Wednesday, and that 400 programmes were printed for each concert."
Tue	26/03/1912	Corporation Of Gravesend Entertainment Committee minutes line 7 shows - "Band on Promenade.—The Committee interviewed a deputation from the Town Band, who asked for permission for the Band to play on the Promenade on Sundays at 3 p.m. and 7.30 p.m. Resolved—That permission be given to the Band accordingly, subject to a payment of 5s. per week."	19.00
Fri	12/04/1912	Corporation Of Gravesend Entertainment Committee minutes line 9 shows - "Band on Promenade.—The Town Clerk having read a letter from the Town Band declining to play on the Promenade under the conditions laid down by the Committee, and asking for more favourable terms, he was instructed to make further enquiries."	16.00
Mon	20/05/1912	Corporation Of Gravesend Entertainment Committee minutes line 17 shows - "Band on Promenade.—The Town Clerk was instructed to inform the Bandmaster that the Committee would agree to the [Town] Band playing on the Promenade as heretofore on Sundays without charge."	16.00
Tue	02/07/1912	Corporation Of Gravesend Entertainment Committee minutes line 10 shows - "Band on Promenade.—An application from the Town Band to be allowed to play until 8.30 p.m. on Sunday evenings, was not acceded to."	10.45
Tue	23/07/1912	Corporation Of Gravesend Entertainment Committee minutes line 10 shows - "Concerts—Windmill Hill.—Resolved that Concerts be held on Wednesday 24th and 31st July, arrangements to be made with the Town Band or the Northfleet Band."	10.00
1913	Date	Venue	Time
	1913	Various Corporation Of Gravesend Committee minutes show that - The Band Stand on Windmill Hill was extended and illuminated Complaints were received with regard to children running about and making noise during concerts on Windmill Hill. Notices were put up asking those in charge of children to keep them quiet. A similar note was Cprinted on concert programmes.
Tue	08/04/1913	Corporation Of Gravesend Entertainment Committee minutes line 17 shows - "Promenade Concerts.—An application from Mr. Mundill asking to be given an option to take the Concert Stage next year, was considered and dealt with. Band on Promenade.—The Town Clerk reported that by kind permission of Col. Mainwairing and Officers, the Band of the 2nd Batallion Royal Dublin Fusiliers would play on the Promenade on the 1st and 3rd Mondays in May, June, and July.—The arrangements were left in the hands of the Chairman and Town Clerk. Windmill Hill Concerts.—The Town Clerk was instructed to arrange with the Band of the 2nd Batallion Royal Dublin Fusiliers to play in the Windmill Hill Gardens on Wednesday evenings in June, July, August, and for the first two Wednesdays in September when not otherwise engaged, on the same terms as last year."	10.30
Mon	21/04/1913	Corporation Of Gravesend Entertainment Committee minutes line 15 shows - "Promenade (Town Band).—Read a letter from the Town Band asking for permission to play on the Promenade during the Summer Season. The matter was left to the Town Clerk to make enquiry from the Band as to the particular times they wished to play. Windmill Hill Concerts.—Resolved that arrangements be made for the Concerts to start on Windmill Hill on 21st May."	10.00
Tue	24/06/1913	Corporation Of Gravesend Entertainment Committee minutes line 11 shows - "Windmill Hill Concerts—Vacant Dates.—Resolved that arrangements be made with Messers. Godfrey and Co., Ltd., to give a perfomance in the Windmill Hill Gardens on 2nd July, with the "Auxetophone." Charge for admission, 2d. The Chairman undertook to see the Bandmaster of the Town Band and the Northfleet Silver Band with regard to filling in the vacant dates." An Auxetophone was a phonograph (record player) which amplified sound using compressed air, it was expensive and apparently very loud.	10.30
Tue	15/07/1913	Corporation Of Gravesend Entertainment Committee minutes line 31 shows - "Windmill Hill Concerts—Vacant Dates.—The Band of the Royal Dublin Fusiliers being available only on July 16th and August 13th, it was Resolved that arrangements should be made for the vacant dates as follows:— July 23rd.—Northfleet Silver Prize Band. July 30th.—Gravesend Town Band. August 6th.—Auxetophone Concert. August 20th and 27th.—Left over for the present. It was further Resolved that as the performance on August 13th would be the last one given by the Royal Dublin Fusiliers this season, a special occasion be made of it."	10.30
Wed	30/07/1913	Concert in the Gardens on Windmill Hill.
Tue	09/12/1913	Corporation Of Gravesend Entertainments Committee minutes line 12 shows - "Promenade—Concert Stage.—It was Resolved that the offer of Mr. Mundill of £30 for the use of the Concert Stage during next Summer be accepted, £10 to be paid at once, and the balance before the opening of the season. The Committee could not see their way to make any allowance to Mr. Mundill for any loss sustained by him in running his Concerts last season. "Windmill Hill Concerts.—The Town Clerk was instructed to make application for the services of the Band of the 2nd Batallion Royal Dublin Fusiliers, on the same terms as last year, for all available Wednesday evenings from the last Wednesday in May to the last Wednesday in August."	10.30
Mon	22/12/1913	Corporation Of Gravesend Entertainments Committee minutes line 12 shows - "Promenade—Concert Stage.—" Mr Mundial withdrew his offer and the committee decided to advertise for tender as in previous years.	10.30
1914	Date	Venue	Time
	1914	Various Corporation Of Gravesend Committee minutes show that - The Band of the Royal Dublin Fusiliers agreed to play on the Promenade on the evenings of the 1st and 3rd Mondays in every month. Mr. Driscoll tendered an offer, which was accepted, of £30 per year for 3 years for the use of the Concert Stage. It was intended that no concerts were arranged on Windmill Hill when the Band of the 2nd Royal Dublin Fusiliers was unavailable.
Tue	13/01/1914	Corporation Of Gravesend Entertainments Committee minutes line 23 shows - "Windmill Hill Concerts.—The Town Clerk reported that, in answer to the request for the Band of the Royal Dublin Fusiliers to play at the Concerts on Windmill Hill in the coming season, Col. Mainwairing had written that he acceeded to that request with great pleasure."	10.30
Mon	16/03/1914	Corporation Of Gravesend Entertainments Committee minutes line 23 shows - "Town Band on Promenade.—Permission was granted to the Gravesend Town Band to give performances on the Promenade on Sundays, on the same terms as last year."	10.30
Mon	08/06/1914	Corporation Of Gravesend Entertainments Committee minutes line 23 shows - "Concerts—Windmill Hill.—Resolved to arrange a Concert in the Windmill Hill Gardens on Wednesday, 17th June, in aid of the "Empress of Ireland Relief Fund." It was left to the Chairman and Councillor Cunningham to arrange for Concerts in the Gardens by Mr. Willmott's Orchestra on June 24th, and by the Town Band on 1st July." The Empress of Ireland was sailing from Quebec to Liverpool. She collided with the Norwegian collier Storstad on 29/05/1914 and sank in the gulf of the St. Lawrence River with the loss of over 1000 lives.	10.30
Tue	04/08/1914	United Kingdom declares war on Germany.
Thu	20/08/1914	Corporation Of Gravesend Entertainments Committee minutes line 6 shows - "War Relief Fund.—It was Resolved that a Concert be given on Wednesday, August 26th, in Windmill Hill Gardens (arranged by "The Lyrics" Concert Party) in aid of the above Fund, at seven o'clock. tickets to be 1s. (reserved) and 6d each. In the event of unfavourable weather, the Concert to be held at the Town Hall (by kind permission of the Mayor, His Worship having intimated his willingness to grant the use of same)." The concert raised £7 for the Fund.	10.30
1915	Date	Venue	Time
1916	Date	Venue	Time
	1916	Various Corporation Of Gravesend Committee minutes show that - Mr. Will Driscoll found it impossible to to continue concerts on the Gordon Grounds Concert Stage owing to the critical condition of the country so was released from his contract upon payment of £10 rent. The Concert Stage was then advertised as to let for Public Meetings, Concerts, and Entertainments at a fee of £2 2s. per day inclusive of lighting and 200 chairs.
Tue	27/06/1916	Corporation Of Gravesend Entertainments Committee minutes line 17 shows - "Gordon Promenade: Town Band.—Permission was granted to the Town Band to play in the Bandstand on the Promenade. If there is no concert on Sunday evenings in the Concert Stage the Band could have permission to play until 9 p.m."	11.00
1917	Date	Venue	Time
Fri	30/03/1917	Corporation Of Gravesend Paving Lighting and Works Committee minutes line 170 shows - "Gordon Promenade.—Music.—Permission was given to the Town Band to play on the Promenade on Sunday afternoons and evenings during the summer months on the same conditions as heretofore."	10.30
Mon	14/05/1917	Corporation Of Gravesend Entertainments Committee minutes line 11 shows - "Gordon Promenade.—Bandstand.—Read a letter from the Dartford Town Prize Band asking permission to give a few performances on the Promenade. Resolved that permission be granted for the Band to play on any evening the Bandstand is not occupied subject to a nominal fee of 5/- being paid."	10.00
Fri	27/07/1917	Corporation Of Gravesend Entertainments Committee minutes line 6 shows - "Military Band.—The Mayor having stated that Col. Grantham, of the Suffolk Regiment, now stationed in the Barracks, had offered to allow the Voluntary Orchestral Band to play in public, it was Resolved that arrangements be made for the Band to play in the Windmill Hill Gardens on Sunday evenings at 7.45 p.m., and if possible to give Concerts there on Wednesday evenings."	10.15
1918	Date	Venue	Time
Fri	10/05/1918	Corporation Of Gravesend Entertainments Committee minutes line 10 shows - "Gordon Promenade (Music).—Permission was granted to the Town Band to play on the Promenade as usual."	10.15
Fri	19/07/1918	Corporation Of Gravesend Paving Lighting and Works Committee minutes line 79 shows - "Gordon Promenade— Music.—An application for permission to play an organ on the Promenade on August Bank Holiday was considered, and the request was not granted."	10.30
1919	Date	Venue	Time
	1919	Various Corporation Of Gravesend Committee minutes show that - The Concert Stage on the Promenade was advertised for hire for 6 days a week (Sunday being the day excluded).
	18/02/1919	Corporation Of Gravesend Entertainments Committee minutes line 20 shows - "Promenade (Town Band).—Recommended that the Town Band be permitted to use the Promenade on Sundays as in previous years."	10.45
	06/03/1919	Corporation Of Gravesend Entertainments Committee minutes line 8 shows - "Windmill Hill.—Permission was given to Dartford Silver Band to play in Windmill Hill Gardens on Easter Bank Holiday or on the Promenade if not occupied by the Town band. the Band to make their own arrangements."	11.00
	07/08/1919	Corporation Of Gravesend Peace Celebrations Committee minutes line 25 shows - "General Arrangements.—The following general programme was adopted:— BANDS.—The services of the Band of the Royal West Kent Regiment and of the Town Band to be procured if possible. band performances on Promenade in the evening, in addition to band performances at the Children's Gala." Peace day was 19/09/1919.	20.30
	13/10/1919	Corporation Of Gravesend Town Hall and Market Committee minutes line 46 shows - "Market Music.—The Northfleet Silver Band having asked for permission to play in the Market on Sunday evenings, the Town Clerk was instructed to enquire whether the Gravesend Town Band required the use the Market on Sunday evenings during the winter months."	10.00
	24/10/1919	Corporation Of Gravesend Town Hall and Market Committee minutes line 10 shows - "Market—Town Band.—The use of the Market was granted to the Town Band on Sunday evenings after 7.30 p.m., they to pay for light as previously, and be responsiblefor all work that was necessary."	10.00