Village records show that there had been a temperance band in Enderby since the mid 1850,s but the seeds of the band as we know it were sown in 1893. The band was officially formed in 1895 when some members of the temperance band joined with the new group to form the Enderby Band. Some of the founder members were Job Biggs, who was Jan Osgood’s great grandfather, Herbert his son, Bill Freestone and several of his family.  The Band in those days comprised of all male members and was seen as a male adult pastime. Many of the members worked at the local quarry although there was a cobbler, shopkeeper and railway worker in the early Band.

The Band was always in demand to play at fetes, garden parties and at the village wakes when the fair came to the village.  The favourite job was at Enderby Hall when between sessions they were invited into the refreshment tent and given lots of posh food and drinks, which was quite a treat in those days.

Christmas time was, as now, a hectic time as it was tradition for the band to go round the village on Christmas Eve playing carols.  As word got round more and more people invited the band to play and enjoy a nip of whiskey or sherry and a mince pie. This became so popular with the villagers that it was often 7 o’clock on Christmas Morning when the players got home.  After a couple hours sleep it was out again to play at some of the outlying farms and big houses in the area.  The whole tradition was repeated again on Boxing Day, making it a very busy festive period.  This is the tradition which the Band maintains to this day.

It was rumoured that in a parade in the early days Job Biggs, who was apparently not very musical although an enthusiastic drummer but only a small guy, had difficulty seeing over the big drum; so while the parade turned down Mill Lane, Job with the rear of the parade following, marched on down Corporation Street.

(These notes were written using information from “Memories of Enderby” a book by John and Susan Crofts, and by reminiscences of the late Mrs Freestone, grand daughter of a band founder. Collated by Garry Sleath)

Part 2

In the early days several families had strong ties with the Band. The Biggs’ (Garry Sleath and Jan Osgood’s great grandfather was Job, and his son Herbert who was a fine cornet player), Frank Biggs – no relation - was one of the Bands first conductors about 1909, the Freestones - Bill and John.  Bill was still playing in the late 1930s.  Jimmy Gilbert played from the early 1930s to 1948/49.  Tommy Smith who taught Garry Sleath to play his first notes, played in the late 40’s through to the 60’s, and there must be many more.

The Band was the pride of the village and was invited to more engagements than it could possibly fulfil.  It was not unusual for the Band to play three gigs on a Sunday during the summer; for church in the morning and on a park in the afternoon and evening.  As few people owned cars and public transport was irregular players who did not live in Enderby would have meals with one who did.

Enderby Hall Open Day and Fete was always a popular engagement, as the Band were allowed to eat their fill in the food marquee, and partake of refreshment in the ‘Beer Tent’ as payment for playing.

The band also played each year at Wicksteed Park in Kettering when players and their families piled on to two buses for a day’s outing.

Between the two World Wars the Band was very strong and doing well in contests and adopted the title Enderby Prize Silver Band, but with the start of WWII most of the younger players were called up to serve in the forces so the Band suffered somewhat.

To close for this time I’d like you to consider the following :-
In 1939 when war was declared one band member decided that “Hitler was not going to get his hands on the band’s instruments” so he collected some of them and put them down the old well in his garden. Unfortunately he did not return from the war and he had only told a non-banding friend about it in the pub, so the instruments were lost.  So if any one in New St or West St in Enderby comes across some unusually shaped scraps of metal in their garden the Band would like to hear from them!

Dave Stanley