Salvation Army band celebrates a century of music-making
published on 4 Jul 2024
The Salvation Army in Canterbury is holding a special event this month to celebrate 100 years of its Young People’s Band in the city.
Music for a Summer’s Afternoon will take place at 4pm on Sunday 14 July at The Salvation Army on Whitehorse Lane and all are welcome.
As well as music from the Canterbury Salvation Army Band and Songsters, the afternoon will also include performances from the Young People’s Band, which was established in 1924 and now has ten members.
Major Gavin Friday leads The Salvation Army in Canterbury with his wife Major Alison Friday. He said everyone at the church is very proud of the band and is looking forward to marking this significant anniversary.
He said: “The Young People’s Band is very important in the life of our church and we’re looking forward to celebrating its long history. It’s fantastic it’s still going strong today and this is largely down to strong local leadership.
“In 2015, First Things First, a brass tuition programme for the community, was started. With the decline of the availability of music tuition in schools, It provides young people with the chance to learn to play a musical instrument. We’ve had a number of new members join the band from this.”
In recent years the band has visited many other churches, not only in this country, but in Europe including Germany and Sweden.
Bea Daws and Henry Crowther, have attended First Things First since it launched and are now very actively involved in the church and the Young People’s band. Bea now attends Sunday worship with her mum and Henry has links with the Senior Band and takes part in their programmes and concerts.
Henry said he appreciates being part of the band.
He said: “It is fun. It gives me time to relax on a Friday night and is good for my peace of mind.”
There will be a display of the band’s history through the years at Music on a Summer Afternoon and time to share in a cream tea.
The event is free and there will be a collection in aid of Young People’s work at The Salvation Army in Canterbury.
