Historical Minutes

In 2025, our centenary year, the band was gifted two minute books dating from our earliest days. These books were kept as a record of meetings held by the committee, and we have digitised their notes as accurately as possible here for you to enjoy. Many thanks to the daughter of John and Winnie Brannan for the kind donation.

1942 Part 1 Ellington Colliery Band 1942 Part 1 Ellington Colliery Band

Wartime Entertainment

The committee discusses “Entertainment for the Forces”

The committee discusses “Entertainment for the Forces”

ANNUAL MEETING – HELD BAND ROOM WELFARE          1.11.42

Meeting moved open by R Lowdon - seconded W. Richardson

Minutes of last annual meeting read & accepted. Moved W. Richardson seconded R. Lowdon

Balance sheets read – This was for the period from 17th May 1939 to 7th Oct 1942. The secretary W. Thomson stated that the Colliery Workmens Levy had dropped from £5.7 – to £3.15. The account owing to the band by D. Johnson only 3/- had been repaid. It was suggested that the new committee formed should take up the matter.

The C. W. S. uniform account had been lowered from £37 to £17 - & the debt to Midland Bank dad dropped from £113 to £45.

Balance sheets were moved accepted by W. Richardson seconded W. Brown

ELECTION OF NEW COMMITTEE

PRESIDENT         Mr W Davison    moved by J Hall            seconded W Richardson

CHAIRMAN           Mr W. Ball                ʺ     W. Richardson         ʺ          H. Taylor    

VICE CHAIRMAN  Mr R. Lowdon         ʺ     W. Thompson          ʺ           W.Little

SECRETARY         Mr W Richardson

ASSISTANT SEC   Mr W Thompson

TREASURER       Mr W Little

COMMITTEE -        Mr W. Cochrane

                              Mr W. Brown

                              Mr J. Baker

                              Mr S. Hall

                              Mr J. Graham

LIBRARIAN -           Mr J. Graham

Custodian -             Mr W. Thompson (Uniforms & Music stands)

W. Thompson stated that he had made applications for a dance at Ellington Colliery Institute. Also written to Mr Russell Cook regarding “Entertainments for the Forces”. Also had purchased second hand silver plated trombone for £8 - - from Mr E. Houghton station master Ashington – These were accepted.

It was agreed that we no longer retain the inner committee recently formed.                                                   This concluded the meeting

                                                            W Ball

                                                            6/5/45

Committee Meeting. Welfare.       Sunday Nov 15th 1942

Present -: Messers Brown, Lowdon, Baker & Thompson & 3 offs

Minutes of committee meeting held Jun 23rd 1941 & Annual Meeting 1942 were read & confirmed.

Agreed that Mr Harlow’s letter re forming a band league lie in abeyance until we receive more data on this, secretary having wrote for same.

Russell Cook’s letter re programmes for the forces expressing his regret that he could not give us any of these jobs just yet as he had plenty of Bands. The secretary was instructed to write Mr E. Rowe of Newbiggin Colliery Band if they would be willing to forfeit one or two of their dates to us.

Raising of Finance

Agreed that we endeavour to raise the levies at the collieries, committee to be issued with forms to solicit their friends at the colliery regarding contributing towards the Band.

Secretary to apply for dates for a dance at the Parish Hall. Suggestion by the chairman that we apply for dates to coincide with Lynemouth Colliery pay Friday was agreed upon.

Re D. Johnson A/c

Agreed that secretary write him regards his account & as to his intentions, also to remind him that we hold his signature to a document promising to pay his account in a given time (6 months).

Any Other Business

Regards artists for the Entertainment of Troops jobs to lie in abeyance till we receive word that we have been engaged.

Balance Sheets

Agreed on a suggestion by Mr Thompson that we hand the balance sheets to the President of the band Mr Davison for the purpose of passing them on to the Ashington Coal Co.

W Ball

7/12/42

This Concluded the Meeting

Due to the change of Officials, new names were wanted for the C. W. S. Pass book for the purpose of continuing the Financial business with the C. W. S. Agreed that the 3 officials & the assistant secretary Mr Thompson sign their names to the pass book.

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