Reading the corps history book is like time-travelling with so many memories within the life-span of present soldiers and friends and others further back which evoke a different era.
The bound volume which exists list corps officers from the opening of the corps in June 1876 but records of events do not begin until January 7th 1911 when the hall was opened in Turton's Buildings. A notable event in that year was the funeral of Major Jack Stoker when a procession of 1000 officers and soldiers accompanied his coffin to Burmantofts Cemetery.
The book charts the movements of the corps to Templar Street and Lower Brunswick Street and temporary residence in Salem Chapel during the building of the present Hall. There are details of renovations with ever increasing costs and details of the extensions deemed necessary just 3 years after the completion of the present building in 1990.
Writers of the book have varied in style (and grammatical accuracy) with some choosing to opt for very flowery prose and others writing the absolute minimum. Some of the writing is very difficult to decipher while other entries are typewritten on what must have been slightly ancient machines. Some years have no mention at all and there are many spaces where programmes had been stuck in and later removed leaving the remnants of ancient sticky tape. There are a number of blank pages which could have helped when the book became full several years ago and rising costs necessitated keeping details on computer disc.
The corps has been visited by most of the generals of the Salvation Army, some when in office and others in their earlier positions. All the great and good musical sections have also put in an appearance as have some of the luminaries of the Salvation Army musical world: Eric Ball and Dean Goffin s well as the corps own musical geniuses Harry Kirk and Wilf Heaton.
The corps weathered a number of difficult times including the Two World Wars with blackout restrictions on open-air activities and food rationing. Help was offered during the various strikes which occurred in the early years of the 20th century.
Christmas events have always been held although some years make no mention of them. There are comments about lack of support from collectors in early days. The first Civic Carol Service was actually held on the steps of the Town. Hall in 1948 but the regular Town Hall event began in 1963 since when many charities have benefited including Wheatfields, St Gemma's, Martin House and the Air Ambulance Service. Local music and dance groups have joined the corps musical sections to raise a great deal of money.
Some enterprises have come and gone: the SABAC group, Street parties, Messiah nights, the Harry Kirk Memorial Festival and visits to the Edinburgh Tattoo. Note must be taken of the fact that there is nothing new about African events. There was a West African evening in 1926. There were also some strangely named events: `The Cup, Saucer and Plate Festival' and an 'Ovaltine Lecture'.The corps has figured in a number of radio and TV broadcasts including `Panorama' and`Songs of Praise' and `Dial a Hymn'. The band made a record as did the Songsters as part of the Northern Chorus. The Songsters have also made several trips to London for Royal Albert Hall festivals.
The spiritual life of the corps has been kept healthy by retreats at Scargill and Swanwick among other venues. There have been studies of books together including Rick Warren's `The Purpose Driven Life' and Prayer Weeks and 24/7. Financially the corps has benefited from adopting the Planned Giving Programme which is reviewed regularly.
It would be useful to know if anyone reading this has any indication of what happened in 1965 (the Army's International Centenary) and in 1987 - 1988 as these pages have been lost.
