Historic Annual Reports

The annual meeting of subscribers to the Sale Borough Band was to have been held on Monday night, but as there was not a sufficient number of subscribers present, according to the rules the meeting could not be held, and was adjourned.

 The annual report has been circulated, and is follows:

The committee of management has the honour, to lay before you the report showing the financial position or the year ending June 30. We commenced the year with a credit balance of' £15 5s 4d. The list of receipts expenditure herewith shows advance of £11 7s 10d cash in hand. Against this there are outstanding liabilities amounting to £25; thus showing a loss of £13 12s 2d on the working of the band. The subscriptions for the year amounted to only £21 3s 6d. as against £36 19s for the year previous.

In January last your bandmaster, Mr A. Paul, who has for so many years so well and so ably conducted and managed your band, tendered his resignation, and same was received by your committee with great regret. As successor to Mr Paul your committee were fortunate in securing the services of Mr J. H. Apps, a most accomplished, successful and painstaking bandmaster.

During the five months the band has been under his tuition there has been a marked improvement, and the members are taking the keenest possible interest in their work. Shortly after his arrival here Mr Apps started a junior hand for the purpose of recruiting the band. With this band he has been very successful. and several of them are now playing in the senior hand. During the year the committee held two concerts in aid of the band funds, one in the Sale cricket ground, the other in the Victoria Hall. The former returned a profit of £16 6s 6d, and the latter £2 11s. The Sale and Imperial Football clubs played a football match in aid of the funds. The match resulted in a profit of £3 17s 6d. which sum has been handed to us.

Messrs H. Roach and G. Wain presented trophies to be awarded to members attending the greatest number of practices during the half-year just closed; the possible was 68 - Mr J. Richardson attended the lot and Mr A. Boyd 67 - Messrs Richardson and Boyd are therefore the winners.

The band turned out on 60 different occasions. 17 of these performances were for charity. 3 benefit concerts and 15 engagements. The remainder were open-air performances.

The band does not at present receive any subsidy from the Borough Council, and this committee would suggest to the incoming committee the advisability of approaching the councillors with a view to obtaining an annual donation to the funds.

It is with deepest regret that your committee has to record the death of one of your trustees, Dr. J. A. Reid. During the many years he was connected with the band he showed how deeply he had at heart it interests; his death has removed from our midst an ardent supporter, and a good friend.

The thanks of your committee are due to the subscribers for their generous support; to the Sale and Imperial football clubs for their handsome donation to the band funds, as a result of their match; to Messrs H. Roach and G. Wain who so kindly gave trophies for competition; to the public who assisted us with our concerts; and to the performers who contributed items thereat. We particularly desire to place on record our very best thanks to Messrs R. Wynan and G. Wain, who gratuitously conducted and managed the band during the time your late bandmaster was on sick leave - a period of three month.

In accordance with the rules all office-bearers retire by effluxion of time, but are eligible for re-election. In conclusion we have to congratulate the bandmaster on the great improvement of the band during the five months it has been under his charge, and also have to thank the members for their regular attendance at practice and parades.

Those present on Monday night joined in a smoke night. In proposing the toast of the Bandmaster, the President, Mr J. O'Connor, highly eulogised the splendid progress made by the band since Mr Apps' appointment. In doing this he explained that he meant no disrespect to past bandmasters, but since Mr Apps had come amongst them he had made the townsfolk realise that the band was a live institution. Speaking strictly on his own behalf, he hoped the committee would see its way to increase the bandmaster's salary, and also hoped that Mr Apps would long remain with the band.

In responding, Mr Apps said he had done his best in bringing the band on, but it had entailed far more work on the part of the members than the public, or even the committee, knew; still the members had assisted him greatly in this respect.

There was one thing he would like to see improved. Since his arrival the committee had not been very regular in attendance, on three successive occasions the meeting having lapsed on account of insufficient attendance. That sort of thing was harmful, and if the band was to succeed it must have the assistance of a strong working committee.

He would continue to do his utmost for the band. He wanted the band to be a first-class one, not a third-class, to not only merit public appreciation, but to create a feeling amongst themselves that they were doing some good. In twelve months' time he hoped there would be twice as much improvement noticeable.

Subsequently Mr Luke presented the committee's gifts, a silver shaving mug and brush each, to Messrs R. Wynd and G. Wain, in recognition of their services to the band during the illness of the late bandmaster, Mr Paul. Both these gentlemen suitably responded. The President then presented Messrs Wain's and Roach's trophies to Messrs J. Richardson and A. Boyd. During the evening the band played selections, as did also Mr Roach's gramaphone, and a pleasant time was spent.