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Marshside Brass Band based at the north end of Southport in
the old fishing community of the same name, owes its existence to the 19th century influences of the Temperance movement and
the community spirit of the shrimping and fishing folk who originally, and for many years afterwards, made up the bulk of
its numbers. In Brass banding terms, Southport's most famous citizen is undoubtedly William Rimmer, composer, conductor and
arranger of many pieces still played regularly today. Rimmer conducted the band and taught some of our original members.
The exact date of the band's foundation remains unclear. One of the earliest references is in the
Southport Visiter of 1892 when the band led one of the processions of local traders to the opening of Southport's northern
Marine Lake. However the band may in fact be older than it thinks, possibly even dating back to 1864, the time of the opening
of the local Temperance Hall (the band's home). Over the years the Marshside Band has had several other names included in
its title, 'Teetotal', 'Total Abstinence', but mainly 'Temperance' through the years.
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Continuing the tradition of the village brass band
Several current band members are descended from "originals" and,
although the village of Marshside has been swallowed up by the outward sprawl of Southport and the fields where the shrimpers
grazed their horses and tendered their allotments have been replaced by houses, the band maintains the traditions of a village
band and still practices in the Temperance Hall on Shellfield Road.
Sadly the shrimping industry in Marshside has nearly disappeared
but the band started by the shrimpers continues to play on for marches, concerts, church services, fetes and parades, in the
local community, Southport and beyond.
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| Marshside Band: circa 1900 |
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Connections
It had strong connections with Temperance movement for many years
playing for annual Rechabite processions and picnics. Although its main connections were with Marshside Methodist Church,
it played at the laying of the foundation stone for Emmanuel parish Church in 1895 and again at the closing concert for the
church's centenary celebrations in 1998
The band has enjoyed a quiet history, being somewhat reluctant
to "blow its own trumpet", apart from "The shrimp strike in 1913 when a procession of shrimpers, protesting at the sale of
imported Dutch shrimps being sold as "Southport Superior Potted Shrimps", were led into Southport town centre by Marshside
Brass Band.
In June 2008 the Band played at the 140 year anniversary
of the openning of Hesketh Park. It is reported that the band played at the opening ceremony in 1868. We are currently
trying to verify this from local historic records.
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