Striking up the band for 75 years
Eastbourne Bandstand, still one of the town's most iconic images, is 75 years old this summer.
The bandstand was built in 1935 when the town was in its heyday as a seaside resort. With its semi-circular design, blue domed roof and co-ordinating ampitheare it is unmatched in the UK.
Over the three tiers, the audience area originally seated 3,500 but safety concerns later reduced this to 1,600.
The building of the bandstand, at a cost of £28,000, was part of a series of seafront improvements led by project engineer Leslie Rosevere.
The first concerts were given on the 28 July 1935 with a total of 10,400 attending all three concerts, paying 3d each. With an audience of 8,000, the bandstand was officially opened on the 5 August 1935 by the Lord Lieutenant of Sussex, Lord Leconfield.
At one time bands would play every day from Easter until the end of October. But as the audience for brass, silver and military band music reduced, so did the programme. Military bands are now infrequent visitors due to the cost, though civilian silver and brass bands from the area remain a popular draw.
The Bandstand has also found new popularity as a venue for tribute bands, Last Night of the Proms evenings and 1812 Firework Nights.
As an historic location for public music the Bandstand is an appropriate home to a small commemorative plaque in memory of Eastbourne musician John Wesley Woodward, who was one of those who played on as the Titanic sank on the 15 April, 1912.
Before the construction of the current bandstand, band concerts took place further along the seafront in the Redoubt Music Garden, where the Pavilion Tearooms now stand. The bandstand at that location was known as The Birdcage and had been moved from Marine Parade in 1922.
This was itself replaced by a smaller 'twin' of the 1935 bandstand, which eventually made way for the tea rooms, bringing to an end the era when the Redoubt Gardens was a major location for outdoor entertainment. The collonade between the tea rooms and Redoubt, now fenced off and in a poor state of repair, gives a flavour of the elegant design of the former bandstand complex at that site.
Our Chairman's report
- Summer 2010
1. The design and contents of the newsletter have attracted much favourable comments. This will gradually spin off into a revamp of our two websites, headed notepaper all of which is creating a brand new image for our venerable Society.
2. The Heritage Centre goes from strength to strength with Barbara, Frances and their team. This year’s Girl Guide exhibition is not to be missed. WE DESPERATELY NEED VOLUNTEERS TO HELP AT THE CENTRE. If you would like to know more ring Barbara or Frances to learn how easy it is (for telephone numbers see the back page of the Eastbourne Society Observer). Richard Crook ably assisted by Za and a team of volunteers has doing wonders in the Garden. We are indebted to an anonymous donor for a splendid contribution to the costs
3. The preparation of the ‘Nine town walks’ is completethanks to Nicholas Howell. They really are splendid in individual leaflet format with maps and photographs. Full details appear elswhere on the website.
The Victorian Festival preparation is in full flight and will run from the 21st to the 26th September. Our content is for the most part local but we remain true to our objectives of reminding visitors and inhabitants alike what a glorious Victorian Building Environment we have in Eastbourne. Children feature even more prominently this year and this adds very much to the fun of the event. Further details will be published in the next newsletter and are listed under Victorian Week on this website. There will of course be 30,000 programmes available throughout the town before the event.
5. We have had a number of most interesting speakers with Eastbourne’s own Chief Executive and a Director of Southern Railway among many others still to come. It remains a mystery to me why so few of you take the opportunity to come. Believe me you are missing something
Finally we have decided to undertake the ‘Elegant Eastbourne Architectural Awards’ in October so do send in details of any projects that have pleased you to Douglas Clowes. Owen Boydell
Heritage Centre talks
Saturday, July 17th
Coffee Morning with talk
How to Run a Victorian Festival, with Owen Boydell, £2.50, from 10.30am