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Visitors are welcome to our rehearsals at Bromley Temple Salvation Army Hall, Ethelbert Road, BR1 1HU.
The SLFB is open to mature, competent players who are –
i) active, retired or former Salvation Army bandsmen
ii) members of or regular attenders at other churches
iii) sympathetic to The Salvation Army’s ethos and are committed to the Christian faith
An unusually early start for an evening concert – 6pm!
However it enabled SLFB members, as well as the congregation at Chatham Citadel, to get home in time to watch England’s victory over Norway in the quarter finals of the football World Cup (10pm kick off).
On a very warm evening, bottles of water were welcomingly provided for every musician.
The Band opened with Ray Steadman-Allen’s Cornet and Trombone Feature Gone My Care!. Originally written as a cornet and trombone duet, this joyful music highlights the unique tonal qualities of the cornet against the rich, resonant timbre of the trombone. It was followed by the more contemplative Prelude on ‘Ascalon’, a hymn tune associated with the words Fairest Lord Jesus. Geoffrey Nobes’ new composition is a worthy successor to his much-loved Prelude on ‘Lavenham’.
Chatham Singing Company, under the leadership of Emma Davis, then sang In My Quiet Times, with Derick Kane adding to the piano accompaniment on the euphonium. Three Singing Company members then offered Prayers.
Dudley Bright’s Fanfare, Hymn and Thanksgiving was written for the Ascension Day celebrations in Switzerland in 1994. Its three parts comprise an original fanfare, the hymn tune Old Hundredth and, for thanksgiving, the song Thank You. The composer had recently conducted an SLFB rehearsal and this was the Band’s first performance of his work. It was well received by the congregation. The Singing Company then contributed two songs – Thanksgiving and Teach Me How To Love You – displaying their joy and enthusiasm.
Adrian Horwood, the Band’s principal euphonium, is from Chatham. He featured a new euphonium solo from Derick Kane –Tyrolean Variations, based on the melody used in the hymn The Wise May Bring Their Learning. As always, Adrian’s performance demonstrated great dexterity, sound and musicianship.
It was followed by Mr Blue Sky, an iconic song released in 1978 by the British symphonic rock band Electric Light Orchestra. Dorothy Gates arranged Jeff Lynne’s former “chart topper” for the New York Staff Band and this was the SLFB’s first performance. The “foot tapper” proved popular with the Chatham congregation.
The evening’s “charity concert” aimed to raise funds for The Salvation Army’s Matumaini (“Hope” in Swahili) Primary School in Tanzania – a boarding school in Dar es Salaam for children with physical disabilities and albinism. The school hosts about 200 students aged 7-20 and provides education, specialised physical therapy, and an onsite orthopaedic workshop to manufacture and repair walking appliances. Chatham Corps has been supporting Matumaini since 2016 and some of their young people have visited the School. A video from Matumaini was shown and the 2026 funding appeal was made. During the collection, the congregation sang Standing On The Promises.
Although published 60 years ago, the Band gave its first performance of Ray Steadman-Allen’s Suite – The King’s Minstrel. This is based on the music of early-day Salvationist, Captain James Bateman – a fun-loving and rumbustious character who, prior to his conversion, was in demand as an entertainer. As a Salvationist he continued to use his creative gifts and wrote a number of SA songs. Those presented in the Suite are treated in a manner suggested by the facets of his nature. In Down Where The Living Waters Flow his banjo playing is recalled. The first and third movements abound with good humour; the middle movement is a tender arrangement of Joy Without Alloy.
The Singing Company then contributed two songs – Divine Right and the enduring A Miracle of Grace (with brass and percussion accompaniment provided by the SLFB’s five Chatham bandsmen).
The Band followed with Dudley Bright’s Festival Prelude – In Good Company. The old and the new are presented in this merger of the contemporary chorus Lord, I Lift Your Name On High with Pastime and Good Company by Henry VIII. It is arranged in the Baroque concerto grosso format featuring cornets, trombones and percussion.
Bible verses were read by two Singing Company members before Tim Scott linked these to the band played item I Can Think Of Him, Derick Kane’s fine arrangement of Joy Webb’s song.
The Singing Company then provided their final two songs: The Father’s Song and We Will Never Stop, the latter aptly summarising their contribution that evening – nine different songs, all well-presented and enjoyed by the congregation. Well done singers, Leader, Deputy Leader and accompanist!
The Band’s final item was Alan Fernie’s upbeat arrangement of Let It Shine (This Little Light Of Mine).
Representatives of the SA’s Chatham Tweenager Project, which organised the evening, then announced that the Matumaini Appeal had raised £958 on the evening, bringing the total raised by the project since 2016 to £31,548. A splendid result from an evening of good music-making, enjoyed not only by those attending but also by many others watching on YouTube.
Lt-Colonel Rodolfo Salcedo, Chatham Corps Officer, pronounced the Benediction.
An unusually early start for an evening concert – 6pm!
However it enabled SLFB members, as well as the congregation at Chatham Citadel, to get home in time to watch England’s victory over Norway in the quarter finals of the football World Cup (10pm kick off).
On a very warm evening, bottles of water were welcomingly provided for every musician.
The Band opened with Ray Steadman-Allen’s Cornet and Trombone Feature Gone My Care!. Originally written as a cornet and trombone duet, this joyful music highlights the unique tonal qualities of the cornet against the rich, resonant timbre of the trombone. It was followed by the more contemplative Prelude on ‘Ascalon’, a hymn tune associated with the words Fairest Lord Jesus. Geoffrey Nobes’ new composition is a worthy successor to his much-loved Prelude on ‘Lavenham’.
Chatham Singing Company, under the leadership of Emma Davis, then sang In My Quiet Times, with Derick Kane adding to the piano accompaniment on the euphonium. Three Singing Company members then offered Prayers.
Dudley Bright’s Fanfare, Hymn and Thanksgiving was written for the Ascension Day celebrations in Switzerland in 1994. Its three parts comprise an original fanfare, the hymn tune Old Hundredth and, for thanksgiving, the song Thank You. The composer had recently conducted an SLFB rehearsal and this was the Band’s first performance of his work. It was well received by the congregation. The Singing Company then contributed two songs – Thanksgiving and Teach Me How To Love You – displaying their joy and enthusiasm.
Adrian Horwood, the Band’s principal euphonium, is from Chatham. He featured a new euphonium solo from Derick Kane –Tyrolean Variations, based on the melody used in the hymn The Wise May Bring Their Learning. As always, Adrian’s performance demonstrated great dexterity, sound and musicianship.
It was followed by Mr Blue Sky, an iconic song released in 1978 by the British symphonic rock band Electric Light Orchestra. Dorothy Gates arranged Jeff Lynne’s former “chart topper” for the New York Staff Band and this was the SLFB’s first performance. The “foot tapper” proved popular with the Chatham congregation.
The evening’s “charity concert” aimed to raise funds for The Salvation Army’s Matumaini (“Hope” in Swahili) Primary School in Tanzania – a boarding school in Dar es Salaam for children with physical disabilities and albinism. The school hosts about 200 students aged 7-20 and provides education, specialised physical therapy, and an onsite orthopaedic workshop to manufacture and repair walking appliances. Chatham Corps has been supporting Matumaini since 2016 and some of their young people have visited the School. A video from Matumaini was shown and the 2026 funding appeal was made. During the collection, the congregation sang Standing On The Promises.
Although published 60 years ago, the Band gave its first performance of Ray Steadman-Allen’s Suite – The King’s Minstrel. This is based on the music of early-day Salvationist, Captain James Bateman – a fun-loving and rumbustious character who, prior to his conversion, was in demand as an entertainer. As a Salvationist he continued to use his creative gifts and wrote a number of SA songs. Those presented in the Suite are treated in a manner suggested by the facets of his nature. In Down Where The Living Waters Flow his banjo playing is recalled. The first and third movements abound with good humour; the middle movement is a tender arrangement of Joy Without Alloy.
The Singing Company then contributed two songs – Divine Right and the enduring A Miracle of Grace (with brass and percussion accompaniment provided by the SLFB’s five Chatham bandsmen).
The Band followed with Dudley Bright’s Festival Prelude – In Good Company. The old and the new are presented in this merger of the contemporary chorus Lord, I Lift Your Name On High with Pastime and Good Company by Henry VIII. It is arranged in the Baroque concerto grosso format featuring cornets, trombones and percussion.
Bible verses were read by two Singing Company members before Tim Scott linked these to the band played item I Can Think Of Him, Derick Kane’s fine arrangement of Joy Webb’s song.
The Singing Company then provided their final two songs: The Father’s Song and We Will Never Stop, the latter aptly summarising their contribution that evening – nine different songs, all well-presented and enjoyed by the congregation. Well done singers, Leader, Deputy Leader and accompanist!
The Band’s final item was Alan Fernie’s upbeat arrangement of Let It Shine (This Little Light Of Mine).
Representatives of the SA’s Chatham Tweenager Project, which organised the evening, then announced that the Matumaini Appeal had raised £958 on the evening, bringing the total raised by the project since 2016 to £31,548. A splendid result from an evening of good music-making, enjoyed not only by those attending but also by many others watching on YouTube.
Lt-Colonel Rodolfo Salcedo, Chatham Corps Officer, pronounced the Benediction.
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From 2023, we are started to post videos of items used by the band when these are available. Please visit the band’s YouTube channel from the link at the top of the page.
Click on Contact Us, above, to ask any questions or send us any comments you may have.
To contact any of our members individually please visit our Personnel Page
Tel: 01474 326244
