CERTIFICATE OF MERIT—The Rushden Temperance Brass Band has been presented with a certificate of merit, by the adjudicator at the band contest held at the Crystal Palace on July 10th last.

There was a silver cup on show at Kettering Museum on 31st Jan 2011 with the inscription:

C.C.C. [don't know what this means]

Competed for the First Time at the B.B. Contest held at Stanwick August 1890, and won firstly by the Rushden Temp Band. Secondly by the Rushden Temp band August 1891. Thirdly by the Kettering Town Band August 1892.
Note: If you can help us with information about the contest we'd be pleased to hear from you.

The Rushden Temperance Band had a rare outing last week end—one of the best they ever had— at Gravesend. The first item on their programme was a contest promoted by the Gravesend Town Band. The contest was held on the Football Ground and was divided into two sections, Rushden taking part in the first section, together with Luton Red Cross, North London Temperance, Northfleet Temperance, and Walthamstow Temperance. The bands assembled at one o’clock at the Jubilee Clock Tower and played to the contest ground. Rushden chose the selection "Meyerbeer" (Round), which was also selected by Luton and North London. Northfleet and Walthamstow played "Maritana" (Wallace). After the contest, the adjudicator (Mr. G. Hames, of Nottingham) said that the paying had been, on the whole, very satisfactory, though some of the bands had aimed at too much tone. In the first section he had the slightest difficulty in awarding

(£15) to Rushden Temperance. (Loud cheers) He considered Rushden were easily first. Luton had given a good performance, but were far behind the winners. (Cheers) The judge’s decision was a very popular one, and the Mayor (Mr. G. M. Arnold) in presenting the prizes, took the opportunity of congratulating the Rushden players on their win that day and their past successful career. After the contest the Rushden band played “Beauties of England” and their performance was enthusiastically received.

On Sunday the band gave two first-class concerts on the promenade, and these were so

that the sum of £10 15s. was netted. The programme in the afternoon was:- March, “Challenge” (Anon); overture, “Caliph of Bagdad” (Boldieu); selection, “Halevy” (Round); trombone solo, “Death of Nelson” (Brahms), Mr. A. Abbott; Austrian Hymn, “Vari”; selection, “Lucrezia Borgia” (Donizetti). In the evening the programme was:- March, “Avondale” (Anon); grand selection, “Meyerbeer” (Round); hymn (with variations) “Rousseau’s Dream” (Round); euphonium solo, “The Village Blacksmith” (Weiss), Mr. E. G. Groome; grand selection, “Maritana” (Wallace); cornet solo, “Holy City” (S. Adams), Mr. H. Baker; chorus, “Hallelujah” (Handel).

In the morning the band paid a visit to Chatham, and derived considerable pleasure from listening to the strains of one of the big military bands located there. Mr. H. Baker conducted Rushden Band both on Saturday and Sunday, and their success following on their last contest redounds greatly to his credit as a conductor.

Prize for Rushden Quartette
RUSHDEN Temperance Band's quartette, Messrs. Denton, Roberts, Perkins and Sayer, won second prize at a Leicester contest on Saturday. Mr. Ron Benning conducted in the absence of Mr. William Scholes. From an entry of 14 parties the first prize was taken by Foden's Motor Works.