Budleigh Salterton and East Budleigh Musical Society
C19
Budleigh Salterton

This Society appears to have changed its name. There was a newspaper account of a concert in April 1872 performed in the Public Room by the East Budleigh and Budleigh Salterton Philharmonic Society “at which the elite of the neighbourhood attended” (Western Times). There was a full house. Dr Russell was the conductor. Russell conducted a second concert in June that year, The term Philharmonic was also ascribed to concerts in 1874 conducted by Mr Vinnicombe of Exmouth who one assumed had replaced Dr Russell. However, at a concert of the Budleigh Salterton Musical Society in June 1873 the account stated that the Society had only been existed for 3 months, and this was confirmed in the account of a concert in March 1874 which said that the Musical Society had been in existence for a year.

The April 1872 concert was in two parts, sacred and secular, and opened with “Let the Bright Seraphim” from Miss Perry on the harmonium. This was followed by a small choir singing the anthem “Lord for Thy Tender Mercies Sake”. Mrs Whiteaway then sang “Consider the Lilies”, followed by Miss and Mr C Wallis with a duet for piano and harmonium; the Wallis family had help support local musical entertainments during their short stay in the area. The sacred part of the concert ended with a solo by Revd. Adams and all the performers received loud and long applause. The amateur performers were: Misses Comins, Cowcher, Lemon, Skicley, Sanders, White, Wells, Powell, Harbottle, Gibbons, Perry, Mrs Adams and Mrs Whiteaway, Revd. G D Adams, Messrs. Gibbs, Bard, Breach, Noel, Wallis, and Roberts. 

A second Philharmonic concert conducted by Dr Russell was held in early June 1872 with proceeds going to the Cottage Garden Society. The Exeter and Plymouth Gazette wrote that “as is usual at amateur entertainments, duets, trios, and glees predominated, few unprofessional musicians having the courage to attempt solos”. The most successful of the part-songs were “Home Sweet Home” and “Lass of Richmond Hill” and the latter was vociferously encored. Miss M White and Miss E Saunders performed a vocal duet, and Miss White and Miss Ada Brevetor played a piano duet “Carnival de Venise”. There followed a sweet rendering of “Come into the Garden Maud” by Miss Donisthorpe which was loudly applauded so she returned to sing Abt’s “Oh! Ye Tears”. She later on in the programme performed a Chopin waltz on the piano. 

The newspaper went on to describe Miss Gibbon’s pathetic interpretation of Leta’s “The Days That Are No More” and said it was so well received that a second song was requested and she sang “The Reaper and the Flowers” in the same touching manner. Mr Gibbs then sang “Nil Desperandum” followed by “A fine Old English Gentleman” as an encore. Finally, Miss Gibbons played “Souvenir de Beethoven” and “Tarantelle” by Heller brilliantly on the piano.

There were morning and evening performances by the Musical Society at the June 1873 concert conducted by Mr Vinnicombe.

The next concert, reported by the newspapers, was in January 1874 when Mr Vinnicombe conducted assisted by Mr E M Vinnicombe the assistant organist of Exeter Cathedral. There was a full house in the Public Room. In total thirty ladies and gentlemen performed. The concert opened with a piano solo “Spinnlied” by Ascher played by Mr E M Vinnicombe. This was followed by a glee “Hark the Merry Elves” performed by the whole company; the reporter was of the opinion that “this production will not be soon forgotten by those who heard it”. Misses Chamberlain and Sherlock and Mr S Gibbons then sang “Come Gentle Sleep” to great acclaim. This was followed by Mr Bard who sang “The Fisher-boys Home”. The whole company then gave a rendition of “Oh Hush Thee, my babe”, followed by a very well received piano duet from Miss White and Miss Gibbons entitled “Two wandering stars”.

The whole company returned to sing “Summer’s Eve” by Mr W Vinnicombe which was cheered by the audience, and the company followed up with “Ye gentlemen of England” by Dr Calcott. The next soloist was Mr George Chamberlain who, having lived in the town in the past, had returned on a visit, and he sang two songs and accompanied himself on the piano “in a style that vastly amused and delighted the audience”. This brought the first part of the concert to a conclusion.

The second half of the concert started with “Faust” a duet for piano and harmonium by the Messrs. Vinnicombe. The company then sang “The Bells of St. Michael’s tower”; the male part of the company then sang “Oh happy fair” and received deafening applause. The whole company then performed “Call John” and were forced to give an encore. Miss Chamberlain then sang “Heaven’s Light” and also gave “My dear Katie” as an encore. The whole company then sang “The Fisherman” followed by Miss White’s rendering of “Effie Sunshine” by Langton Williams.  The company then sang “Last night of the year” and the concert closed with the National Anthem.

Most of the songs sung in these concerts are not familiar to us now but would have been popular at the time.

It is at this point that the newspapers started to refer to the society as the Budleigh and Salterton Musical Society or, more usually, as the Budleigh Salterton Musical Society.

The next concert recorded by the press was in March 1874. It didn’t get off to a good start because someone had forgotten to light the public street lamps “nevertheless a large number groped their way to the (Public) Hall” and by eight o’clock it was well filled. Mr Vinnicombe again led the company and 30 performers were on the platform. Miss Harbottle was the pianist. The programme consisted entirely of sacred music this time.

The opening chorus was “In Jewry is God known”. Miss Wright then sang “Consider the Lilies” to well merited applause. “To Thee our God we call” was sung next. Miss Chamberlain then brilliantly performed the well-known solo “I know that my Redeemer liveth” from Handel’s Messiah. This was followed by Miss Baddeley who sang Mendelsohn’s “O rest in the Lord” which was enthusiastically cheered. The first half of the concert was closed by a performance from the whole company of “Daughter of Zion”.

The second half of the evening open with the whole company singing “Lo my Shepherd’s Hand Divine”. A choral trio then followed “Lift thine eyes” sung by Misses Chamberlain and Harbottle, and Mr Gibbons, which received well merited applause. Miss Baddeley then sang “He was despised” from the Messiah, which was rapturously encored. The whole company then sang a “Kyrie Eleison” by Mozart. Mr G Gibbs followed with a solo. Two choruses “The Lord is my Strength” and “Unto us a child is born” followed by the National Anthem brought the entertainment to a close.

No accounts for the next few years are recorded but White’s Town Directory in 1879 stated that there is a Philharmonic Society which gives good concerts from time to time in the Public Rooms, which suggests the Society was still active. 

In May 1880 the Musical Society gave a concert in the Public Rooms to a large audience with Dr Brushfield and his daughters assisting. Mr Vinnicombe as usual led the performers, who frequently elicited bursts of applause. Dr Brushfield was the star of the show however by the droll manner in which he sang his solos, with two songs, ”Moods and Tenses” & “Mrs Somebody” both encored.

An account in the Western Times in May 1881 recorded a bazaar held to raise funds to pay off the debts incurred by the Society. Apparently, Mr Vinnicombe had held weekly meetings in the Public Rooms to improve the singing in the neighbourhood.

The town Hall was the venue for a concert in February 1882, the last of the season. The audience was smaller than usual. The Exmouth Journal report the event. The concert started with an instrumental work “Silver Waves” played by Misses Kitchen and Thompson, followed by a vocal solo from Mrs Probart. Both pieces were well received. Misses Harbottle and Night then sang “Still is the night” which was loudly applauded. Mrs Warrington followed with a song which was vociferously cheered.

Miss Lizzie Patch then played a selection from Sterndale Bennett on the piano, followed by Mrs Whiteway who sang “Auntie”. The next song was “The Children of the City” sung by Miss S I Sanders. The company then performed a glee which was followed by young Miss Probart playing “Martha” by Sydney Smith and this was rapturously applauded and encored. A song “Tell me the love” was then sung by Mr Little. Mrs Probart and Miss Oldham then sang “The Land beyond the Skies”. Mrs Whiteway’s return to the platform elicited renewed cheering and she sang “I Wonder” and the cheering continued until she returned to sing another song.

The final two solos were from Miss Oldham with a piano rendition of “Polocco Brialbant” followed by a song from Miss S S Sanders. The company then performed a glee followed by the National Anthem to end the concert.   

The next report in the Exmouth Journal was of a Grand Evening Concert on the 30th December 1884 under the patronage of the Hon. Mark Rolle and Lady Gertrude Rolle. As usual the conductor was Mr Vinnicombe. The presence of a semi-professional quartet of Miss Beata Francis, Miss Lizzie Patch, Signor Villa and Mr Churchill Sibley greatly enhanced the evening, and they were well supported by local amateur performers. Every song sung by Miss Francis and Signor Villa were rapturously encored and Miss Francis kindly performed two encores which amused the audience, particularly “No, Sir, No”. Mr Churchill Sibley then accompanied Signor Villa in his own popular song “The Bell of St. Paul’s” and followed this by accompanying an airing of his new choral march “The Black Prince”. Local girl Lizzie Patch then played in the two pieces for four and eight hands with other local ladies. Also, during the concert Miss Vinnicombe had played a pretty violin solo and Mr George Bishop received a mention for his contribution to choruses that had been sung, which unfortunately had not been recorded by the journalist.

The next account appeared in the 22nd June 1885 addition of the Exeter and Plymouth Gazette and is worth including in full.

“The Musical Society gave a first-rate entertainment on Thursday, unfortunately to a small audience, and it is feared that the Society were losers by the venture. It is regretted that the local public do not do more to support an association that caters so well for the popular taste. Mrs Scott Siddons has twice visited the place; Mr Oscar Wilde once; and a concert was given at Christmas for which the services of first-rate London artistes were secured, and the inhabitants are now promised the treat of two readings by Mr Samuel Landram. Should the Society collapse for want of funds, the very people who have failed to assist it by becoming subscribers, or by taking tickets for its entertainments, will be the first to grumble at the increasing dullness of this little watering-place”. Mrs. Scott-Siddons, was a British actress and dramatic reader. The concert referred to was probably the one described above. Mr Samuel Brandram was an English barrister, known for his later career as a professional reciter of drama.

The Exmouth Journal also reviewed the concert and noted that Mr and Miss E Vinnicombe received “a well-deserved recall in the selections from “Patience” – an unusual compliment in Budleigh Salterton for instrumental music”. Encores were also demanded for the Misses Millyard for their vocal duet “The Goat Bell”, and Mr Wilmot for his song “The Message”.

The 1885 Christmas Concert was covered by the Exmouth Journal 2nd January 1886 edition. On this occasion the room was crowded and some people were turned way. There appear to have been a number of tableaux from nursery rhymes performed by Miss Bell, Dr Brushfield and his daughters, Mr Davis and daughters, Miss Gibbons, Miss and Masters Green, Master F Lipscomb, Mr C Millyard and daughters, Miss L and Master Templeman, Miss D and Master L Woodhouse. And Master Ravenscroft.

There was an attractive and varied programme. Of particular note was the tableaux from “The Queen of Hearts” with the whole suit of cards appearing on the platform with all but the court cards as gigantic cards. “Multiplication is a Vexation” was depicted as a school scene. Other noted scenes were depictions of “Simple Simon”, “Mary, Mary Quite Contrary” and “Where are you going my pretty maid”. The concert was due to be repeated on January 11th 1886.

Another concert in June 1886 was covered by both the Exmouth Journal and the Exeter and Plymouth Gazette. The room was well filled and the programme consisted of glees, songs, part songs and pianoforte solos and instrumental pieces. The instrumentalists were, Miss Vinnicombe (violin), Mr W Vinnicombe (second violin), Mr Bishop (viola) and Mr Blackmore (cello). The singers were, Miss Beata Francis (from the Royal Albert Hall), and the following ladies and gentlemen from Budleigh Salterton and Exmouth:- Miss Gibbons, Miss E Vinnicombe, Mrs R G Price, Miss Pidsley, Messrs. R G Price, Bishop, Vinnicombe, Blackmore and Mason. Mr W Vinnicombe provided the piano accompaniment, and also conducted.

Beata Francis sang “Ave Maria”, and “Two to a bargain” both of which were encored so she sang “Home sweet home”. Miss Haskell a visitor to Budleigh and a very good amateur singer also took part in the concert and her singing was greatly enjoyed. The glees were very creditably performed, greatly help by a contingent from Exmouth. Three Exmouth gentlemen sang “The tickling trio” which brought the house down. The instrumental trio played “Immer Wieder Gavotte” by Vandervell. The Honorary Secretary of the Society, Miss Gibbons, organised the concert but financially it was not a success, which seems to have been a perennial problem.

No concerts were mentioned for 1887 but the third meeting of the group occurred in November when they started to rehearse “The Ascension” an oratorio by Dr Edwards.

There is then a large gap in the records until May 1899 when the Exmouth Journal reported on an entertainment on Thursday and Friday by the Musical Society and consisted of a series of tableaux on the theme “Living Advertisements”. The live tableaux represented the advertising posters used by businesses to encourage the public to buy their products. These included, Pears Soap, Singer Sewing Machines, Rickett’s blue bags, Cadbury cocoa, Sunlight soap, United tea, Leiberg’s essence of meat, Horrock’s long cloth, Providence mills, Coat’s cotton, Borwick’s baking powder, and Dome black lead, all familiar at the time but some no longer exist or have merged with other brands.

The performers were, Miss Gibbons, Mrs Theobald, the Misses Miles (2), Edwards (2), Theobald (2), Templeman (2), Millyard (2), Dunlop (2), Turner, Davis, Collins, and the Messrs. Merryman, Theobald, and S. Friend. Mr Wilson narrated a very witty description of each scene and Miss Pidsley provided short piano interludes between scenes. The stage management was carried out flawlessly by the Misses Davis of East Budleigh. The backdrops were painted by Mrs Theobald, and the Misses Miles, Hutchings, Millyard, and Davis. The whole programme evoked hearty applause.

The Friday performance was followed by a dance in the Public Rooms. All the arrangements were made by Miss Gibbons who was still Secretary of the Musical Society.

The Musical Society was due to perform a sacred concert in March 1900 but this was postponed due to the death of Mrs Hutchins of Estella (see OVApedia) who had taken a prominent part in the Society, performing both vocally and instrumentally.

In April 1900 the Exmouth Journal reported on a Café Chantant on a Wednesday and Thursday at the Public Rooms which had been fitted out to look like a café. This was to raise money to add to the considerable gift that the Hon. Mark Rolle had donated to assist the ecclesiastical separation of the parishes of East Budleigh and Budleigh Salterton. He had also been asked by the Musical Society to invite Lady Ewing to present Mr Galt with a silver and ivory baton as a thanks for his untiring energies as a conductor of the Society. A hundred and six pounds was raised which along with the proceeds of a jumble sale added £120 to the fund.

There appear to be no further newspaper accounts of the Musical Society which would probably have stopped for the duration of the First World War if it hadn’t done so before. Its demise may have been accelerated by the formation of the Budleigh Salterton Glee and Madrigal Society in 1890. This might also be the reason for the gap in newspaper records for the Society mentioned above.

A new Musical Society re-formed in April 1920.

Roger Lendon

March 2025