History of Roughan Silver Band

Around the start of the 20^th century all was not well in Roughan and its neighbouring town lands. A dramatic fall in church attendance and the abuse of alcohol led to numerous reports of noisy disorder in this tranquil part of the Clogher Valley.

Rev Dr Maxwell Moutray recorded that meetings of the Kerog Temperance Society were ridiculed by Lisnawery men who congregated outside, "…trampling down the flowerbeds besides doing other mischief and annoying the members on their way home!" On one occasion when this vandalism actually interrupted proceedings the rector threatened to call the police if this "disgrace" continued.

By 1899 reports of rowdyism had spread to Ballynanny. The Ballynanny Soiree which Maxwell Moutray launched in 1874 was holding its 25th Christmas party on Monday 3rd January with a full house. They listened to entertainment from the choirs of Kerog and Portclaire, a violin solo by Mr C Ankatell and readings by the Revs T Nash and Dr Moutray. However when the latter tried to give an illustrated lecture on "British Bravery in Matabeleland" he found it impossible because of the behaviour of a few "noisy individuals". He later stated, "We believe these persons were strangers, as those who usually come to Ballynanny know how to behave properly!".

The annual Twelfth of July celebrations in the area fared little better at this time being badly affected by the same type of unruly and disorderly behaviour. It was for this reason that women and children were encouraged not to attend. After one particularly rowdy parade Thomas Maxwell and Thomas Mulligan resolved to make Roughan LOL 1031 a Temperance Lodge and to replace the existing fife and drum band with a new brass band. The WM of the time was "Big William Campbell" and under his authority the lodge set about raising the money to purchase instruments.

Most of the money raised for the purchase of the first brass instruments came from running socials which were a much looked forward to form of entertainment during the long winter months. As at that time the lodge did not own a hall these popular evenings were held in George Smith’s barn in Ballygreenan (now owned by Andrew Mulligan). George always made sure of having a stack of corn in the barn in readiness for threshing, so a few nights before the social some of the members would come along with flails and set to threshing the corn and tidying up the barn. This was not a hardship. Indeed many stated they would have threshed twice as much corn as they enjoyed the socials so much.

A receipt for one social lists the expenses as:

• 12 dozen minerals £1 10s - 0d
• 10 Dozen ½ d buns 5s - 0d
• ½ dozen candles 6d
• Treats 6s - 6 ½d

(You can draw your own conclusions as to what the "treats" consisted of!)

In the autumn of 1904, Mr W J Smyth from Tempo was engaged as the first conductor of Roughan band and it was he who ordered the first set of instruments from the firm of John Scheerer & Sons in Leeds. We are lucky to still have the receipt for these.

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The instruments were brought to Roughan in October 1904 by the Clogher Valley Railway. Wilson Todd and Ernie Maxwell remember their fathers telling them of the excitement this caused. At the news of the delivery members of the band rushed to the train to collect their new instruments. Many of the band had been ploughing when the train arrived and a large number of horses spent the day tied to a hedge while their masters got to grips with these new brass instruments. We can only imagine the cacophony of sounds that echoed over the surrounding area that day!

The band practised throughout the winter of 1904 and spring of the following year. The conductor would travel from Tempo for rehearsals, arriving early in the evening and staying until late. By July 1905 the band were ready for their first outing.

The following article appeared in the Ballygawley notes of the Tyrone Courier dated 27/6/1905……….

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We can only imagine what that first band sounded like but fortunately we can see what they looked like.

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From left to right: Robert Walker, Mrs Smith (and three children in Phaeton), Joe Smith, Stewart Scott (small drum). Front Row: Joseph E Bingham, George Neill, Joseph Maxwell, Sam Maxwell, James Henry Menaul, Andy Campbell, John James Curry, J.P., William Cooke, Joshua Maxwell, Billy Montgomery (Big Drum) Back Row (left of flag): Thomas Mulligan, Jimmy Montgomery, Thomas Maxwell, George Giles, William Mulligan, Johnny Campbell, Willie Campbell, James Steen, Johnny Mulligan, George Smith, Robert John Campbell, William Campbell, W.M. (carrying number), wee John Smith.

This first picture of Roughan Temperance Brass Band was taken on 12th July 1905 on the main Augher to Ballygawley Road (The exact spot is at the end of the lane leading to Stephen Maxwell’s home). The Clogher Valley railway lines can be seen in the background.

Tragedy was to befall the occupants of the Phaeton. Some months after the photograph was taken Mrs Smith and her three children died in the TB epidemic that swept through the Clogher Valley in 1905. Her surviving husband and son, John and George Smith followed medical advice and emigrated to Australia.

When the picture was reproduced in The Tyrone Courier on 28th April 1966 A J Buchanan of Sess sent a copy to John Smith in Australia and he was so pleased that he sent the following information regarding the photograph to the Tyrone Courier." The WM in the picture lived where Mervyn Little now lives and Mr and Mrs George Smith and family lived where Richie Young lives. Johnny Mulligan is the great-grandfather of Winston and Mervyn Mulligan who keep the name alive in the band. Wesley Maxwell is living in Johnny’s homestead. Tom Maxwell is living where JJ Curry lived. Joe Smith lived in what is now known as Smith’s yard at Carron. George Neill came from Ballylagan where Sam Clarks now lives. James Patton lives where the Montgomerys and J Steen lived. RJ Campbell lived in the bungalow at Roughan where Matt McDowell was the most recent occupant. Wm Cooke (uncle of Edgar Thompson) lived in Annaloughan. George Giles, Keady, was killed off a bicycle at the end of the Keady Road by the Clogher Valley Train. James H Menaul (uncle of JJ Curry) lived in Ballylagan. Johnny and Wm Campbell lived at Caldrum where Kenny Blackburn now resides. Tommy Mulligan married Maria Maxwell and raised a family of eight in Ballygreenan where Ernie Maxwell now lives. He later purchased Annahilla form Wm Buchanan who bought Lisbeg. It is interesting to note that two of the Buchanan brothers came back to Annahilla and took as their brides two of the Mulligan girls, one of these Buchanan men, Gordon, is the present WM. Tommy Mulligan bought Ballygreenan farm from Robert Walker. It was later sold to Joshua Maxwell. Willie Smith lived where Stephen Maxwell now lives. Joseph Ed Bingham’s homestead was demolished a few years ago to make way for his grandson to park his lorry!"

Shortly after the photograph was taken the lodge formed up behind their new brass band and proudly marched to Favor Royal to take part in the Annual Anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne Celebrations. (It is interesting to note that the Twelfth venues at the time included Augher Castle, Cecil Manor and Stormhill and the lodge and band paraded to the demonstrations.) The Tyrone Courier of 20/7/1905 records the following…..(Insert Cutting Item 4)

The new brass band’s first Twelfth turned out to be quite a day. Ernest Maxwell can clearly remember his father telling of the thunder, lightning and torrential rain which occurred that day and prevented the band from returning home. Lodge and band bedded down at Favor Royal for the night and paraded home early on the morning of the 13th!

By 1915 the band were practising in the recently acquired Roughan Orange Hall. This building had previously been Roughan National School with the master’s residence attached. It had been purchased from John Leslie Esq MP of Glasslough who owned the town land of Roughan.

Thomas Maxwell and Thomas Mulligan had travelled to Glasslough accompanied by Rev Dr Maxwell Moutray, who negotiated the purchase on behalf of the members of the lodge. He had also agreed to lend the lodge the necessary funds for the purchase of the building.

When Moutray and Leslie, two of the biggest estate owners in the area at that time had finished their discussion, messers Mulligan and Maxwell were invited into the room to shake hands on the deal. Almost a century later the band still practises in this building.

We are lucky to still have this letter dated 26/1/15, relating to the purchase of the hall, signed by Ankatell Moutrey.(Insert letter Item 5)

In 1938 Tommy Watson took over from Mr Gray, from Fivemiletown as band conductor. Tommy, a Tempo man, had lost a leg while serving in the First World War. Despite this disability he played a full and active part in the development of the band. With the aid of a pair of personalised wooden crutches he would join the band on parade, proudly taking his place in the cornet section and he took a great interest in the band as long as his health permitted.

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Mr Tommy Watson

During the years of the Second World War the band was not active, so it was with great jubilation that it took to the road for the Twelfth celebrations in July 1945 and other engagements such as local church parades, banner unfurlings , etc. Some new instruments were purchased and a set of band caps.

This picture taken at Beragh Railway Station in 1948 shows how well turned out the members looked in their new caps.

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Back Row L—R: Jack Mulligan, Albert Booth, George Moore, Frank McKeown, Albert Wilson, Edward Moore, James Patton, William McEwan, James Maxwell, David Coote, Earnest Maxwell, Wilson Todd, William Little. Front Row L—R: Bertie Mulligan, Milford Brown, Thomas Buchanan, Desmond Ferguson, Eric Brown, Albert Maxwell.

Mr Sydney Blakely from Dungannon was the next bandmaster followed by Gordon Bloomfield from Fivemiletown. The latter is pictured here with the band in 1965 who are proudly wearing their new uniform.

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Back Row L-R: Gordon Bloomfield (Bandmaster), Malcolm Coote, Wilfred Bingham, Mervyn Moore, Mervyn Mulligan, Stephen Maxwell, Earnest Maxwell, Wesley Maxwell, Richard Bingham, Harold Mulligan, Wesley Rea, Winston Mulligan, Wesley Mulligan, Adrian Coote. Front Row L-R: David Coote, Milford Brown, Albert Barrett, Mervyn Little, Wilson Todd, Thomas Buchanan.

Looking back on the early years of the band, most would agree that the weekly practices were as much a social event as a musical rehearsal. During the winter months the hall was heated by a pot-bellied stove which would be glowing red-hot by home time. Joe Moore recalls the night when the stove exploded showering the band with soot and bits of asbestos from the chimney. This discharge, due to the efforts of a pair of particularly industrious crows, almost wrecked the hall, but luckily no one was injured. There was a smaller detonation in the hall a number of years later when one of the younger members threw a "squib" into the late James Patton’s double bass.

Fortunately most band practices were not nearly as eventful!! The band would play their favourite sacred marches and a few well known hymn tunes before discussing the weather or the price of cattle, drawing proceedings to a close with the playing of the National Anthem. On the warm summer evenings the younger members of the band would congregate at Annahilla Crossroads after the practice. They would play their favourite tunes before forming up and parading home.

For long periods the band found it hard to find a conductor and as a result found it difficult to improve. Noel Linton from Killylea was the next man to pick up the baton at Roughan and many of the senior members of today’s band benefited from his instruction.

In 1972 the position of conductor once again fell vacant so there was great anticipation and a full turnout at band practice when Mervyn Mulligan brought a new conductor down from Fermanagh. Basil Dalton was only a 17 year old school boy when he started conducting the band, but it soon became clear that his fresh approach was the way to go. He introduced:

• New Marches
• New Committee
• Female Members (to the delight of many bachelors in the band)
• Concert Pieces
• New recruitment drive with proper tuition
• The concept of home practice (introduced and enforced)
• Contesting

It quickly became apparent that these new measures were greatly improving the standard of the band and the committee , driven on by Basil, set about fundraising with the view to purchasing some much needed new instruments. Fundraising events included: Growing and selling potatoes, Sawing up fallen trees and selling firewood, Auctions, street collections (including Portrush and Portstewart), Guest Teas, Variety Concerts and Basket Teas.

In all these events the band were always well supported by the members of LOL 1031 and the resulting funds generated lead to the purchase of new instruments. The band was now playing a much more varied programme of music and these new instruments and the increased usage greatly improved the sound of the band.

Basil then entered the band in Portadown Music Festival and to everyone’s delight and scenes of great celebration, the then bandmaster, Mr Albert Maxwell, went on stage to collect the trophy for the winning band.

Spurred on by this victory the band worked hard under Basil’s leadership and entered the North of Ireland Band Association’s annual contest. They won Grade 4 in 1982 and 1983 moving up to win Grade 3 in 1984 and 1985. Soon after they moved into Grade 2 and came a very credible second place in a contest held in the Guild Hall in Londonderry.

Sadly due to work commitments Basil gave up the baton in 1988, but before he left he conducted the band for the recording of a tape to celebrate the many successes under his tuition. His departure left behind a hole that was hard to fill, but he had instilled a culture of commitment and discipline which still exists to this day.

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Basil Dalton receiving a farewell gift from the then band master, Mr. Earnest Maxwell.

Franz Juhasz then joined Roughan for a short time to be followed by Alan Correy from Belfast. Alan was an accomplished euphonium player with the RUC band and also the Salvation Army Band in Belfast. Malcolm Wright from Portadown was next to pick up the baton and he worked with Roughan from 1989 to 1991. It was he who secured the IFA engagements at Windsor Park which led to the band playing at World Cup, European Cup and Irish League Fixtures.

Malcolm is pictured here with the band after an open air concert at the Round O in Enniskillen.

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Back Row L-R: Cyril Maxwell, Malcolm Wright, Winston Mulligan, Arnold Maxwell, Mervyn Mulligan, David Carson, David Willis, David Mulligan, Lesley Mulligan, Fred Maxwell, Mervyn Nesbitt, Trevor Stockdale. Front Row L-R: John Mulligan, Stephen McClelland, Eric Todd, Colin Maxwell, Bruce McClements, Barbara, Barrett, Rosemary Barrett, Shelia Mulligan, Susan McClellend, Jill Stockdale, Alan Burke.

Roughan’s first female conductor made quite an impression as can be seen from this newspaper report from 1992.

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Yorkshire man Irvine Vaines was the next musical director to arrive at Roughan. Irvine was undoubtedly one of the finest cornet players of his generation and his record of victories at solo competitions is incredible. Having spent his playing career with Carltonmaine Colliery and Yorkshire Imperial Bands, he was a very accomplished musician and Roughan benefited from his experience. Irvine is now semi retired and living in Co. Cavan.

Irvine was followed by Judith Robertson from Fivemiletown and she quickly set about continuing the development of the band. Judith had learned her trade with the Murley Band and she proved to be a popular conductor. Unfortunately a change of job meant the end of her time at Roughan, and in 2003 she married Mr Keith Anderson who was conducting Murley at that time.

Roughan entered the new millennium under musical director Alan Graham. His time with the band led to a steady improvement in the band’s performances and they were crowned Grade 3 champions in their centenary year!

Alan was suceeded in November 2005 by William McClean. William only stayed for a short time and it was following his departure in the Summer of 2006 that the band approached Keith Anderson to help them out over the Summer months.

Keith enjoyed working with the Band so much he decided to stay, and has brought us from strength to strength resulting in our move to Grade 2 in October 2008.

Over 100 years and five generations have passed since Thomas Maxwell and Thomas Mulligan first thought of forming a Brass Band. It is a remarkable fact that their descendants are still involved in Roughan and indeed have been the backbone of the band throughout the century currently providing the band’s officers. Some members of the 6th generation are currently learners and we look forward to them joining the senior band in the near future, hence continuing this remarkable family tradition.