Copthorne Village website

Copthorne Silver Band

In 1902, a Mr Gladman, a bandsman from Chichester moved to Copthorne to take up employment as a gardener. With the help of Mr Vigar, a local builder, and Mr John Cleeves, the Band's first President, they were able to buy £300 pounds worth of instruments, and the Copthorne Silver Band started rehearsals in the village school. Older members insist that in the early years, practices were taken all standing in a ring. Sitting down for rehearsals did not happen until 1936!

There were ups and downs during the WWI, but by 1927 and the years following, the Copthorne Band took many prizes at the much heralded Crystal Palace competitions. Stories abound - like the first bandmaster, 'Twitcher' Snelling, who used to drive from Crawley for the rehearsals, and stable his pony and trap at the Prince Albert Pub, and stay there overnight after rehearsals before returning to 'distant' Crawley the next day - or one of the players who lost a finger in a chainsaw accident: he simply re-learned a different fingering to make up for his lack of digits, and played on for a number of years.

The Silver Band is still very active, and is one of the village's proud boasts.

Contact: Bandmaster 01293 435987, Secretary 01342 328523, or see their Web Site www.copthornesilverband.co.uk    

Gang Show

Every couple of years, the nearby Hawth Theatre in Crawley is taken over by the various Scout and Guide groups of the village, for a Gang Show. Although entirely amateur in production and performance, the quality of the performance is of a particularly high standard. The shows have been running since 1958.

The Ranger, Guide, Brownie and Rainbow units (for the girls) and Venture, Scouts, Cubs and Beaver units (for the boys) are all enthusiastically supported. It is estimated that over 1,200 boys have been through the groups. Miss Gosling, stalwart of the Church Sunday School was an active Guide Leader for many years.

 Copthorne Players

The roots of the Players overlaps in some ways with the Gangshows. Starting from the humble beginnings of pantomime, the Players have from time to time put their hand to material that was both more demanding & rewarding. A 1993 production of Trial by Jury led to a succession of Gilbert & Sullivan and other musicals, attracting large audiences. Their usual venue is the stage of the Village Hall, but they have ventured much further, packing Crawley's Hawth Theatre on a number of occasions. Father Fred once made something of an enduring name for himself, playing the panto Dame one year.

Delmar Morgan Centre

Edward Delmar-Morgan, Churchwarden of the Church around the turn of the century, endowed a Hall to the Parish, known for many years as the Morgan Institute. It was in regular use as rehearsal space by both the Silver Band and the Players (amongst other groups), but beginning to show its age somewhat by the mid-90s. With a generous grant from the National Lottery, and an enormous among of local work from individual Trustees, the building was completely refurbished, and re-opened as the Delmar Morgan Centre - Promoting the Arts in the Spring of 1999.