Because of the danger of losing for all time the records and history of the Monkwearmouth Songster brigade, I have endeavoured to recapture something of the events through the years and though very far from complete I hope will be of interest to future generations.

Unlike the Band, there is no definite date of commencement of the Songster Brigade in the Sunderland Monkwearmouth Corps, even if it was called by another name. It is understood that William Booth disliked choirs or selected groups to sing in meetings. His idea was to let the congregation sing - “Let them all sing”, he said.

The first singing group was known as “THE SINGING, SPEAKING AND PRAYING BRIGADE” and eventually these groups became known as Songster Brigades at the beginning of the 20th century. It is thought that Monkwearmouth Songster Brigade was formed around the year 1900 or may be slightly earlier. This information I learned from my grandmother, Elizabeth Ellen (Nellie) Tetchner (Nee Pratt) who was one of the first songsters, however she went off to London to the Salvation Army Training Garrison, as it was then called, to train as a Salvation Army Officer and after completing her training married my grandfather, John Tetchner.

They were stationed at Ealing Corps where my father Fred was born and a year later his sister Katie arrived, but sadly at the very young age of 27 years my grandfather died. My grandmother then returned to Sunderland with her two young children, to the Monkwearmouth Corps, and to the Monkwearmouth Songsters where she remained a Songster for many years, and for quite a number of those years was Songster Sergeant.

The earliest photograph of the Songster Brigade was taken in 1925 when the Songster Leader was Andrew Noble. He was a miner at the Wearmouth Colliery, and although mostly self taught; had a great interest in music, he was the composer of the ‘Wearmouth March’ which the band still use as their signature tune.

Uniform at that time for ladies in the songsters consisted of long navy blue coats (of varying styles) and Army bonnets. When on the platform or visiting another Corps they took off their coats. Most wore red blouses and navy blue skirts, the alternative being a navy blue insert into the neck of the coat with a Salvation Army badge.

The next photograph was taken in 1933 when my father, Fred Tetchner was the Songster Leader. Notice that some of the Songsters have obtained uniforms! Miss Eliza Glansfield, known affectionately as Dinah, and who for very many years was Primary Sergeant, was also a first class Tailoress and she made the uniforms. So, of course, there had to be a rota and one by one the lady songsters appeared in full uniform.

In 1936 my father became ill and, for a short time, Bandsman Harry Boggon took on the responsibility of Songster Leader, although he was never commissioned. Sadly my father died in January 1938 and Bob Hutchinson was then appointed and commissioned as Songster Leader.