Description

We are one of the few remaining contesting Championship Section Brass Bands in the South East and are based in Northfleet near Gravesend in Kent.

The Roots of Northfleet Brass Band date back to 1878 when they began rehearsing as "Northfleet Silver Band"
in the Mission Hall by Northfleet Railway Station. The band continued to practise in the Mission Hall for many years. £1 a year in rent was paid plus council rates!

By 1931 the band had about 35 members and the success was coming. They performed at Crystal Palace and soon became London and Southern Counties Champions, amongst other awards.
Before the Second World War, they performed live at the Alexandra Palace in London.
A concert that was broadcast live on the radio!

Another live radio performance was scheduled for 3rd September 1939 although it never took place... For those of you whose history is not as sharp as it may be, that is the date that WW2 actually broke out!

During the course of the war, a band was formed in the 17th Regiment Home Guard where some players from both the Northfleet and Swanscombe bands, who were in reserved occupations, played under the leadership of Fred Garth. This continued until the cessation of hostilities when the original band was reformed. Unfortunately many of the original players had been lost.

The band continued to run in these post war years where many social evenings were organised as fundraisers by band member Edgar Crane with help from the band's "ladies committee". Most of these evenings were in the Factory Hall in Northfleet where the band both rehearsed and gave many concerts.
This Factory Hall is still in existence although the band now rehearses less than 5 minutes walk away in the Northfleet Veterans Club on the Hill.

In recent years the band has enjoyed both success and some low points but is currently enjoying a very positive period in its history. It has just been promoted to the Championship Section of the National Brass Band Championships in 2016, which is the pinnacle of our achievements under our current Musical Director, Melvin White. The band performed well at the National Championship in March 2017 and we were joined by Matthew Stein, as guest principal cornet, the principal of Wellington Brass Band, New Zealand.

Our move into the Championship Section in 2016 followed 3 highly successful years in the First Section and we look forward to a successful future.

Description

Central Park comprises some 26 acres ranging from formal gardens near to the Town Centre, through ornamental areas to informal open space at the southern end towards Princes Road.

The picturesque River Darent runs along the park's eastern boundary.

The formal gardens abut the War Memorial and Library and include summer and winter bedding, herbaceous and shrub beds, together with a carpet bed which depicts the badge of a local organisation in the summer months.

Each summer at least 45,000 plants are used to create stunning colourful bedding displays.

The formal gardens are complimented by a rose garden and pergola, which was installed in 2002 and is quite spectacular when in full bloom.

The park is extremely popular with local children and visitors alike.

Image of riverThe informal areas of the park include large grass areas, junior football pitches, secluded tree shaded walks by the river and is home to the Dartford Harriers running track and pavilion.

Central Park hosts numerous events, particularly in summer, including the popular Dartford Festival in July.

There are public conveniences* and a small car park near the Cranford Road entrance at the southern end of the park (next to Fairfield Pool), and conveniences just outside the park in Market Street.

The park has a large children's playground which has a variety of traditional swings and slides as well as a climbing net, aerial runway, climbing wall, graffiti wall, track for bikes, skate boards etc, and a fully enclosed ball games area, all of which is monitored by CCTV.

The very popular Skatepark is located in Central Park.

The new bandstand has been erected very close to the original site of the first bandstand and will form a vibrant centre-piece for a range of concerts. The stone paving; steps and edges are of Ragstone composite to match the traditional materials of the plinth cladding. Protected by CCTV and other security measures, the bandstand has its own power supply, lighting and a music system for effect when not in use.

Central Park,

Dartford,

Kent,

England,

DA1 1EU.