In 1849 the new branch-line to Polegate linked Eastbourne to the London & South Coast Railway which kick-started the growth of the town. Over the following years it grew till in 1883 it became a Borough with its first Mayor. But in 1891 the peace was shattered when some members of the local Salvation Army were arrested after breaking the 1885 Eastbourne Improvement Act by playing musical instruments and marching, at the same time. The arrests & trouble that followed caused the infamous (but little known today) Eastbourne riots thought to be heightened by the great poverty in the town. This news reached the national newspapers and copy-cat upset spread to other towns. In the end the Law Lords & Parliament were asked to adjudicate on and eventually repeal the part which banned ‘playing & marching’. In time the first bandstand was built in 1893, perhaps, to keep noisy musicians still.

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Band History

All this publicity might have been the reason for a Scottish busker by the name of Steward (or Stewart) to be encouraged to visit the town in the following years, to play his way along the sea-front through the summer months with his bagpipe. He must have enjoyed some success as he came back time after time and was latterly noticed by some of Eastbourne’s movers & shakers of the business world. George Brown a tailor & Robert Campbell a confectioner, baker & restaurateur were impressed enough to persuade this particular busker for help to incorporate bagpipes to the existing Presbyterian Church sunday school fife & drum band in Blackwater Road.

Probably the first ever band engagement was in the beginning of July 1898 at the annual treat of the (sunday school) scholars as guests of Alderman Sutton. Here Mr Brown presented Mr. Steward, pipe major of the band, with his pipes.

(ref; Eastbourne chronicle)

The earliest photo of the band is dated 6th july 1898 but where is the building they are standing in front of?