Harry Barling, 1866-1947
Harry Barling was born on 31st October 1866, and baptised on 30th December at St Mary Magdalene, Ruckinge. His father, Francis – Frank – Barling (1818-1899) was recorded as “labourer” on the baptism record, although at the next census he was listed as a carrier, and by 1881 was “Innkeeper & carrier”. Frank’s brother William was the father of the Charles Barling whom Cecil Sharp encountered at Ruckinge in 1908. Harry’s mother was Mary Ann née Lonkhurst (1822-1906). Her eldest brother William was the father of Clark Lonkhurst, another of Sharp’s 1908 informants. In other words, Harry was a first cousin to both Charles Barling and Clark Lonkhurst.
In 1871 the family – Frank, Mary, and six children, of whom Harry was the youngest – were living at Ruckinge Corner, Ruckinge. By 1881 Frank was running the Good Intent at Aldington Frith. Besides Harry, two other sons and a daughter were living there, plus three grandchildren. The census also recorded the presence of a cook, and one lodger.
Harry married Susannah Butcher at St Martin’s, Aldington, on 5th April 1890. In the census the following year they are listed as Henry and Susan, living with Harry’s parents at Rose Cottage, Frith Road, Aldington. Frank is no longer a landlord, but is listed as “Farmer carrier”. Susannah died and was buried at Aldington on 15th March 1897, but in those few years of marriage she had given birth to at least four children.
On 9th June 1900 Harry, now 32, married again, once more at St Martin’s, Aldington. His bride was Althemia Kate Barth, 21, whose family were from Brook. Over the next two deacdes, she gave birth to a further seven children. The 1901 census shows the family living at Bourne House, Aldington. The household included the four surviving sons from Harry’s first marriage, Harry’s grandmother, Mary Barling, and a 6 month old baby, Hector Cronje Barling. On the 1900 marriage certificate, and in the 1901 census, Harry’s occupation is given as Carrier; he is also listed as such in the 1903 Kelly’s Directory. In 1911, the growing family were living at Rock Cottages, Aldington, and Harry is described as “General workman labourer”. In 1921 they are at the same address, but now Harry is working as “Engineers Labourer” for W & E Earl Ltd., haulage contractors based in Aldington.
The 1939 Register shows Harry and Kate living at 110 Gladstone Road, South Willesborough. His occupation is given as “Carpenter (Retired)”. Also in the house are two of their children Ciss (Cecily) and Merry (Althemia May). Both are listed under the surname Barling, but in both cases this has then been crossed out – Ciss is shown as Samson, and Merry as Smith. These changes are a result of the Register being updated during the war, as it was used to maintain National Registration records (and after 1948 by the NHS, so that actually updates continued to be made until 1991). Ciss married Edward G Samson at Hendon in Middlesex in 1944, while Althemia married John H Smith in Surrey, 1942.
Harry Barling would have been living at Gladstone Road when visited by Francis Collinson in December 1942, and he remained there for the rest of his life. He met a rather tragic end, as reported in the Kentish Express, Friday 19th September 1947:
HIS LAST CYCLE RIDE
Eighty-years-old Mr. Harry 1381 Barling, a retired master carpenter, of 110. Gladstone-rd., South Willesborough, enjoyed nothing better than cycling and travelled all over Kent.
On Sunday morning he was on his usual trip to visit sons at Sevington and Smeeth. Turning from Kingsford Street, Mersham, on to the main Folkestone road he failed to see a motor cyclist and both machines collided. Mr. Barling received multiple injuries and died a few hours later in Willesborough hospital.
In a statement to the police the motor cyclist, Mr. Philip John Bowles of Station-rd., Folkestone. who was detained in hospital with severe concussion, said he was travelling at about 40 m.p.h. when suddenly a cyclist came out of a turning ahead. It happened so quickly he had no chance of avoiding an accident.
A verdict of misadventure was recorded at the inquest on Tuesday.
For 45 years a member of the Aldington Brass Band, Mr. Barling was bandmaster when he gave up in 1930. Twice married, he had 12 children—five from the first marriage and five daughters and two sons from the second—all of whom survive him.
Although he only provided Collinson with two songs, music had played a significant part in Harry Barling’s life as he, his brothers, and his sons were all members of Aldington Brass Band. The Folkestone, Hythe, Sandgate & Cheriton Herald, 13th December 1930 reported on the band’s annual general meeting which had taken place at the Walnut Tree, Aldington, stating that “Mr H. Barling, who for 45 years has been a bandmaster, will be the recipient of a present at a smoking concert to be held on the Saturday after Christmas, at the band’s headquarters”. 3 weeks later, on 3rd January 1931, the Folkestone, Hythe, Sandgate & Cheriton Herald reported on that event:
District News.
ALDINGTON.
PRESENTATION TO MR. H. BARLING
A smoking concert organised by the members of the Brass Band, was held in the large club room of the “Walnut Tree,” Aldington, on Saturday last, when a presentation was made to Mr. H. Barling. The chair was taken by the Rector, the Rev. G. S. Long (President), who was supported by Mr. J. R. Anderson (Vice-President), Mr. H. Barling ( late Bandmaster), Mr. George Barling, Mr. C. Butcher, Mr. C. Milton, Mr S. Stone, Mr. C. Miles, Mrs. G. Barling, Mr. John Barling (Hon Secretary), Mr. E. E. Lees (Treasurer ) and Mr. R. H. Heap, A.T.C.L. (conductor).
During the evening the toasts of “The Band” and “The President, ” were drunk. The Rector proposed the Band, and Mr. Heap replied. The toast of the President, proposed by Mr. John Barling. was accorded musical honours.
Mr. J. R. Anderson, proposing the toast of the late Bandmaster, Mr. H. Barling, referred to Mr. Barling’s 45 years with the band as their bandmaster, and to the fact that there were seven sons still members of the band. The toast was accorded musical honours. Mr. Anderson then presented to Mr. Barling a handsome clock with the best wishes of the band for a very peaceful life in his retirement. The clock was inscribed as follows
“To Mr. H. Barling from The Aldington Brass Band. 45 years’ faithful services as Conductor and Bandmaster”.
Mr. Barling, in reply, thanked the members for the beautiful present. He gave some interesting details of his early experiences with the band, and made special mention of the founders and those who formed the first band – many of whom had passed away. He mentioned his brother, who was sitting on his right, and who was even an older bandsman than himself. They had, he said, on different occasions, played in every village for miles around, and he recalled a visit they had made to the Casino, Boulogne (in conjunction with the Hythe band) when the representatives of the Cinque Ports had visited Boulogne. In conclusion he wished the band every success, and asked the members to support their officers loyally and well.
Cheers were given for the officers.
The following artistes took part in the concert : Messrs. J. Barling, John Barling (Hon.Secretary), Jim Barling, F. C. Barling, H. Barling, G. Barling, Holt, Lancaster, Charles Butcher (a former member of the Folkestone Police Force), P. Hooker, C. Milton, Griffiths and Farley. Mr. R. H. Heap was at the piano.
At the conclusion the Rector led the company in the singing of “Auld Laug Syne,” and the National Anthem.
A longer piece about Harry Barling appeared elsewhere in the same edition of the newspaper, largely in his own words, and including a photo of Harry and his seven sons, all in bandsmen’s uniform:
BORN WITH MUSIC IN HIS EARS.
ALDINGTON FAMILY OF INSTRUMENTALISTS.
Presentation to Mr. H. Barling.
FATHER AND SEVEN SONS IN BAND
For forty-three years M r. H. Barling, of Aldington, has been a member of the Aldington Brass Band, and now at the age of 64, he has retired from his position of leader of the band, a position which he has held for twenty-two years.
A presentation was made to Mr. Barling last week by his many well wishers in Aldington, of a suitably inscribed clock.
That he was sorry to retire after all these years of music was revealed when he told his story to a “Folkestone Herald” representative. His passion for music is great, and in his own words, “Once music gets hold of you it will never let you go.”
“l can see the scene as plainly as if it was happening now,” said Mr. Barling, recounting his early days in music. “Around the table in a little room were my elder brothers and some visitors. They used to come to our place and practice for some festival at the Church. I can see the ‘cello, the flutes and the violins playing anthems and hymns, and to me it was really and truly charming.”
“I was born to the sound of music in my ears, and almost with an instrument in my mouth. I was one of a family of twelve and all my brothers played musical instruments. My father was a vocalist. We were then living at the ‘Good Intent,’ Aldington.
“SUCH A ROW”
It was a great struggle for me to learn to play any instrument because of the noise a brass instrument makes. I was not more than six or seven years old when one of my brothers bought me a cornet. We kicked up such a row that my mother threw my instrument out of the window into the field. I finished my scales and exercises away from the house.
“By much hard practising I gradually learnt to play and it was my love for music that kept me at it. When I was about 20, in the year 1887, a band was started in Aldington, and as it was the Jubilee Year of Queen Victoria, we called it the Jubilee Band. The present Aldington Band is really the Jubilee Band which was started 43 years ago.
“There were about 12 members when the band was formed but the strength has ebbed and flowed during the succeeding years; I can remember when we had as many as 25.”
BAND LEADER.
“In 1908 I was made leader of the band, which is equivalent to bandmaster of a military band. I do not like the term ‘Bandmaster’ to be used in connection with a civilian band, it is for professional bands only and not amateur ones. My predecessor as leader of the band was Mr. W. Nye and he was one who helped to form it.
“Our engagements extended over a very wide radius. The band attended most social functions that were held in all the villages around. A two days’ visit to France was organised by the Aldington Band the third year after it was formed. In Boulogne we were asked by the authorities to play at the Casino and there we received a very cordial reception. We have also visited France on other occasions with the Hythe Band.”
Asked if the band ever entered musical festivals or competitions Mr. Barling said that they did not believe in that sort of thing. It was too much like professional football. It was all right for bands other than amateur.
SEVEN MUSICAL SONS.
Mr. Barling has seven sons who are all members of the band. He enumerated them as follows: Claude (clarionette), Ernest (cornet), Sidney (trombone), Jack (trombone), Frank (side drum), Leslie (euphonium) and Jim (E flat tenor).
Mr. Barling said that Frank, who was in the Territorials before the war, was among the first batch of soldiers to cross the water after the outbreak of war. Throughout the whole of the war he was a bugler in his regiment.
Mr. Barling himself played a euphonium, but he can play any instrument in the band.
Hesitatingly, I put the Question to the man who possessed such a musical soul, “What is your opinion of jazz bands ?” and I received the expected answer. Twisting his face up as though he was eating a sour orange he snapped “I should be sorry to tell you. A jazz band is really only the drummer, if he is a success the band is a success.”
His irritable look vanished and a dreamy far away expression took its place. “It is the old music that I love. Music that is able to bring tears to one’s eyes. It is the beauty of music to be able to bring agreeable sound to other people’s ears.”
Mr. George Barling, a brother of Mr. H. Barling still plays a cornet in the Aldington Band. He is over 70 years of age, and played his part in the organisation of the band in 1887. Another brother travelled all over the world as an instrumentalist in an operatic company.
Mr. H. Barling attributes much of his success as an instrumentalist to a brother-in-law, for many years a bandsman, who is now aged 91. He instilled into the young mind that love of good music which is the hall-mark of the true instrumentalist.
As I left the cottage Mr. Barling pointed to two violins, which belonged to his grandchildren, and his look conveyed that… the family meant to pass on their love of music from generation to generation.
In an earlier article (somewhat bizarrely syndicated in the Belfast News-Letter, 18th August 1928), Mr Barling provided more background on the formation of the band, suggesting that before the formal existence of a band, he and his brothers went out playing at Christmas time:
Mr. Harry Barling and his seven sons are all members of Aldington (Kent) Brass Band and they have a total 0f 213 years’ service—surely a record for any single family. “We are just eight bandsmen who play for the love of music,” Mr. Barling said modestly to a reporter yesterday. “I was born in to music. I had three elder brothers who were bandsmen, and before I was old enough to go to school I became fascinated by their play.
“One of them bought me a cornet which I used to blow vigorously, and as a tiny lad I could get my notes. I was 16 when my brothers and I got together one Christmas and followed up our success as ‘waits’ by forming the Aldington Band in 1887. For many years the band has been twenty strong. After I was married and my boys came along they were drawn into the band—they were born into it just as I was. We play for harmony and there’s one thing I can tell you, this syncopation business is killing it. A little is all right, but it goes too far.”
Mr. Barling has 46 years’ service and he now plays the euphonium. One son has 30 years’ service, one 27 years, and another 26. His brother, who played bass in the original band, is now 90.
Other press cuttings from the era attest to the fact that the band did indeed play a wide range of engagements. They include: a farewell concert for the local doctor, Dr F.S. Hinde at the Walnut Tree (Kentish Express, 8th May 1920); Elham Flower Show (Folkestone, Hythe, Sandgate & Cheriton Herald, 1st August 1914); the Willesborough Allotment Holders’ Association annual show, where they “provided capital music for dancing” (Kentish Express, 18th August 1923); and Dymchurch Fete, where there was a “Race for bandsmen (playing their instruments)” and – perhaps unsurprisingly – the first three places were all taken by members of the Barling family! (Folkestone, Hythe, Sandgate & Cheriton Herald, 29th August 1931).
Songs
- King Arthur (Roud 130)
- The Thresher Man (Roud 19)