Although Singing Brigades may well have existed at Canton from 1913, Cardiff Canton Songsters were officially commissioned by Captain Gregory on 3rd December 1916. This year sees the Songsters Celebrate its Centenary with various events through the year
The first Songster Leader was William Parsons with his son Will as his assistant. He held the post until Charles Jacques took over in January 1921. As with all of the Songster Leaders Charles Jacques had a sense of pride in his brigade that sometimes occasioned 'direct action' on his part. His 'carpentry' was particularly famous, for after a dispute between Band and Songster Brigade concerning the amount of room each should be allowed on the shared platform, a piece of timber appeared firmly nailed along the dividing line. There was no further argument!
In 1935 the Brigade was invited to sing at a meeting in Cardiff led by General Evangeline Booth. As the Songsters were without an accompanist at the time, one of the Corps youngest soldiers, Violetta Tunbridge (Griffin) was invited to play. She was subsequently comissioned as Songster Organist, a position she held for over 55 years. As a Songster Reservist she is of great encouragement to the present Songster Leader and she says from a height of approximately five feet that she was six feet tall before she started playing the pedal organ all those years ago!
The present Songster Leader, Christine Saunders, commissioned in January 2006 is only the nineth Songster Leader since 1916. The other Leaders were: William Parsons(sen), Charles Jacques(sen),Fred Saunders, Ernest Bartlett, Sidney Jellings, Leslie Parsons, Keith Griffin and Mike Saunders
The Songsters are an integral part of worship in the Corps at Canton and surrounding areas, communicating the gospel message in song, mime and dance at local churches and retirement homes, Divisional events and leading weekends at other Corps.
The songs used are from all styles, sources and ages from George Marshal and Eric Ball to Yvonne Field, Len Ballantine, Richard Phillips, Darren Bartlett and comtemporay American composers such as Tom Fettke.
