RECOGNITION MADE

Chronicle (Levin), 14 August 1948, Page 4

RECOGNITION MADE

Mr. And Mrs. Lester's Work iia. Levin .. Suitable recogiiitioti of the sterliftg service feridered the Levin Municipai. Band by Mr". and Mrs. G, R. Lestei- dufing their long .asspciatibh With it was rbade at a sbcial evening given in their honouf on Thursday night. The lafge atten'dance at the Druids' Hall exemplifibd the high esteein ih which they are held and alsb the appreciatidn feit for the invaliiable assistance they have given the band. Mr. Ld^ter fecehtljr retired from the.conductorship •aitef hblding the positibh fbi- 28 years thrciughout which he has, beeri urispafing in his efforts- td heip the town in many ways. ■ Mr§: Lestet has wofked uhtiringiy in the band's social activities and projects td faise funds. • The evening took tlie forrii of a sbdiai, items beihg presented by some talented performers, while the prograihihe Wafe iriterspersed With dancihg. Highlight of the evening was the prefeentation td Mr. and Mrs. Lester, Mr. C. H: MelSbri, pr efeident of the band,- spoke briefly befdte intrdducirtg the Mayof, Mr. H. B, Burdekin, who mkde the pfesentation on behalf of the citizens of Levin. . Thdre Wdre inkny ftmctions which the Mkyfcif of a tdWh Wa^ reqtiired td attend in the course of his oMcial duties, said Mr. Burdekin in his opening remarks. None gave him gfeater pleasure than those at which prominent citizens were bbing honoured. Mr. and Mrs. Lester had a fine record in Levin, Mr. Lestg'r having been associated with. the band for nearly 30 years. HoweVer, it was not only in this sphere that they. were known, continued Mr. Burdekin. Throughout the years, at any fiinctioris or gatheririgS of k musical nature, Mr. Lester would.be present ahd willing to giVe service ih any way. As far as the band wks eoncefned, the publc cduld riot lodk- upon it except as being cenneeted with the name of Lester.0 Iri making remarks suph as these, proceeded Mr. Burdekin, it was.fitting to pay tfibitte to Mrs. Lester's sacrifiee arid servide. Any desetving canse could aiways rely on her help in any way poSsible. She had built up & wonderful record of service. It was liis privilege, on behalf of the citizens of Levin, and as a mark of their esteem for Mr. and Mrs.

Lester, to mak'e the presentation, concliided Mr. Burdekin. .He then asked thehi to receive a beautiful mantel clock inscribed with the words, "Presented by the citizens of Levin to Mr. and Mrs. G. R. Lester as an appreciation of 28 years' service to the Levin Municipal Band." 'Mrs. '"Les.t.er was th.e recipi'ent of a brooch.- • : 4- . • dri; :behaj|' of citizens' com-r mittde .Jjand.'Mr. Nelson then. presented Mr. Ldsier With a silver lyre, representing life membership. of the Levin Municipal Band. Remarking that it Was a token of f appreciation for what he had done for his band, Mr. J. R. Mkcfarlane handed Mr. Lester with a wallet on behalf of the Horowheriua Scottish Society's Pipe Band. A gesture from the boys and girls of the Levin Farm was the presentation on their behalf by Mr. C. A. Guy of a beautiful honey bowl. In the course of his remarks, he spoke of the manner in which Mr. Lester had aiways offered his and the bknd's serVibes to help entertain the children at the farm. ' The final presentation was one from his associates and fellow bandsmen, a -fountain pen being given to Mr. Lester by Mr. C. Bankfield on behalf of the Levin Municipal fikha. At the conclusion of his r'briiat'ks, riiusical .hono'Ui's Were accbr'dbd td Mr. and Mrs. Lester. On behalf bf Mrs. Lester and himself, Mr. Lester extenderi his sincere thanks to the citizens of Levin# the band, members of the citizehs' coriimittee, • Scottish Society's Pipe ' Banci and the irirriates of tlie Levin Farm for the yety.fine and handsome gifts, and for the tributes pai'd to him ahd his Wife. He, felt# he saia, most highly hbhorired. Dufihg the years he had lived in Levin, he and his wife had bnly dorie What they. feit was their •duty and the duty 'of eVery citizen. He thknked the band for the great deal of pleasure he had feceived in his association with it. The following was • the pro-grammer-r-Levin Municipal Band, march; Miss S. Millard, tap-'dance; Horowhenua . Pipe Band, sfelection; Mdstbr Marshall Mkher, elocutionary item;. Master Edwin Maher, Irish Jig; Miss M. Yorston, operatic d&riCe;, Mr/ E. Garrol# vocal item; Mlfes.Jlii Clarke, Highlahd flirig;

Mrs. Harrington, vocal solo; and Miss -Colleen Dobson, sWord dancer The dance orchestra consisted of Messrs. . D. O'Neil, V. Shahks, C. Webb and R. Robinson. fextras Wdre played by Mr. A. Bonner and the accompanist was Mrs. R., Maher, ahd Mr. Yorston supplied the miislc for the national dancing. Mr. A. L. Dobson was M.C. 'At the conclusion, Mr.- Nelson thanked the artists for their items, Which had been enjoyed by all present, he said. ' Mr. Burdekin espdcially tliahked the pipe bkrid for its service, remarking bfi tlie wonderful co-operation between the two bands throughout the years.