“YOUNG AT 86”

Wairarapa Times-Age, 2 June 1939, Page 6

“YOUNG AT 86”

FORMER PLAYERS DONATION TO BAND. MR MARK MAXTON’S EARLY ASSOCIATION. “For a young fellow only 86 years old. I am not so bad,” wrote Mr Mark Maxton, J.P., of Greytown, in a letter to the Mayor of Masterton. Mr T. Jordan, forwarding a donation of £1 to the funds of the Masterton Municipal Band. Mr Maxton, after reading in the “Times-Age” that Mr Jordan was patron of the band and that Mr A. Pearson was a member, wrote to Mr Jordan asking him if Mr Pearson was any relative of the bandmaster of Pearson’s Band, of which Mr Maxton was a member in 1882-83, when he was working on Mr Payton’s paper in Masterton. If so, he said he would like to give a donation to assist the instrument fun. Other bandsmen Mr Max-' ton recollected were Messrs Warner (double bass), Tierney (cornet) and Jack Thompson. Mr Jordan, in his reply, said he had made inquiries and he regretted to say that he could not give him the excuse that he needed for making a donation. “The present Pearson is no relation of your old bandmaster,” wrote Mr Jordan, “but he asks me to assure you that he and his son are just as enthusiastic bandsmen as was your old chief. I appreciate very much your interest in us and I really believe that it is your interest in things . around and about that keeps your perennially young.” “Notwithstanding there being no connection between the present Pearsons and my old bandmaster, your last paragraph rather flatters me,” Mr Maxton replied,, “and I therefore enclose a cheque for £1 to assist the present Municipal Band, as ours was some 57 years ago, to which there is a bit of interest attached. Yours perennially young, Murk Maxton, J.P.”