The Founder

Radio Record, 29 April 1938, Page 12

The Founder

DERRY, the founder, was born in America, but he came to New Zealand as a boy and, after some schooling, joined the staff of the Addington Railway Workshops as a fitter. He blew a cornet so musically in his leisure that he retired the unbeaten cornet champion of New Zealand. No bandmaster worth his salt stands for "temperamentalism" or nonsense of any kind, so Derry took the role of disciplinarian. . A man of resolute character, he "put the eye" on any

man talking or blowing out a mouthpiece when he was explaining the intricacies of any musical phrase. ‘Then there was dead silence and "attention," as in any schioolroom. But they liked him tremendously nevertheless. After being conductor for 30 years, Derry died in Lewisham Hospital eight years ago. On his deathbed he said to Mr. Alfred Bristowe, present chairman of the Board of Control, ‘Carry on the band at all costs!" His wish has been fulfilled. To-day there is a stone in Bromley Cemetery bearing a tribute to his greatness as a man and as a musician. His bandmates erected it,