Known As "Bill"

Radio Record, 29 April 1938, Page 12

Known As "Bill"

JLOLLOWING Derry came Mr, J. Scott, who conducted for three years, and then Mr, Gladstone Hill for another three years. To-day the conductor is Captain W. 8, King, ex the Lyttelton Marine Band and the Oamaru Garrison Band. Captain King (he is known as "Bill" to his Jegion r Of musical and other friends) is a man of many parts. knowledge of band music and its players is remarkably wide. For many years a member of the staff of the old "Liyt{elton Times,’ Christchurch, in leisure moments he contrived to become a champion rifle shot of the Dominion, and a chess player to be relied upon to solve practically any problem put before him. : HE band's strength to-day is 50, counting from double basy to. piccolo, and it is increasing its membership, for many young players are taking to the brass, the silver, and the wood. . , Its youngest member to-day is a brilliant piccolo player, and flautist, Trevor Hutton, whose father is also a noted player in Derry’s; and, the oldest member, probably, is E. Sharp, one of the band’s stalwarts who has the widelysought knack of making the euphonium sound exceedingly pleasant, even as a solo instrument-and to a layman’s ears. (Continued on page 40.)

Derry’s Is Military eee HAD RECENT HEAVY LOSS

(Continued from page 12.) Getting personal again, I might mention Bandmaster ©. Joughin, who has been with Derry’s since its foundation, is still leading cornet. Then there are the four Geoghansnot a vaudeville team, as the title might imply, but four players who have given the combination yeoman service There have been from this family of instrumentalists Charlie, Bill, Tom and Frank-three brothers and one nephew. Librarian George Thompson is known lovingly as "Silent George," for the reason that he works a lot and says little. Through his efforts as a bookbinder the band is said to have the finest kept library of bound music volumes in Australia or New Zealand. Jimmy Gemmell, too, has been with the band for 82 years, and is now playing a saxophone. A. Hurst, chairman of the band and a brother of Colonel Hurst, is another stout instrumentalist. W. Smith was secretary for 18 yearsa good record for office-holding-and the jovial Ren. Bel, double-bass performer, has 25 years to his credit. Albert Hutton, whose musical footsteps are followed closely by his son, joined the band 87 years ago. LFRED BRISTOWE, to whom If owe much of my information, has been with the band 29 years. He plays the -} flat bass and is known by the titles, "the band’s historian" and "Father of Derry’s." Recently the band was in camp at Motukarara with the composite forces, and Mr. Bristowe, who can "double" on practically any instrument, did a spot of bugling. It took him back to his old days, he confessed. He, by the way, was once the driver of the old horse-hauled fireengine in Christchurch, ET things were not at all pleasant one early morning last February when bandsmen learned that their instruments had gone up in smioke. There was a disastrous fire in the bandroom in the early hours. However, much music was saved, although 28 instruments were destroyed. Uniforms in a cupboard next to the music got the worst of the heat and water, and were reduced to rags. It cost the band £1300, but, with borrowed instruments, ir fulfilled all its immediate and later’ hookings. * { Now the band is rapidly regaining lost ground, and proceeds from an art union are expected to set it up again financially. Occasionally it makes what it calls "social trips." That is, some body asks it to go somewhere and it accepts. Recently it scored a notable success at Timaru, and next Christmas it will visit Napier at the invitation of a special committee. Present executive officers are: Captain W. S. King, conductor; ©. Joughin, bandmaster; Bernard Boulton, secretary; J. Murray, treasurer; board of control and entertainment committee, A. KE. Bristowe (chairman), C. Joughin, \V. Smith, L. Oakes, 8B, Boulton, J. Murphy and KE. Sharp.