LGB Brass

Phil Goldsmith (solo cornet) and LGB President Dennis Wilby recently travelled to Twickenham for The Duke of Cambridge Day (Corps of Army Music Day) which is based on the Duke having founded Kneller Hall, The Royal Military School of Music.

To celebrate this special event, the RASC / RCT Musicians’ Association Concert Band, (consisting of ex-serving members) had been invited to provide the day’s musical entertainment. This also gave Phil and Dennis, both members of the cornet section, an opportunity to be re-united with former colleagues.

Accompanied by their wives Helen and Margaret, the first person to greet them was Major Paul Norley, someone familiar to LGB members.

RASC/RCT Musicians’ Association Concert Band

Prior to the band’s two impromptu performances,   conducted by Major (Retired) David Marshall,  a former Director of Music of the RCT Staff Band,  a Drum Head Service was led by David Loftus,  followed  by the traditional march past, which included serving Army band musicians, students from the Royal Military School of Music and the RASC/RCT Musicians’ Association Concert Band veterans, many who hadn’t been on a parade square since their long gone Army days.  The  music was performed by the Band of the Blues and Royals.

Most of the Association veterans had travelled the length and breadth of the UK (one from Germany) to be part of this unique occasion and there were many tales to tell over a drink (non alcoholic, of course) prior to the serious business of providing music (unrehearsed) for the distinguished gathering which included senior Army officers, ex-Directors of Music and Kneller Hall staff.

Phil, returning to Kneller Hall for the first time since 1966, served from 1962 – 1974, being a student at Kneller Hall from 1966 – 1967. He was a member of both the RASC and RCT Staff Bands (the RASC changed its name to RCT during Army reorganisation). Throughout his 12 years’ service, he played cornet, horn, trombone and was a member of the fanfare team, playing under the baton of three Directors of Music, Major G. F. Dean, Desmond Walker and Bill Allen.

Dennis was called up for National Service in 1956,  joining the Royal Army Service Corps Staff Band following a recommendation to the Director of Music (Major G. F. “Dixie” Dean) by Harry Mortimer. Dennis served until 1958 and throughout his entire service was the band’s Principal Cornet, missing only one band engagement (Woolwich Tattoo) due to getting married. The Kneller Hall re-union (he last performed there in 1957) was  particularly nostalgic, reuniting him for the first time in 50 years with former colleagues Les Ball (clarinet) and Mick Bolton (tuba).

The RASC/RCT Musicians’ Association Concert Band’s next public performance will take place on Saturday, July 14th 2012 at the Prince’s Hall, Aldershot, when Phil and Dennis will again take their seats in the cornet section.

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In the past few months LGB has welcomed several new members who have quickly made an impression.

Jo Highfield (trombone) delighted the audience with her interpretation of ‘When I’m 64′ at the MacMillan concert in October, which was her first with the band. She delighted the band members even more when, in the pub after the concert, she revealed that she had inadvertently used her ‘band shirt’ at a fancy dress party a few weeks previously, bearing as it did a rather prominent red cross. Fortunately this was hidden by Jo’s band jacket in October – and unfortunately Jo has since replaced the shirt, much to everyone’s disappointment…

David Williams (percussion) had the definitive marching baptism of fire at Lewes bonfire on November 5th (and he wasn’t the only one!) – and did us proud. By the time Lewes Remembrance Parade took place a week later, he was so good at it we were getting compliments from the organisers – loving your work David.

Guillermo (not his best side)

Guillermo Gregori (cornet) joined us from Spain shortly after our excursion to Cheltenham. For a while we got a little bit excited that with our new found fame we were attracting members from far afield, until it turned out that Guillermo is studying at Sussex Downs College, just round the corner from where we rehearse in Lewes. You can’t win ‘em all.

We’ve been working on introducing Guillermo to some traditional pursuits – Lewes bonfire, Remembrance Day, the Great British Roast Dinner, ‘Sheep of the Week’ etc… This week he got his own back by bringing traditional Christmas treats from Spain to rehearsal for us to try – they were absolutely delicious, particularly given that some of us had spent the first half of the evening playing in the rain at late night shopping. He can definitely stay.

(While we’re on the subject, because we were brung up proper like and we’ve got manners, we’d like to say hello and thanks to Guillermo’s mum for sending the massive box of goodies over – complete with cups and napkins! Thank you!)

Peter Cowlett (trombone) was no stranger to the band having helped us out on percussion a few times in the past. We’re clearly such a lovely bunch that wasn’t enough for him – and he is now a regular member (and a post-rehearsal-pub regular, which has endeared him to us all).

Welcome to Jo, David, Guillermo and Peter and thanks for your commitment and dedication so far. You wouldn’t happen to know any tuned percussion players would you?!

Thursday 18 August was A-Level results day and among those waiting to find out if they’d got the grades they needed to get into their chosen universities were LGB members Lucy Sullivan (cornet), Katie Ribbons (percussion), Michael Frost (trombone) and Patrick Ashcroft (trombone).

Well we always knew they were a bright bunch and now they’ve got the qualifications to prove it – all four got what they needed and the band would like to wish them every success with their chosen courses.