New Band Conductor

Members of the Gisborne Municipal Band turned out in force earlier this month to welcome to the city their new conductor, Mr H. Mileman, from Grimethorpe, Barnsley, England. Accompanied by his wife and younger son, Derek, Mr Mileman arrived by the evening railcar to find the bandsmen assembled to give him a musical welcome. As the railcar came in the band struck up a stirring march.

Then, having alighted and been met by the band secretary, Mr Frank Baxter, Mr and Mrs Mileman were introduced to the Mayor and Mayoress, Mr and Mrs H. H. Barker.

The Milemans were officially welcomed at a social evening later. Having settled down in his job with the Power Board Mr Mileman lost no time in starting work with the band, and is seen above conducting a session in the bandroom.

Mr and Mrs Mileman were greatly impressed with their new home so far away from all they had left on the other side of the world, and with welcome they had received. On the other hand, the bandsmen were also impressed with their new conductor, who soon showed them that he knew what he was talking about. The pictures on these pages were taken at a routine practice.

Mr Mileman leading the band through a new march. Beneath his baton is the tenor horn section—B. Dunfoy (obscured), W. Burch, P. Hapi, F. Baxter. Bass section at rear—R. Wood, E. Horne, R. Carpendale.

E. Horne playing the E-flat bass

The trombone section—left to right S. Priday, L. Haare, and R. Kemp.

Mr Mileman is a foundation member of the National Association of Band Conductors in England, is a well-known adjudicator at contests, and has conducted bands on BBC broadcasts.

He is shown below shown below with Mr H. Ratcliffe, who has been acting-conductor of the band for two years. On relinquishing this position, Mr Ratcliffe was congratulated on his work, and particularly on his success at the Hawkes Bay provincial contest last year, when the band won the hymn test and secured second places in the quickstep and senior quartette.

Over the past few months bandsmen have given the bandroom a new coat of paint, and carried out a number of repairs.

Solo cornet section—J. White, R. Fryer, J. Hankey, C. Prentice

The euphoniums—left to right, K. Wilkinson, R. Thomson, R. Sullivan.

Cornet section-H. Ratcliffe (soprano), B. Ratcliffe (repiano), A. Mackintosh (flugel), J. Lund, B. Jones, D. Schultz

On the big "oom-pah": R. Wood, B-flat bass

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The Gisborne Photo News

No 35 : May 30, 1957

New Band Conductor