Municipal Band Celebrates First Century

Hundreds of bandsmen, young and old, past members and present, gathered in Nelson during Queen's Birthday weekend to participate in the centennial celebrations of the Nelson Municipal Band. The weekend opened on an informal note on Friday night with reunion and roll call, and closed with a variety concert on the Sunday evening. On Saturday cocktail hour, dinner and cabaret was held and, on Sunday, a church service parade. Like sporting teams, bands create bonds of comradeship which time cannot break and, at that first reunion, on the Friday night, the yarns of old times and the amber brown liquid flowed freely.

All those associated with the centennial celebrations assembled on Church Steps for a photograph

"And remember when "Frank Brien (1922-53), Ray Trownson (1939-49) Palmerston North, Harry Cotton (1922, life member) and Tot Robinson (1926-54) reminisce.

Harold Ingram, Wellington (1924-37), and Ross. Higgins, Wakefield, at the reunion

Keith Lavery (1963-70), Barry Winter (1965-72) and Ernie Omroyd, New Plymouth (1946-50), are keen bandsmen all. Ernie is a former national bandsman and is on the executive of the New Zealand Brass Band Association.

Present lady members of the band are Lynda Turner (1968), Irene Canton (1967) and Dorothy Williams (1970)

Former Salvation Army bandsmen at the reunion were Bert Holmes, Blenheim, and Les Whyte. Les is also the present conductor of the Municipal Band.

Former members of the Takaka Band who attended were Laurie Newman (1962), now a member of the Nelson Citizens' Jack Bensemann, a vice-conductor of the Takaka band for a long time, Keith Reynish, the conductor for 23 years and Chas Strick land (1924), a member for 38 years. Keith was also a member of the Nelson Municipal Band from 1931-47

Enjoying a chat are Chas Lucas (1940-67), Allan Martin, Christchurch (1943-60, a former national bandsman and member of the Army band), and Kevin Gibbons (1953-65)

Chris Lukies, deputy conductor, joined the band in 1960 and Ross Douglas, Wellington, was a member from 1959-60

Reg Hughes, Tauranga (1929-42) has a yarn with a former pupil, Pat Win (1933-46). Pat was in Reg's Standard 1 class

Dougal Dickson with Jack Nicholas, centennial convenor, and Carl Gousmett, centennial secretary

At the cabaret were Mrs Nuttall, Christchurch, Mrs S. Haase and Mrs G. Hewlett of Nelson

Family members of the Municipal Band are Mr and Mrs A. G Williams and their son Raymond

A historic baton was presented for safekeeping to the Mayor, Roy McLennan, by the band's patron, Mr F. H. Sharland, The baton belonged to the first conductor of the band