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“Banding is my Life”

It was a cold but sunny morning that I was sitting out on the terrace of a hotel in Torquay where the SW Brass Band Association were holding a special event. I sat on a bench after having a long walk along the promenade, and was joined by another member of the association. During a casual conversation, this gentleman asked me, “When are you going to write a book about your life? You were born in Guernsey, you played with Black Dyke, you had a career in the RAF, you conducted Cory and other bands, you must have done more in your life time than most other bandsmen”

    I laughed and said I was not a writer, just a conductor and player.

I thought no more about the matter until a few days later when someone else prompted me to think more about the possibility - Bob Childs later came down to Cornwall with the Cory band, and when chatting to him, he also said I ought to think about it.

I was not all that good at English or Literature at school as I spent all my time playing the euphonium, so I was unsure of what to do.     Some evenings later, I sat at the computer, and started to write about my childhood in Guernsey, most of my activities being joined with my brother Ken, we went to school together, played together, joined the YP band together, and often swam together in the sea off the local beach. I worked at the computer for so long I did not notice the time, and was surprised when the clock showed 1.30am !
This enthusiasm remained with me and I completed the draft of the book well before Christmas.    Imagine the surprise when I arrived at my daughter’s house for Christmas, and presented the family with the whole document for them to edit.   I was so glad to have both Dreda and Christopher edit the book and give me very helpful advice on the construction of the chapters and presentation of the whole document in book form .    I do hope that readers will get as much enjoyment out of reading the book as I did writing it.   home