Does anyone rember The Belfast Military Band from Tennents street

[bothy]

Hi By, welcome to the forum. Your uncle was the conductor when I joined the band in the early sixties I remember him well. Great conductor who commanded full focus from the band when rehearsing. A few friends of mine played in Agnes Street Silver and I'm sure they benefited by having George at the helm. Sorry to hear he has passed away, he must have been a good age.

[harold]

I have a photograph of Belfast Military Band taken circa 1934 after they won a Major Band Contest I believe.
I know three of the members, one of whom is Wee Jackie Wright of Benny Hill fame.

[tboy]

not me anyway.

[william60485]

Does anyone who was in the Belfast Military Band remember Peter Dawson

[Neil robinson-sture]

Crooksy, I was looking to find out if the military band was still in existence and saw your message, in what year did you work with Bob Agnew and the castle press? I worked there as an app compositor in the early 70's until I joined the army in 1973. His son in law was my boss, I can't remember his first name but his surname was Smith. I was also with the 95th and played the corner some happy memories. My name then was neil Robinson from merville.

[Big Al]

I've only just found this. I've been a mamber of this forum years ago, but forgot about it until I did a search for Belfast Military Band on Google.

I played Eflat clarinet in the band as a teenager in the early seventies. I went to school with Peter Marshall, who's dad and grandfather both played in it. Peter played the side drum, his dad played clarinet, and I think his grandfather played the tuba.

There was a chap who played solo clarinet and he was ex-military and had played professionally so he was top notch. But I remmeber he used to bring a 5 glass bottle of Teachers Whisky with him and have a wee tipple on practice nights.

[Ludwig]

Good to hear from you Big Al just stumbled across this page when i was researching bands in Belfast, and read your post. Seems an eternity since we all piled into my Dad's old escort estate car and headed off to the band practice on a Friday night, my grandfather Bob was still alive then in the mid-seventies and as you rightly pointed out still playing the tuba although i believe that he originally played cornet when he joined the band i guess it must have been in the late thirties or early forties? Dad known as Bertie is still going at the right old age of 87 this year and living in Portrush. Sadly when the band disbanded mainly due to the troubles i joined Ballyduff Silver who had just won the 2nd grade brass November contest. Just reading some of the other posts i remember meeting Malky and hearing him play he was a hell of a drummer, Bob Agnew was conducting the band then and Robbie Adair took the band for the November contest the only won i played in with the band and i played timpani for the piece Overture to Rienzi can't remember what year it was but we lost to Grosvenor Hall, keep safe best. look forward to keeping in touch, now living in England

[Ludwig]

Good to hear from you Big Al just stumbled across this page when i was researching bands in Belfast, and read your post. Seems an eternity since we all piled into my Dad's old escort estate car and headed off to the band practice on a Friday night, my grandfather Bob was still alive then in the mid-seventies and as you rightly pointed out still playing the tuba although i believe that he originally played cornet when he joined the band i guess it must have been in the late thirties or early forties? Dad known as Bertie is still going at the right old age of 87 this year and living in Portrush. Sadly when the band disbanded mainly due to the troubles i joined Ballyduff Silver who had just won the 2nd grade brass November contest. Just reading some of the other posts i remember meeting Malky and hearing him play he was a hell of a drummer, Bob Agnew was conducting the band then and Robbie Adair took the band for the November contest the only won i played in with the band and i played timpani for the piece Overture to Rienzi can't remember what year it was but we lost to Grosvenor Hall, keep safe best. look forward to keeping in touch, now living in England
[Dear Big Al, Good to hear from you I've been trying to reply to your message but unfortunately the system informs me that I'm not authorised to reply or send messages? To cut to the chase and keep in touch, if you could send me another message with your e-mail address that would be fab, as the system won't let me post my e-mail address as it's an external link? many thanks]

[Big Al]

Hi Ludwig,
These forums are full of little rules and idosyncrasies that make getting in touch difficult. The main obstruction to sending pm's is that you need to have posted in the main forum 3 times. So one more post on here and you will be good to go.

But I will send you another pm with my contact details.

[Ludwig]

I’m sad to report the passing of E-Flat clarinet player Bertie Marshall on Monday the 05/10/20, I was by his side as he slipped away peacefully in his sleep at the Coleraine hospital, gone but not forgotten, hope they need a good clarinet player upstairs? RIP Dad best Ludwig