R.N.Z.A.F. MARCH MUSIC

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28284, 23 May 1957, Page 7

R.N.Z.A.F. MARCH MUSIC

New Composition Adopted

The Royal New Zealand Air Force has officially adopted its own composition of march music for ceremonial use. It was written by Warrant Officer R. H Simpson senior Air Force bandmaster and member of the well-known Christchurch band music family. The new march will be played publicly for the first time on Sunday. June 2. at Wigram, where the Air Force territorial band will be attending the" ceremonial parading of the Queen’s Colour. It supersedes the distinct Royal Air Force “March Past” composition which has been used in the Dominion up to now. Warrant Officer Simpson has been connected with Air Force bands since the formation of the central band in 1940. Since the end of World War II he has been responsible for the musical requirements of the service. He composed all the fanfares which were sounded at different occasions during the 1953 Royal tour of the Dominion.

The drum major leading the band on parade at Wigram will be Flight Sergeant R. I. Simpson, a regular Air Force bandsman He is a brother of Warrant Officer Simpson. Mr Ralph Simpson conductor of the Christchurch Municipal Band, is a cousin. The introduction to the new march is based on the symbolic Air Force trumpet call: “The Alert.” The composer has arranged the music for adaptation to either quick or slow time, which makes it particularly useful for both general and ceremonial playing.

Battery Store Entered.—A forced entry was made into the battery bulk store at the premises of Wooff and Salvesen. Ltd., 17 Lichfield street, during Tuesday night. An official of the company said that no stock was missing and it looked as though the intruder knew his way around the premises. A padlock from the gate of a yard leading into the store was missing yesterday morning, and a padlock on the door of the store was found broken.