53 Of 65-Strong Scots Guards Band Englishmen

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30338, 14 January 1964, Page 10

53 Of 65-Strong Scots Guards Band Englishmen

(New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, January 13. The band of the Scots Guards—s 3 Englishmen, 10 Scots and two Welshmen—arrived in Auckland by air from London this afternoon to begin a six-week tour of New Zealand. Consisting of 45 bandsmen and 17 pipers, it is the first Guards band to visit New Zealand since 1935, and it is the first time Russian bearskins have entered New Zealand duty free.

Each of the bandsmen carried his bearskin through the Customs, guarding it with care. The famous headgear, copied from Napoleon’s Guard, weighs sJlb. . "We used to get our bearskins from Canada,” said the director of music. Captain J. H. Howe, "but they ran out of bears there.” The present bearskins are imported from Siberia. The men carried their bearskins, he said, to prevent them being crushed while travelling. The band left London on Wednesday giving two concerts in Hong Kong on its way to New Zealand. Its last duty in London was the changing of the guard at Buckingham • Palace on January 4. The band played during the match between the All Blacks and the Combined

Services at Twickenham on Boxing Day.' “It was a very good match and well worth seeing,” said Captain Howe. Accompanying the band on the chartered airliner was two tons and a half of instruments and equipment. The music brought by the band includes 78 separate items. Captain Howe has specially arranged “Now Is The Hour.” and "God Defend New Zealand.” Commenting on the large number of Englishmen in the band. Captain Howe said: "If we had to rely on Scotsmen for musicians we would have no band.” This, he said, was no reflection on the musical ability of Scots. “They seem to be in short supply.” The band will give concerts ait 53 centres in New Zealand before leaving for Australia.