BANDSMAN’S RECORD

Greymouth Evening Star, 2 August 1929, Page 2

BANDSMAN’S RECORD

THIRTY-EIGHT YEARS’ SERVICE. Thirty-eight years, and still blowing strong! That is the record of Mr W. Garth, who is now the oldest playing member of the Greymouth Municipal Band. His services were recognised by the members at the annual meeting of tho Band, held last evening, when Mr Garth was presented with the euphonium which he has played for the past twenty-three- years. The President, Dr J. W. Mcßrearty, stated that he had known Mr Garth for many years, and he had been one of the greatest bandsmen of the town since tile speaker could remember. It had always • appealed to him to think what a “good old sport” Mr Garth was. The younger bandsmen coud not do better than follow the example set them by Mr Garth. In recognition of his services, the Band had decided to present him with the euphonium lie had used during the past twenty-threee years. Nothing nicer could have taken place than to see the instrument become Mr Garth’s own property. Mr W. D. Murray (secretary) stated that the euphonium was bought by the Band about twenty-three years ago, and it was an example of what care and attention to an instrument could do. It had gone with Mr Garth everywhere the Band had gone, yet there was hardly a mark on it. Some of the new,instruments already had ten times more marks on them, and the members had good cases in which to keep them, whereas Mr Garth had only had a green baize bag. He had looked after his instrument as if it were a baby, and it was an object lesson to practically every other member of the band. Mr Garth was to be highly commended, and the speaker had much pleasure in endorsing the President’s remarks. Mr A. McMaster (conductor) said he had known Mr Garth as a bandsman for many years, and there was not the slightest doubt that he was an object lesson to younger players. He was a straight, genuine bandsman, and it was a credit to anyone to have such a record. The Band thought the least they could do was to honour Mr Garth by presenting him with the instrument which he had -cherished for so many ■years. He hoped that Mr Garth would bo spared to enjoy many more years with the Band. He had been of wonderful asistance to them in other ways.

The singing of “For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow” was followed by three cheers for Mr Garth. In responding, he stated that the presentation had come as a great surprise to him. With regard to the instrument, he had, as Mr Murray had said, cherished it as he would a baby. In fact, his wife had often said that he thought more of it than he did of her! He hoped that he would be spared for a few more years to blow the euphonium. If he was of any assistance to the Band, he would be only too pleased to do anything he could for it. (Applause).