PROUD RECORD

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20573, 5 June 1941, Page 3

PROUD RECORD

WAIROA BAND MEMBERS 12 SERVING COUNTRY (Herald Correspondent.) “Since our last annual meeting this band, in common with all bands throughout the Dominion, has had its ranks sadly depleted by the departure of members for war service,” said the chairman of the citizens’ committee or the Wairoa Municipal Band, Mr. VV. Pect, in his report presented at the annual meeting in Wairoa. At present, continued the chairman, 12 of the members were serving their country. They were: Air Force, R. .Ena, C. Prentice, A. Oldham, G. King, J. Kelly, arid C. McllroV: army, B. tfaylbr, N. Russell. B. Christensen, W. Mclntyre, and P. Kitchener; navy, J. Nicol.

In addition to the above, three of

the members had been awav for three months in camp as Territorials, and another prominent member left only that day tor camp. A further three members had been passed fit for overseas Service, arid the remainder were

serving in the Home Guard and the emergency precaution's service. During the year a further five members' had left the district, having bcetr transferred to other towns.

“The foregoing,” added the chairman, “is a record of which any band can justifiably feel proud." Fulfilled All Engagements

Despite these disabilities, continued the report, the present playing strength of the band was 22. with a further five pupils in training, and during the year the band had fulfilled all the engagements required of it with credit. - This satisfactory result was wholly due to the untiring efforts of the band’s conductor, Mr. A. R. Moore, who had given all his spare time to the training of youngsters to fill the places of those whom the war had taken away, and he had done so to such good effect that the band had always been able to turn out when required. Moreover, recent public parades had been most favourably commented upon by visitors from other towns.

The election of officers resulted:--Patron, Mr. D. Glengarry; president, Mr. H. L. Harker; vice-presidents. Messrs. J. E. Svensen, J. Corkill, M. Sheehan, A. H. Deighton, F. Benson, W. Coker, S. C. Deacon. E. Wilson, 11. Ratcliffe. J. Swan. A. Law, the Rev. J. G. B. Talbot, and .Father At Doherty; citizens' committee, Messrs. J. Corkill, E. R. Baker, H. L. Ratcliffe, J. C. Gallagher, and W. Peet, with power to add bne other; bandmaster. Mr. K. Simmonds; band sergeant, Mr. S. Deacon; corporal, Mr. G. Archibald; lance-corporal, Mr. J. Swan; librarians, Messrs. W. and R. Hart; custodian, Mr. A. Saville.