DRUM-MAJOR FAINTS

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIII, Issue 107, 19 April 1933, Page 7

DRUM-MAJOR FAINTS

HAMILTON BAND CONTEST INCIDENT. Auckland, April 18. A distressing incident occurred at the Hamilton band contest, when the drummajor of the Tauranga Municipal Band, Mr G. P. Mclntosh, collapsed while his band was playing in the B grade quickstep competition. Three days before Air Mclntosh, who is about 55 years of age, had accidentally received a severe blow on the head. The effect of this injury was apparently accentuated by the fact that during the war he received concussion. When he fainted he was still suffering from the effects of the blow. Before he collapsed Mr Mclntosh had led his band twice past the spectators’ stand and round the field to a position adjoining the judge’s tent. He had just brought the band to a halt when he fell to the ground Several members of the St. John Ambulance Brigade ran to hie assistance, while the band continued to play. Owing to the fact that the rules of the competition did not allow the judge to be approached during the contest, the band was obliged to play to the end of the piece. The playing continued for about five minutes, while Mr Mclntosh lay on the ground with the ambulance men beside him. When he regained consciousness Mr Mclntosh said that for several days he had been afraid that the strain of leading the band would be too much for him. For the last hundred yards of the march everything had seemed black. After several hours Mr Mclntosh recovered and felt little the worse for his exerience.