THE OLDEST BANDSMAN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18951, 24 February 1925, Page 11

THE OLDEST BANDSMAN.

KEEN AS EVER AT 73. VISITOR'S LONG CAREER. The oldest bandsman in New Zealand, and the father of the present Auckland contest, is Mr. William Daniel Crump, aged 73, who plays tho tenor horn for the Wellington Municipal Tramways Band. Mr. Crump, who was born in Yorkshire, commenced his career as a bandsman at tho early age of eight. He was first a member of a band at Wombwell, in' Yorkshire, and becryne proficient on the soprano cornet. Later he played with the Mounted Rifles Band at Chesterfield in Derbyshire. He was a member of the Rotherham Oldborough Band in Yorkshire for some 20 years, and when this band went out of commission was appointed bandmaster of the Greasbrough Brass Band in Yorkshire. In 1902 he came out to New Zealand and settled in Wellington. He has attended twelve band contests in New Zealand, and firmly beJieves that this one will be the best of the lot and comparable with any in the world. Although called " Dad " by his colleagues, Mr. Crump is perhaps the youngest bandsman both in spirit and in enthusiasm. " I have been connected with bauds and orchestras for the past 65 years," he said, " and I love the music as well as ever." Music has not been his profession, but his dearest hobby. He has retired now arid devotes most of his time to music. Shortly before be came to Auckland to take part in tho contest, Mr. Crump broke a rib in Wellington through a fall. This, however, did not, deter him. Bandsman William Fen ton, of the Christc.hurch Municipal Band, is in his 72nd year, and is a competitor in the Bb section, and plays and carries his 281b. instrument with case. He commenced playing a band instrument at 11 years. For many years Mr. Fen ton was in India. He has won many gold and silver medals and two silver instruments at competitions in England, Australia, and in tho Dominion. Bandsman Albert Barkell, also a member of the. Ohristchurch Municipal Band, is at present conductor of two bands on the West Coast of the South Island, at Denniston. He is 62 years of ago and still plays the soprano. He commenced playing this instrument some 55 years ago. At one time he was a member of the Besses o' tho Barn Band, and also played in Australian bands for some years. Mr. Barkell has many gold and silver medals to his credit.