CEREMONIAL PARADE

Waikato Times, Volume 130, Issue 21689, 27 March 1942, Page 4

CEREMONIAL PARADE

ROYAL AIR FORCE BAND EVOLUTIONS PLEASE CROUD I With white-gloved drummers beat- | in S perfect precision, orass and ( wood-wind instruments providing the melody, and a unique display of mace-swinging by the drum major, Warrant Officer J. H. Hardwick, the band of the Royal New Zealand Air i Force in presenting a ceremonial dis- ! play outside the Hamilton chief post j office yesterday afternoon provided a I musical treat for the crowd of 2000 i people which had the privilege of j witnessing it. A short description of the evolu- ! tions was given by Flight-Lieutenant Gladstone Hill, Director of Music, R.N.Z.A.F., who is in charge of the ! band, and to the strains a Maori 1 waltz the band stepped off in slow march. After proceeding about 50 I yards the band suddenly broke into I a lively quick-step. When it reached ! the extremity of the roped-off space j allotted it the band executed a quick i retreat counter-march. Completing ! this evolution, the band after proi ceeding some distance once more ’ broke into a slow march. I A collection was taken in a nag and realised £7B, all of which was ; donated to the patriotic fund. In the : meantime the band played the “Skaters’ Waltz.” Skilfully done in this number were the difficult hand actions of the drummers. Much to the disappointment of the spectators, overcast conditions presaged a fall of rain, so to the stimulating tune of “Colonel Bogey” the band marched off down Victoria , Street.