AIR FORCE BAND RETURNS

Camp News (Northern Command), Volume 1, Issue 29, 15 November 1940, Page 5

AIR FORCE BAND RETURNS

South Island Tour TO VISIT PALMERSTON NORTH TODAY After a highly successful tour of the South Island as far south as Invercar gill, the Royal New Zealand Air Force Band, numbering 58 players, under the control of Flight Lieutenant H. Gladstone Hill, returned to Wellington yes Sunday morning. stone Hill, returned to Wellingtor In an interview, Flight Lieutenant Hill said that the tour had done much to stimulate interest ir

patriotic activities, and it had also helped in the raising of funds. After taking part in the ceremony on the occasion- of the final visit of the Governor-General, Lord Galway, to Wigram Aerodrome, the band participated in a massed bands’ demonstration in Christchurch on the afternoon of Sunday, November 3. Six other bands, took part and the Air Force Band gave a slow marching display with two drum-majors swinging their staffs. Warrant Officer J. Duncan, station warrant-officer at Wigram Aerodrome, led the display, and at night there was a successful concert in the Civic Theatre. On the Monday, the band visited Timaru, playing at the hospital and giving a concert at night. Crowds Stand in Rain. On Tuesday, the band played in Oam aru in the gardens which Flight Lieutenant Hill said, formed a most glorious setting for the band’s music. There had not been rain in Oamaru for some time, but the concert was hardly under way when rain began to fall. It became heavier, . but the band continued to play and for an hour, the crowd stood in the rain to listen. Next morning a visit was paid to Waitaki Boys’ High School, where, after playing in the memorial hall, the band gave an exhibition of marching. Returning into the- hall, the band listened to singing by 500 boys of the college and an address by the rector, Mr. Frank Milner, C.M.G. In Invercargill, the band took part in the farewell to the Governor-Gen-eral, and at night gave a concert in the Civic Theatre. Travelling north to Dunedin, the band on Friday paraded through the streets to the Town Hall, and in the afternoon was present at the North Taieri air station when an inspection was made by the Minister of Defence, Mr. Jones. In the evening, the band headed a parade through the streets of Dunedin of the entire strength of the North Taieri air station under Squadron, Leader Stedman and later was given a wonderful reception by an audience of 2500 in the Town Hall.