 | 25th Anniversary History |
| PETAWAWA |
| LEGION |
| COMMUNITY |
| BAND |
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The following is a summary of the
history of the Petawawa Legion Community Band, written for our 25th Anniversary celebration in 2003: |
"Hey, look at ME, World - I'm a MUSICIAN!"by Verlie Whitlock "January 25, 1978; ....the weather was mild....the High School
Teachers' strike vote was 83.6% for....the Petawawa Legion Band School (15
starters) and Community Band (25 turned up) were launched with great
success...." - thus the birthday of the Petawawa Legion Community Band is
modestly recorded in the diary of Dr.
James M. Gayfer, the Band's first Director, but for many people who
had worked behind the scenes, it was the culmination of many months of
hard work, and the realisation of a great dream. The diary goes on to
note that the very first piece of music rehearsed was the Quick March:
"Liberty Bell", which soon became the traditional opening selection for
many of the Band's concerts.
The dream had finally come true for a small group of Legion
Members who had formed a committee nearly a year before, under the
leadership of the Legion president, Gordon Strathy: its mandate was to
explore the logistics inherent to the establishment of a band which could
serve the needs of the Legion during its military parades and various
other functions. This Committee had directed its efforts towards
inviting other community organisations to join the Legion in providing
the financial support necessary to get the project under way, and
"bricks" were later sold at set prices to Legion Members interested in
helping to "build" their band.
During a door-to-door campaign for donations from the community
at large, it was discovered that living amongst us in the Village was a
retired Military Director of Music who was now teaching Music at
Champlain High School in Pembroke. Dr. Gayfer was invited to become the
Director of the proposed Legion Band, and he drew up a list of
instruments and related equipment needed to outfit a beginning band,
thereby giving the Legion a financial goal towards which they might aim.
The Village and Township Councils and the Rotary Club added their
contributions to those of the Legion and the general public, then the
Wintario Lottery Corporation matched all donations dollar-for-dollar;
thus, the words "Legion" and "Community" in the Band's title acknowledge
the determined effort and community spirit to which the Band owes its
very existence. The name also recognises the Band's obligation to the
Legion and surrounding Community in matters of performance.
The Petawawa Legion Community Band's first appearance in public was a
concert in the Legion Hall on June 28, 1978, featuring performances by
members of the Band School and the Band proper. At that first concert the
Band welcomed as guest performers the Pembroke Sesquicentennial Choir,
which was also under Dr. Gayfer's direction at the time, and those present
during that memorable evening may remember seeing in the audience the
former Director of the Pembroke Legion Band, Doug Lowe, who died later
that year.
November brought Remembrance Day, and the Parade to the Cenotaph
was led for the first time by the new Legion Band: seeing "their" Band
marching down the main street in Petawawa filled the same small group of
dedicated Legion Members with the determination that the Band members'
pleasure in performing together should be matched by a pride in their own
appearance when under public scrutiny. Another campaign was launched
within the Legion to raise the necessary funds to purchase uniforms for
the Band, though nearly another year would pass before the result of
their efforts would be seen.
Our first concert outside the Legion Hall came in September, 1979,
when we were invited to perform at the C.F.B. Petawawa Leisure Recreation
Show in Dundonald Hall, and this was to be the last time we would be seen
in public dressed "casually" for many years. The Band made its first
appearance in the new uniform at a concert on November 7 to celebrate
Legion Week, then later that same week the uniform received more public
attention during two Remembrance Day Parades, one with our parent Legion
and the second with the Legion in Eganville - the latter being our very
first parade away from "home". In June of the following year, we
played our first concert at the Petawawa Civic Centre to help celebrate
the opening of the new outdoor recreational facilities, but it was a
somewhat sombre occasion for the Band, since it would be our last concert
under the baton of Dr. Gayfer, who was leaving to take up the Directorship
of the Kinsmen Band in Lindsay, Ontario.
1980 also saw the Band become a year-round operation, and Tom
Overton, a "local boy" home on vacation from his musical studies at
Windsor University, filled in as Director for what developed into quite a
hectic summer for us, including: our first open-air concert at the
Military Engineers' Reunion on the banks of Brennan Lake; our performing
as the "pit orchestra" during a pageant marking the 75th Anniversary of
the founding of "Camp Petawawa"; and an appearance at the 10th Annual
Petawawa Steam Show.
That summer's busy and varied schedule provided the catalyst that
brought about a subtle change in the development of the Band's confidence
in its own ability; at last we saw ourselves as an organisation that was
now able to take its place with pride within the Community. We were,
perhaps, finally ready to echo - with all due modesty! - Dr. Gayfer's
words which give this short history of the Band its title; he was always
urging us to think that way during our early years, when we were in
danger of crumpling under the stress of a forthcoming public appearance.
The infant band was now on its feet, and although it would always
remain under the watchful eye of its parent Legion, it began moving
towards a certain amount of autonomy with the election in September of
that year of its first official Executive, and the drawing-up of a Band
Constitution and set of By-laws.
In that same September Arthur van Winckle, who had taken over Dr
Gayfer's position teaching Music at Champlain High School, also stepped
into his shoes as our new Band Director, and under his guidance we
embarked upon a new round of what were fast becoming familiar annual
parades and concerts, adding to this list the first Civic Centre Day
Parade in June, 1981.
Tom Overton returned to direct us through a comparatively quiet
summer, then Art resumed his Directing duties in the Fall; also that
Fall, Renfrew County School Board decided that Remembrance Day would no
longer be a school holiday, and the Band has performed that Parade
without most of its younger members ever since.
During January, 1982, Kazimier Samujlo, the Music Teacher at
Fellowes' High School, took up the reins of Directorship and during his
first year of tenure, the Band received its very own March: "Petawawa
Legion Five Seventeen" commissioned by the Legion from our original
Director, Dr. Gayfer; in June, we gave "our" March its first public
airing under the baton of its composer, who was Guest Conductor at our
annual concert in the Civic Centre. (Civic Centre "Day" had expanded to
encompass several days, hence the change in its title.)
With Kaz at the helm, the long years of experience in public
performing earned the Band a certain maturity and the confidence to
tackle any new situation. Our activities then settled into a familiar
routine for the most part, though we were called upon to perform in a
completely different setting several times during the year:
These were just a few of our appearances away from home base as time
passed, in addition to a full slate of local annual commitments
including: the Royal Canadian Army Cadets' Annual Inspection;
Remembrance Day Parades; Santa Claus Parades; the O.P.P. Auxiliary Annual
Inspection; the Korean Veterans' Parade; the 702 Communications' Squadron
Mess Dinner - the list seemed endless!
In our Tenth Anniversary Year of 1988, we reached a level of
performance that gave the Band a certain maturity which we worked hard to
maintain throughout the ensuing years. A special challenge we faced for
the first time in February of that year brought the realisation that we
were no longer a "developing" Band - we had arrived! Our participation at
that time in the Kiwanis Festival of Music, Community Bands' section,
gave us the confidence that we could now consider ourselves ready to
compete with all-comers. We have taken part in this Festival every year
since and have been invited to perform in the Festival of Stars' Concert
as best band in the competitions on several occasions.
In June of that same year, we were invited to join the large
parade held in connection with the Legion Dominion Command Convention
which took place in Ottawa. We marched with Bands, Legion Delegates
and Colour Parties from all over Canada, from the Supreme Court Building,
along Wellington Street past the Parliament Buildings to the Cenotaph at
the top of Elgin Street. This was a very proud, memorable occasion for
the Band, particularly as many people in the crowds that filled the
sidewalks were from a Military background and had been posted at some
time to CFB Petawawa. On recognising, from the shoulder flashes on our
uniforms, that we were from this special place in their hearts, they gave
our Band great vocal support - providing a very emotional atmosphere for
our members, who were already riding high on a wave of intense pride in
having been invited to take part in an event of such great moment.
In the following August, we performed alongside the RCA Band as part
of the "Warriors' Day" celebrations held on CFB Petawawa. That we were
considered adequate to the task of joining such a renowned, professional
Band at this event, bolstered the Band's confidence that we were finally
moving into the "big league" - almost enough to overcome the trepidation
with which we approached this assignment! This event also saw the first
performance with the Band of a couple who had recently come to live in
Deep River from Manitoba; Lawrence and Anne
Dickson became regular members from that time, and three years later
Anne became our Director.
During the next few years, we were invited to perform at several
events new to us, some of which have become annual duties for the Band:
1990 brought a different kind of maturity to the Band; one of our
trombonists, Wes Smith, who had been a member since the formation of the
Band, died following a long illness. Wes was quite a popular character
and had spent many years working upon the Executive. He constructed the
wardrobe we use for our uniforms, and painted the picture of
Tennant's Rock which we presented to Tom Overton upon his departure for a
teaching post in northern Ontario.
The Labour Day weekend of that year saw us visiting Mitchell,
Ontario, on the first stage of a "Band Exchange" with the Legion Band
there. Two years later, on the August long weekend of 1992, the Michell
Legion Band visited Petawawa on the second leg of this exchange, and the
combined Bands performed at the Deep River Summerfest.
Two events in 1991 brought more sadness to the Band. First, another
of our long-time members, clarinettist Stan McMullen died; Stan hailed
from Westmeath and was a very private "gentlemanly" type of man,
well-loved in his home community and known for his voluntary performance
on the "fiddle" at many local social events and at senior citizens'
residences.
Later that year, after almost ten years as our Director, Kaz left
for a teaching post in Ottawa; since his departure, Kaz has returned on
several occasions during the summer to sit in on rehearsals with the
Band. He brought wife, Monique, to celebrate with us at our Twentieth
Anniversary Banquet, held on January 24, 1998, and joined the Band in the
short concert that followed the dinner, playing his trumpet and serving
as Guest Conductor for a memorial rendition of "Liberty Bell", which was,
as mentioned earlier, the first piece ever performed by the Band at its
very first rehearsal in 1978.
Upon Kaz's departure, Anne Dickson took over
the reins and has very successfully maintained the level of performance to
which we hope we have become accustomed!
In 1992, for the third year in succession, one of our players
finally succumbed following a lengthy illness; Carol Thomsett had not
been very active in the band during her illness, but she is
well-remembered by our long-time members as a quiet, gentle lady and a
very accomplished flautist and piccolo-player.
In 1994, the Band returned to Huntsville for a weekend of
concerts under the sponsorship of the Legion there. That same year
Branch 517 Legion provided weather-resistant nylon "shells" for our use
during winter parades. These have now been accepted as our "winter
uniform" from November until spring, and are to be used at other times of
the year during inclement weather. These shells are much appreciated by
the band, since it is possible to wear a greater amount of warm clothing
beneath them - a very welcome change for those among us who remember the
many cold parades when we had to choose between the comfort of warm but
mis-matched outerwear and the agony of freezing together in only our
uniforms!
The Band took part in several area 50th Anniversary celebrations
of D-Day in 1994 and VE-Day in 1995. Also in 1995, our usual Civic
Centre Days' Concert was played under the newly-extended roof of the
Kinhut on Civic Centre grounds. This new roof, which now forms part of a
large, covered patio providing some protection during inclement weather,
is a welcome improvement for the musicians invited to perform there.
1997 was a bleak year for those of us who remember the early days
of the Band. April saw the passing of our original Director, Dr. James
Gayfer. Dr. Gayfer was a prolific composer of band, piano, choral
and orchestral music, and much of his music has yet to be published. His
military background and knowledge of protocol, combined with his great
musicianship and love of "showbiz", served to provide a perfect basis for
the Band's early progress, and one upon which successive Directors have
been able to build our pride, our musicianship and ultimately our
confidence in ourselves as an able performing unit.
In the Fall of that year, two more icons left us...
Frank van Hoof, to whose vision the Band owes its very existence,
was the Manager of the Band for many, many years, and was a loving
supporter right to the end. His was the idea that got the original group
of band-builders moving, and his was the faith that drove the project
forward and maintained the interest during the dark, early days of
fund-raising and the inevitable hold-ups and disappointments. His, also,
was the joy of seeing the project finally come to fruition with the birth
of "his" Band - yes, in the early days, we were known to many local
people as "Frank's Band"!
Dave Trimble was a long-time member of our baritone section and,
well into his seventh decade, was regularly travelling from his home in
Beachburg for rehearsals and concerts, though he was no longer able to
parade with us. There is some mystery surrounding his death, simply
because, in the end, he was a very private man and wished that his
passing would not be heralded publicly. Those of us who knew and loved
him are grateful that we were afforded an opportunity a few years ago to
demonstrate to him the high regard in which he was held. Several
local organisations with which he was connected joined together in
hosting a celebration in his honour. This provided a perfect example of
how much better it is to honour our friends while they are still with us,
than it is to send flowers when it's too late...
1997 provided some less-solemn occasions, however: under Anne's
direction, we launched a new series of summer and Christmas concerts,
which will inevitably raise our profile in the area. We spent the whole
month of July in travelling around the different communities, performing
for appreciative audiences who brought their own seating and enjoyed with
us the making of music in the open air, in beautiful, riverside
locations. December saw us perform weekly Christmas concerts around the
area, mostly for seniors; we all look forward to continuing these series'
in the years to come.
The summer of 1998 brought another change for the Band when Anne,
our Director for seven years, decided to leave in order to follow other
musical pursuits. At that time, there was no-one in the immediate area
who was able to step into Anne's shoes, but a long-time friend of the
Band, Fred Leadston, who had helped us out several times in the past by
stepping in at short notice when our regular Director was unavailable,
came to our aid again. Fred was willing to commute every week from
his home in Kingston to stand in as Interim Director, in order to
rehearse the Band and keep the musical spirit alive. Fred kept us
going for the two years it took for us to find a new Director,
travelling up to the Valley in every kind of weather. His tour of duty
with the Band is remembered with affection by all members - Fred was a
"real trouper" who managed to keep the Band going through what was a
tough time for us.
During this period, the Legion decided to appoint an Assistant Director
who could step in and take over Fred's conducting duties whenever Fred
was unable, through sickness or adverse weather conditions, to attend
the weekly rehearsal. This position was filled by clarinet player Jeremy
Whitlock, a longtime member who is the only person in the present Band
who was actually present on that first day in 1978 when Doc Gayfer
directed the Band's first rehearsal; Jeremy took time out from the Band
to attend University, but would return to play in concerts and parades
with us during the summers of his eleven years away.
Our long search for a new, permanent Director ended in 2000, when a
young teacher at "l'Équinoxe", the new French public elementary school
in Pembroke, accepted the offer to join our ranks. Eric Tanguay,
originally from Kapuskasing, took over the baton from Fred during the
concert which the Band played to mark Legion Week in September of that
year, and has remained at the helm ever since.
Over the years, we have welcomed members from as far afield as
Beachburg and Point Alexander, from all age-groups and all walks of
life. Our situation in Petawawa with its large and necessarily-transient
military population, plus the fact that many of our members are students
who eventually leave home to pursue further education, results in a
continuing, unpredictable turnover in membership. There is, however, a
sufficiently-large core of veterans to keep alive the spirit of
camaraderie that forms the particular character of Petawawa Legion
Community Band - indeed, there are those among us who regard our friends
in the Band almost as members of our extended family. A shared love of
music brings its own harmony to organisations such as ours, and with it
an intimacy which forges lasting friendships within our ranks - long may
this continue to be so for the Petawawa Legion Community Band!
Happy 25th Anniversary, Band!
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Verlie Whitlock
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Petawawa
Legion Da Capo Community Band |
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