Are the trombones still so loud?
Bandmaster talk!
This picture shows Bill Andrews (Chatham Bandmaster from 1947 to 1965) chatting to Carl Woodman (current Chatham Bandmaster) during a recent visit to Exeter Temple by The International Staff Band of which Carl is a member. During their conversation, Bill was able to explain to Carl how he re-built Chatham Band following the end of the Second World War and Carl was able to confirm that one member of the band during Bill’s term as Bandmaster is still a member to this day, Peter Wood (who was bass trombone in Bill’s day - hence the title!).
Sole survivor, Peter
We are also able to bring you two photographs (sorry about the quality) of Bill’s band.
November 1957
Circa 1960 or 1961
If you were in the band when Bill was Bandmaster why not send us a comment or contact us. We would also be pleased to hear from any former Chatham bandsmen.
To answer the question: of course they are - that goes without saying!
As the present webmaster’s family (of which I am the most geographically distant member at 12,000 miles) came to the Corps in the same year that Bill Andrews handed over the baton to Ray Jones, and I was only three then, I don’t really remember Bill at all. But I do recognise faces and names from the photos, even though I don’t recall ever seeing the 1957 one before (I think the 1961 one was on the old website). Congratulations to Peter, who will clock up 50 years in the band next year if he hasn’t done so already (actually its already 57 years Andrew - Peter was commissinoned to the band in May 1949), and another interesting thing to note from the second photo is that by 1961 the first Lockwood infiltration into the trombone section had already taken place, which means there must have been between one and four Lockwoods in the trombone section continuously for at least 45 years. The mind boggles!
Andrew Smith said this on December 3rd, 2006 at 10:30 pm
Thanks for the photos and memories (I am a very young 15 year old at the back of the circa 1960/1961 photo second from the left). With all my formative years spent at Chatham, I have really fond and nostalgic memories of the Corps. I know Dad, with me, is really delighted to know that Chatham Corps is progressing so well. It was great to meet everyone when we visited last July. If all well, we intend to visit again this coming June/July (2007)- not long before dad will be a cool, young 90 (in August!) Greetings to all our Chatham friends, may God continue to bless all you do. Ivan & Daphne
Ivan Andrews said this on November 30th, 2006 at 9:51 pm
How humbling to see my pic of the CHAtham CHAps CHAtting at Exeter when the home band celebrated its own 125th anniversary so close after Chatham Band’s. Actually Exeter is older. A little secret: our anniversary was last April but couldn’t get ISB till now (Nov 25 & 26). Please answer Chatham’s enthusiastic webmaster’s request for info of interest to Bill Andrews and I will tell him next time I drive him to the Temple. When I play the Eb I probably drive him - mad! William is living in retirement here at Exeter, near his son Ivan & family who are also committed Christians. Still a great guy AND still playing and praying. What a fantastic gentleman is your current B/M Carl. Never met before but he has a way with him that makes me think I’ve known and liked him for years. God bless you all.
Lawrence BOVEY said this on November 30th, 2006 at 2:56 pm