Memories of ‘the spit and dribble’ brigade (From Surrey Comet)

Memories of ‘the spit and dribble’ brigade

3:03pm Wednesday 18th April 2007

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Jack Wilson, now 82, became bandmaster for 1st Hook Scout Band in 1957 and finally retired from the post 25 years later.

He said: "I had actually been a drummer in the band from about 1944, and, when in 1957 the man who had been running the band moved away from the area, I was asked to take over and stupidly accepted.

"We were at that time a bugle and drum band, and used to play at remembrance parades in Surbiton and things like that. Most of our instruments were extremely old. In fact I'm sure that some of the bugles we were using were played at Balaclava.

"The whole operation was done on a shoestring because instruments were so expensive. I think a pair of drumsticks cost about a £1 at that time. But as time went on, I gradually built the band up.

"In 1966, the bandmaster at Kingston and Malden Scout Band asked me why we weren't competing in the National Scout Band Championships. I told him it was because we didn't have the instruments and we certainly weren't at that level yet.

"I went back to the band, asked the parents' committee for £470 for new instruments and we began to practise and practise at the old RAF station in Chessington. To plan our routines we used to move model figures around on the carpet to get a good aerial view of the formations.

"Anyway, in 1967, we finally entered the national championships, and I couldn't believe it when we came away with seven trophies. I was tickled pink at how far we had come from the original "spit and dribble brigade". I had a wonderful 25 years as bandmaster."

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