John Russell's Experience

John Russell’s experience John Russell, Soldiers’ Band member 1972–1974 from the UK has fond memories of his time in Ballarat. I started my involvement in music at a young age. First, trying the violin at about three years of age and taught by my father who was a good amateur violinist. In fact I really do not remember learning to read music; it just happened. Several years were spent at the piano and finally the cornet and trumpet. I played with an assortment of bands in and around my home town of Northampton both pure brass and also big bands for dances. All the time listening and learning from those around me. Finally I was off to uni to become a teacher with interests in both science and maths. Whilst in College Hall I met up with a fellow student and was introduced the ‘A’ Grade band sponsored by Watneys Brewery. The two guys that ran this band, Albert Meek (MD for the Royal Scots Greys) and its principal cornet Gwynne Price were also tutors at the army school of music, Kneller Hall, and were valuable contributors to my development as a player. I certainly had several interesting years with this band. However, in contesting terms there was another band in London that always seem to make top spot: Hanwell Silver Band. In due course I got invited to join Hanwell on soprano cornet and spent the rest of my time in England with them. Yes, many ‘A’ Grade contests were won and a number of recordings made. We even did a recording with the pop star Peter Skellern of You’re a Lady, which we performed with him on BBC’s Top of the Pops. Listen to the 1972 track here: https://www.youtube.com/ Being the premier band in the London area we quite watch?v=MA2pc2BdhDk often got asked to perform several numbers on a radio program called Friday night Music along with the BBC Concert Orchestra. So many really good times. I earned my living teaching but it was music that was so exciting. I then decided to come to Australia and join my family. Teachers were badly paid in England at the time and this proved to be a good move. I landed in Australia on the 11th August 1972. My dear niece Pam knew I was coming and the very next day Frank James was on my doorstep with a cornet for me. My time with the Soldiers Band had started. I think the first trip I did with band was some form of concert competition in Traralgon – yes, I did have two counter lunches that day and we had a really good time at the competition, although I cannot remember the actual outcome. I also remember a Queen’s Birthday weekend in Mildura but the details are vague. But so many lovely memories of my time with the band . One significant trip was to the Australian Championships in Hobart. The band itself did not go but we took a number of young soloists along with Hear how sophisticated a quartet and a septet. The quartet played Gilbert Fancy’s Knell is in this 1974 Vinter’s Fancy’s Knell and won. The septet played my arrangement: arrangement of Beethoven’s overture Egmont and also https://www.youtube.com/ won. Such a great time. watch?v=91HE0O0BWp0 BMCB: A CENTURY OF MUSIC – THE 1970s Copyright © Georgina Williams 2020 1 Whilst playing in the Soldiers’ Band I was introduced to Barry Wilkins. Many a happy year was spent with Barry playing in the orchestras for the various shows. My first show was Oliver, in which now well-known singers David Hobson and Roger Lemkie played roles as young teenagers opposite Roger’s father Robert, playing Sykes. Other shows I remember are My Fair Lady, Westside Story, Oklahoma, Land of Smiles, Carousel. For many reasons my time in Ballarat, although brief, was a wonderful introduction to Australia. Full of numerous happy times and great camaraderie. It’s well known that whilst in Ballarat that I met Christel on an arranged blind date via Pam’s mother (my sister). In late 1974 Christel and I got married and hence on to Melbourne for the start of the 1975 school year. Christel at the time was in the police force. She sort of arrested me in Ballarat. – John Russell BMCB: A CENTURY OF MUSIC – THE 1970s Copyright © Georgina Williams 2020 2.

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