Arthur Edward (Ted) Smith was re-elected at the May 1949 Takapuna Municipal Band AGM as president; Colin Palmer (1907-1951) as vice-president; George Ernest Durrant (1897-1965) as secretary; and Harry Marsh as treasurer. The recently appointed musical director, Reginald (Reg) Arthur Joslin (1909-1992), had previously served in Royal Marine bands.
In December 1949, some of the band's instruments were described as over 40 years old, pre-dating the band itself which was formed in 1923. A house-to-house canvassing campaign raised around 100 pounds in just over a fortnight, but 2,000 pounds were required to replace those instruments.
In early 1950, Joslin was appointed to Otahuhu College, and William Forrest took his place around April 1950. Forrest had been assistant bandmaster under his father in Ngaruawahia, while four of his brothers also played with their father in that band. Later, while serving in the army, Forrest was the bandmaster for the First Battalion of the Waikato Regiment.
Band instruments were still the main topic at the May 1950 AGM, with Mayor John Guiniven (1871-1957) recommending the band members themselves work hard to fundraise before approaching the Council for any money. Secretary Durrant reported that at the beginning of 1950 they had around 25 players. However, business pressures led to Forrest's resignation and deputy bandmaster Harry Marsh became acting bandmaster.
The band was described as a "boys' band", largely aged between eight and fifteen years with just a few older players. Marsh decided they refrain from public performances for around six months to build their strengths as performers. At that time, Takapuna Borough Council funded the band 60 pounds a year for public performances, along with providing access to Council vehicles.
By September 1950, the band had 20 players in training and important political support from the successful Takapuna mayoral candidate in 1950, Douglas Raymond Sheath (1911-1982). The band also resumed participating in Auckland provincial band contests, and in November 1950 won third place in the Hymn test, the only contest it entered. Many players had less than six months tuition before performing at that contest.
New secretary Stan Shannon headed the social committee and the band continued to advertise its services. In April 1951, it played at Albany, Browns Bay, Castor Bay and Windsor Reserve in Devonport and members were now outfitted with white shirts and red ties. A new set of instruments was on order, but full uniforms were needed.
In May 1951, Max Bird became drum major. He had also played with the Auckland Artillery Band and the B grade Auckland Watersiders' Junior Band. At the Whanganui National Championships in 1947 Bird had won the New Zealand Medal for the drum major with the highest military points.
At the 1951 AGM the band now had 43 players. It liaised with the Takapuna Businessmen's Association, and Councillor Hugh Rae Hutcheson (1915-1980) was the borough representative on the band committee from 1950 to 1953. In July 1951 Hutcheson successfully secured a portable performing platform for the band and in September 1951 the long-awaited instruments finally became available.
In August 1952 Fay Marsh represented the band in the Miss North Shore quest, while in December 1952 around 60 people attended a "family evening" at the band room. Harry Christensen (1893-1963) signalled his return to the band by acting as competition judge and was also guest conductor.
The May 1953 AGM was adjourned for lack of support and when a meeting was able to be held, a debit balance was noted in the instrument account. J Ritson became vice-president, replacing A Reid who had become vice-president on Palmer's death. G W Stringer became secretary and Leo Steve Dromgoole (1912-1993) became treasurer.
In 1954, the band raised 741 pounds at the North Shore Industries Fair to help pay the instrument debt and re-equip the band room. The band also began to form both senior and junior bands. In October 1954, the Takapuna Municipal Band participated in a display at Takapuna Grammar School, with over 3,000 in attendance. This was repeated in November 1954.
david.verran@xtra.co.nz
