MEMORIES ofHertford
Town Band came flooding
back to Bob Hunt when he
discovered an old Mercury
article.Bob, the band8217s secretary, kept
the article, which was printed
more than 40 years ago when
the band was struggling to find
somewhere to practise and
store instruments.
The band was formed shortly
after the end ofthe Second
World War when Alderman
Percy Brooks decided that,
because Ware had a town band,
it was time Hertford had one
too.
8220Percy enlisted the help ofReg
Purkis, who had experience of
brass bands, to get it
organised,8221 said Bob, 83, of
Warren Terrace, Bengeo.
With no money, the band went
to a bank and were given a loan
of163650. They then quickly
snapped up a set ofsecond-
hand instruments from music
publisher Boosey and Hawkes,
ofLondon.
Bob said: 8220George Durrant,
superintendent ofthe St John
Ambulance Brigade, was
approached and agreed that the
band could store its
instruments and practise at
Durrant Hall in Old Cross.8221
The band 8211 which had almost 20
members 8211 needed a conductor
and Harry Harman, landlord of
the Rising Sun pub in Balfour
Street, was appointed. Harry
had been a bugler and a
drummer boy in the Boer War.
8220The band needed uniforms
and when Barton-upon-Humber
band in Lincolnshire purchased
new uniforms, Hertford
purchased their second-hand
ones,8221 said Bob.
The band tried to remain
8220modern8221 by playing popular
songs, rather than just
marches, and was paid 16375 to
give five performances in the
grounds ofHertford Castle
every summer.
Bob said: 8220We did this for 18
years with the band having to
provide all the advertising. We
would play at the war memorial
every Remembrance Sunday, at
the mayor8217s annual old people8217s
party at the Corn Exchange and
at many village fetes.8221
In 1952, a fete was held in the
Castle grounds in aid ofthe
band and enough money was
raised to pay offthe bank loan.
In 1965, the band was struggling
on two fronts: Durrant Hall was
about to be demolished and the
band room was broken in to.
Several instruments had been
stolen and were later found
damaged by the railway line at
Horns Mill.
After this, members decided
that it was time to call it a day.
They kept their instruments
and passed on the sheet music
to Sele School.
Bob said: 8220School bands are
now taking the place oftown
bands, because they have their
own place to practise and store
their instruments, but I would
love to see the return ofa town
band.822128MMERCURY June 13, 2008
email: mercury@hertsessexnews.co.ukWhen town band
was in full swingGETTING TO
KNOW YOUWe invite local people to tell us
about themselves, where they
live and a few of their favourite
thingsMercury MemoriesFOND MEMORIES:Bob Hunt today and
Hertford Town Band shortly after the Second
World War, with Bob second right in the middle
row
(s)ROSIEMAYER (s)sName:
Rosie Mayers Age:
35s Where are you from?
East Londons Job?
Fitness therapist, health
advice/journalism [in The Vaults, The
Wash, Hertford]s Hobbies?
Music, I sing and organise
jam nights; skating, roller-blades and
some long-boarding; martial arts, tang
soo do;dance, trained in
contemporary and danced for an
agency for a while. I can8217t keep still at
the best of times, let alone if there8217s
great music playing.
FAVOURITES s Film?
Spirited Away
8211 it8217s a Manga-
style animation, with great characters
and storyliness Book?
The Book of the Runes
8211 it
answers any questions and reminds
me of what8217s really importants Food?
Japanese; it8217s fresh,
seasonal, light and balanceds TVprogramme?
CSI
; medicine plus
detective work equals great TV!s Song?
Je t8217aimais, je t8217aime et je
t8217aimerai
by Francis Cabrel 8211 it has
such poetic lyricss Claim to fame?
I once sang at
Ronnie Scott8217s [in Soho, London].
Other than that, I have treated and
trained successful athletes and
dancerss What famous person would you
like to be stuck on a desert island
with?
StephenFry; he8217s intelligent,
interesting and funny 8211 perfect
company!
VIEWS ON HERTFORDs What does it need?
A department
store and a wholefood cafes What would you change?
The
parking!s Favourite pub/bar/restaurant?
The
Snug and Elbert Wurlingss Favourite place?
The Vaultsand the
parkss Where do you like to shop?
Natural
Health and IDs Best thing?
The relaxed and
friendlyatmosphereISLANDCHOICE:Stephen Fry (s)From the Mercury archives1631,000 appeal for memorial
facelift
A HERTFORD church is
appealing for donations to pay
for a 1631,000 refurbishment of
its war memorial.
Leaders at Holy Trinity, in New
Road, Bengeo, have decided to
renovate the tribute to local
soldiers who lost their lives in
both world wars in time for
Remembrance Sunday.
The oak screen monument,
which was originally designed
for Bengeo8217s now-demolished
Christ Church, was created in
1918 after public conscription
raised 163250.
Churchwarden CliffGreely
said: 8220The passage oftime has
taken its toll. The gilt the
names are written in has lost
its lustre and the lettering has
become indistinct.8221
Hi-de-Hi8217s Peggy brings the
holiday camp spirit to Ware
THE start ofthe 13th Ware
Week celebrations proved
anything but unlucky as once
again the sun shone and the
crowds turned out in their
thousands.
Actress Su Pollard, who plays
Peggy in the TV series
Hi-de-Hi,
brought with her a touch ofthe
holiday camp spirit, and
weather, to Saturday8217s carnival
procession.
Appearing in her chalet-maid8217s
costume, bouncy, bubbly Su
caught the imagination and
affection ofthe crowd with her
warm and friendly approach.
Organiser Marie Butcher said
ofthe colourful, flag-waving
crowds: 8220Ware turned up
trumps as usual. People were
literally spilling into the road.
8220Su Pollard was lovely and we
have been jolly lucky again. It
was a good decision to have her
because she was very popular
and tremendous with the
crowds.822110 YEARS AGO25 YEARS AGOBy GEMMAGARDNERgardnerg@hertsessexnews.co.ukFor further info, to book by credit card or to request
a brochure call quoting
Advert Code HEM:0845 226 9725(calls charged at local rate)Or, email stating which brochure you
require to: hem@newmarket-group.co.ukABTA V787X/V7812. ATOL protected 2325.See us at: www.newmarket.travel/hemDiscover the legendary story of a group of
working class boys from the wrong side of
the tracks who became one of the biggest pop
music phenomenons of all time 8211 Frankie Valli
and The Four Seasons.
Includes
q
1 night8217s B&B at the 35
Da
y8217s Inn,
Waterloo (a range of other 45
central London
hotels are available at a supplement)
q
A ticket
f
or the evening performance of Jersey Boys at the
Prince Edward Theatre (ticket upgrades available
at a supplement)Jersey BoysFrom 16375.00Departs 22 November 2008See Rowan Atkinson as Fagin and the exciting
new Nancy and Oliver in Cameron
Mackintosh8217s triumphant new staging of Lionel
Bart8217s masterpiece 8220OLIVER!8221 at the Theatre
Royal Drury Lane.
Includes
q
1 night8217s B&B at a 35
Da
ys Hotel,
Waterloo (a range of three other 4
5
central
London hotels are available at a supplement)
q
A ticket for Oliver at the Theatre Royal Drury
Lane (upg
rades available at a supplement)Oliver!From 16375.00Departs January to September 2009
Page 1Page 2Page 3Page 4Page 5Page 6Page 7Page 8Page 9Page 10Page 11Page 12Page 13Page 14Page 15Page 16Page 17Page 18Page 19Page 20Page 21Page 22Page 23Page 24Page 25Page 26Page 27Page 28Page 29Page 30Page 31Page 32Page 33Page 34Page 35Page 36Page 37Page 38Page 39Page 40Page 41Page 42Page 43Page 44Page 45Page 46Page 47Page 48Page 49Page 50Page 51Page 52Page 53Page 54Page 55Page 56Page 57Page 58Page 59Page 60Page 61Page 62Page 63Page 64Page 65Page 66Page 67Page 68Page 69Page 70Page 71Page 72Page 73Page 74Page 75Page 76Page 77Page 78Page 79Page 80 Produced by PageSuite