Music And Memories
A Memory of St Dennis.
Is there anyone else who sang in Mrs Solomon's choir and went to Mr Pellymounter's school in St Dennis. I remember all the grownup ladies wearing their wedding dresses as we had to wear white. I was about four when I started to sing in the choir. My mother found some white silk and made me a dress that had enormous seams and hem, so that I was able to wear it for about four years. On one occasion I remember we sang in the main Methodist Hall in Plymouth. I also sang for Children's Hour from the BBC studios in Bristol. I think I was seven at the time. Mr Pellymounter had lots of friends in the theatre, among them Ann Todd and Eric Portman. He used to tell us stories of operas and he made English literature come to life. My father, not a St Dennis man, was a founder member of the St Dennis Male Voice Choir, which used to rehearse around the baby grand piano my parents gave me for my eighth birthday. They found it in a music shop in Truro.
We left St Dennis for Devon when I was already at St Austell Grammar School, my mother's old school. Now I live in France and play the organ for the Sunday mass, so music is still important in my life.
If Rowena Coon or Meryl Oliver read this I should love to hear from them.
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Please make contact to Mike Ford on 01726 815842.
Poem:- BUGLE BAND FESTIVAL POEM
(9th September, 1920)
Written by W. T. Hawkey of St. Dennis
‘Twas Contest Day at Bugle –
The greatest day of the year –
And people came from everywhere,
Their favourite bands to hear.
The weather was unfavourable,
And somewhat marred the day;
But thousands stood around the stand
To hear the bandsmen play.
And oh! What music, to be sure
‘Twas pleasure to be there
To hear such glorious harmony
Resounding through the air.
My friends, I’m no musician,
But I like to hear a band,
And the premier bands of Cornwall
Played there upon the stand.
The winners of the Trophy
Played splendidly and free,
Their own choice was a hymn-tune,
It’s name “Abide with Me.”
The contest it was over,
The last band had come down;
And oh, my! What a stampede!
As the people gathered ‘round.
The people were around the stand,
Like flies ‘round meat in May;
With bated breath they listened
To what the judge did say.
He opened up his statement
By thanking that great crowd
For their applause and cheering,
Which was hearty, long and loud.
He then spoke of the contest,
And said that he was sure
The music was of higher class
Than when he was here before.
He then went on with his remarks
About St. Dennis Band;
And by what he said about them,
They must be simply grand.
He first spoke of the hymn-tune
Which they did jolly fine,
If only the soprano had
Released his notes in time.
But later he did better
As my remarks will show –
For to be a super-excellent man
You must know how to blow.
He next spoke of the contest piece
(Its name I have forgot),
But still there may be some of you,
My readers, who have not.
They made a good and even start,
But the trebles were not clear
The cause may have? been “shivers”.
But what a sound the basses made –
I’m sure it shook the ground;
You will not find a better lot
“Twixt here and London town.
The trombone man’s a? marvel,
His mem’ry’s like a cooks –
He’s never troubled on the march
By many music books.
The sole cornet is a man
Who does his best always –
He puts a lot of feeling
In everything he plays.
He plays up high, he plays down low,
He plays while on his feet;
The only thing he cannot do
Is make the cornet speak.
The other soloist of note
Is the euphonium chap,
And for his superb rendering
He well deserves a clap.
Filled with dramatic feeling,
In time and with good tone,
His solo was magnificent,
The glory – all his own.
A word or two of praise is due
To the non-solo men;
For they, too, are essential
In the making of a band.
“Tis they who make it possible
For the soloist to shine,
”Tis they who carry the melody
That keeps the thing in time.
So here’s to you, the middle-men,
Here’s to the solo-man;
And here’s to trainer Valentine –
Who trained St. Dennis Band.
But now I will change the scene,
But not the subject see?
And tell you what people said,
When the news came, after tea.
They said: “Well done! St. Dennis Band,
We’re proud to own you here;
We knew you’d win your laurels…….
Of that we had no fear.”
You’ve had a hard and trying time,
But now you’ve made your way,
And proudly you may claim to be
Cornwall’s best band to-day.
A word of praise is due to him
Who trained you for the test;
Three cheers for trainer Valentina!
He gave you of his best.
And now I’ll close my little rhyme
With thanks to one and all;
Especially St. Dennis Band …….
The Champions of Cornwall.