Tommy Wilson

Born and brought up in Bellshill, my father being the bandmaster (also Tommy Wilson) it was natural that I be given a cornet at the age of six. My father was my first teacher, but Charlie Yuill taught me the c scale, I don’t remember having any formal lessons. Like most kids our study books were S.A. marches and, of course, the Tune Book. I still do my daily practice from the S.A. tune book – 67 years later.

I progressed to the senior band on soprano cornet. The highlight of that time was the band’s visit to Londonderry.

In 1952 I was conscripted to the military and joined the Scots Guards (see picture on the left). I then took an audition for the Band. We had to work very hard as the following year was “Coronation Year” and the Band was on duty all day June 2, 1953. It rained the whole day.

I played with Hendon S.A. Band from 1953 – 1965, on solo cornet. In 1955 under the leadership of Don Morrison, Hendon Band went on tour to Denmark. Later that year the Band of the Scots Guards undertook a 3 months tour of the U.S. and Canada. My parents had emigrated from Bellshill in 1953 and so I was able to visit with them on this tour.

I stayed in the U.K. doing the normal Band duties (playing for the Changing of the Guard, etc.). In 1958 the Band went to the World Fair in Brussels.

In 1959 Col. Rhodes retired and Captain Howe was appointed Director of music, which was a very big change of style for the Band – going from very heavy classical music to a much lighter style – Capt. Howe had been brought up during the Swing Era, and of course this style was passed on to the Band.

The 1960’s was a very busy time for me. I was appointed principal cornet of the band and I was also asked to help the ISB out as one of their solo cornet players had become ill.

In 1963 I visited Canada twice, the first time for my father’s funeral. My father was Bandmaster at London South. Later that year the Band was featured at the Canadian National Exhibition, in Toronto, for one month.

In 1964 the Band went on a four month tour of Hong Kong, Australia, Tasmania and New Zealand. This was a great tour and it was on this tour that Major Howe, whilst we were in Wellington, New Zealand, saw the S.A. musicians of the Band with the touring S.A. Band from Brisbane Australia at a joint openair with the Wellington South Band from New Zealand. The march we played was “The Red Shield” written by Major Henry Goffin, who was there at the time.

Later that year I formed, together with Ray Northcott, who at that time was with the R.A.F. Central Band and we called it “The Red Shield Band. It was made up of S.A. musicians from all the Guards Bands, RAF Central Band and some from the Royal Marines. This was a great band – no passengers! We used French horns instead of tenor horns. We only had two conductors – Dean Goffin and Eric Ball. We rehearsed in the afternoon of the evening concert. Eric Ball said “this band starts where other bands leave off”. If you get the chance to read Dean Goffin’s book “Symphony of Thanksgiving” turn to page 167 and see the good looking young man on the end chair solo cornet.

In 1970 the Scots Guards went to Osaka, Japan for the World Fair.

From the mid 60’s I was doing work outside of the Guards Band. I was doing background music for TV adverts and programs. I did a couple of backgrounds for Hovis and also one for Long Life, which I thought was the battery – turned out to be beer!! I also played with the BBC Concert Band.

In the early 1970’s I was asked by Denis Wick if I would help him develop a cornet mouthpiece – and the rest, as they say, is history. It was also round about this time I was asked by Boosey & Hawkes if I would help in the development of a new cornet for them. After a lot of hard work the first large bore Sovereign cornet was born. I still play the original prototype. It’s still going strong after over 30 years. It was stamped No. 1, (which causes the customs people more than a little curiosity when London Citadel Band goes on trips).

I retired from the Band in August 1974, after 22 years and our family immigrated to London, Ontario, in January 1975, to join the rest of the family. London Citadel Band were working hard in connection with their trip to England in 1976. I was back in the U.K. – touring once again. The highlight, as is usual, for any S.A. Band on tour, was the festival at the Royal Albert Hall. We did really well and the band has kept up a high standard throughout the years. It was the influence of the British Invasion into London Citadel Band, we had five members from Tottenham, plus 5 other Brits.

I became a Band Reservist in 1993, but before I retired, my son, Graham, had the idea that he would like me to do a CD with him (before I got any older). This has proved a very popular CD.

In 1996 I was invited to go back “home to Bellshill” along with my son for the 100^th anniversary celebrations. It was great to meet up with auld friends.

Arriving back in Canada the B/M (John Lam) asked me if I would go with the Band to Danville, Kentucky for the Great American Brass Band Festival. A real treat for Brass Band enthusiasts and the organizers request that there is always a Salvation Army Band for the Sunday Service. The B/M then asked me if I would “re-join” and go with London Citadel Band tour of the U.K. So once again I was back home. This time, we had the opportunity to do some sight seeing, which proved very popular with the guys in the Band.

I have once again hung up my cornet, but help out the Band whenever asked to.

The S.A. and my grounding in the S.A. at Bellshill has stood me in good stead over the years and my prayer and hope is that the hard work of the people who have gone before us will never be forgotten.

by Tommy Wilson, London, Ontario – October 31, 2006.