TWO men who between them have been members of Holsworthy Town Band for a total of 139 years were honoured last Friday during a concert in Holsworthy’s Memorial Hall, writes Christine Williams.

The mayor, Cllr John Allen, presented long service awards to Colston Isaac, who has been playing the cornet in the band for 70 years, and Bill Skinner, who has played the baritone horn for 69 years.

Colston said what a joy it had been for him to play in the band since the age of 17.

Appropriately, a group of young players who have joined the training band were introduced to the audience and played two short pieces. They are benefitting from free tuition and free use of an instrument offered by the band at Thursday evening sessions.

This year is the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Britain, and the town band supported by the Royal British Legion and augmented with guest players from Bude Metric Brass, Hartland, Torrington and Launceston Town Bands were commemorating the event.

Conducted by Tony Jones and Derek Kidby, they presented a programme of stirring music recalling the RAF’s finest hour.

As they played the ‘Dam Busters’ March’, film of World War Two planes engaged in dogfights appeared on a screen behind them and later some scenes from ‘Those Magnificent Men’ accompanied the theme song from the film.

There was also a selection of World War Two songs under the title ‘Bless ’Em All’ and an offbeat rendition of ‘The Old Rugged Cross’.

John Vowler paid tribute to the daring and nerve of the pilots of Fighter Command by reading ‘Our Wall’, a moving poem by Battle of Britain pilot, Flt Lt William Walker:

Here inscribed the names of friends we knew,

Young men with whom we often flew.

Scrambled to many angels high,

They knew that they or friends might die.

Among other items included were ‘RAF March Past’, ‘Comrades in Arms’, and the concert ended with ‘The Boys of the Old Brigade’.

It was an enjoyable and for some a nostalgic evening of music which provided a fitting prelude to Remembrance Day.