National service

[Gerry]

I missed national service and joined up as a regular; coming from Sheffield I joined the York & Lancaster Regiment which is where many members were recruited from.

When they found out that I was a Bass guitarist from the 'Sheffield Beat Scene' I was invited to join the regimental band to form what they now call a 'Rock Band' I also took up Baritone Saxophone for the Military Band and studied at the Royal Military School of Music (Knellar Hall London).

 

This is a shot of the regimental bands reed section (I'm second left top) on 1 Y&Ls last overseas posting in Cyprus 1968

 

Was there a guy called George Wood still playing in the band when you were there? I think he played clarinet.

[Bassman62]

Was there a guy called George Wood still playing in the band when you were there? I think he played clarinet.

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Hi Gerry, George Wood went to the Royal Military School of Music (Knellar Hall London) along with Doug Mannifield (Trombone) as student Bandmasters; both went on to have their own regimental bands.

I met both of them at Knellar hall 1967/8.

[Gerry]

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Hi Gerry, George Wood went to the Royal Military School of Music (Knellar Hall London) along with Doug Mannifield (Trombone) as student Bandmasters; both went on to have their own regimental bands.

I met both of them at Knellar hall 1967/8.

 

Thanks for that information Bassman, I appreciate it. George and I grew up together in Pittsmoor, he was a really smart guy. I was in the York & Lancaster Regt. 1953 to 1955 and served in the Middle East but I think some of the the band were in the UK during that time. Have you any idea of George's own band after he left the Y & L band?

[sweetdexter]

Concerning Bandsmen.

I have a story,told before but not on this thread.

Our band used to have a kind of savings club,everyone paid in a couple of HK dollars every week and if you were skint you could go in and borrow paying it back with a little interest.

The money would soon mount up and we we have a vote on what we should do with it.

I think it was about 1960 we decided to have a ****-up and invited the band of The Northumberland Fusiliers who were to take our place as the senior Regiment when we left for Blighty

Skip forward to 1965

My buddy and i were propping up the bar in the Museum on Orchard St.

we were chewing the fat about this and that and Hong Kong came into the conversation(btw my buddy did his NS in the Y&L's 57-59).

A stranger standing next to me said "Were you in HK"

It turns out this guy was a clarinet player in the Fusiliers band and was at that ****-up.

He was working on the old Vic Station and decided to go for a pint ending up, at the Museum.

Small world

[Bassman62]

Thanks for that information Bassman, I appreciate it. George and I grew up together in Pittsmoor, he was a really smart guy. I was in the York & Lancaster Regt. 1953 to 1955 and served in the Middle East but I think some of the the band were in the UK during that time. Have you any idea of George's own band after he left the Y & L band?

Sorry can't help you there but he was a brilliant Clarinetist; he gave an unforegetable rendition of George Gershwins Rhapsody In Blue on a concert at Knellar Hall.

I'm still in touch with one or two band members; one of whom came to stay with us last weekend.

[Gerry]

Thanks Bassman.

[Texas]

Well Gerry you pulled that one out of thin air. George Wood, in my class at Burngreave. I think he started out on clarinet just before we left school. He was an interesting and enthusiastic kind of guy. The last memories I have of him, were when we, that is George, 'Spanky' Oates, and myself, on a birdwatching expedition somewhere up Norton. I think we were about fourteen or so. It was his idea. It was at some large estate with a big house and all. The house was empty I remember and we finished up prowling around the house looking thro' the windows.

Hey Sweedex I thought you were going to say ''we chewed the fat about this and that, and he done said to me......''

[Floridablade]

I was in the Northumberland Fusiliers in Gibraltar doing N.S. 1948 -49 the regiment was part of the York and Northumbrian brigade, Y&L, Duke of Boots, N.F.s Green Howards, and one other, could have been the East Yorks.

[24431621]

Hi there Lee Im a Ex Green howard Dont know if your dad has the internet but if not already done so go to ex-greenhowards.com im sure he will know some one on there .

Best of luck

[Gerry]

Well Gerry you pulled that one out of thin air. George Wood, in my class at Burngreave. I think he started out on clarinet just before we left school. He was an interesting and enthusiastic kind of guy. The last memories I have of him, were when we, that is George, 'Spanky' Oates, and myself, on a birdwatching expedition somewhere up Norton. I think we were about fourteen or so. It was his idea. It was at some large estate with a big house and all. The house was empty I remember and we finished up prowling around the house looking thro' the windows.

Hey Sweedex I thought you were going to say ''we chewed the fat about this and that, and he done said to me......''

 

Hey Texas, that sounds like George. I think he was a couple of years older that me and I remember him as being exceptionally bright. One of the things he showed us, was how to make explosive devices with a nut and two bolts filled with black powder. He made the black powder by mixing saltpetre, sulphur and charcoal and the device was detonated by throwing it at a brick wall. Had to remember to duck quickly. Happy days.