|
The
'Royal' 63rd Entry's Pipe Band
The 63rd Entry made a great
contribution to the Halton pipe band and dominated the band in
its 3rd year at Halton. The band hut served as a second home to
the barrack block and members spent most evenings there 'having
a bash' under the fatherly eye of WO 'Flem'
Carlton
.
Figure
1
; The 63rd Entry
Pipe Band leading the 62nd Entry during their Passing Out
celebrations in May 1952. Drum Major Dave MacCrostie is about to
throw his mace, Ted E Cogan is leading Lewis II, Flem is
marching on the left of the picture.
Keith Youldon is Pipe Major, Mike Dennis is seen on Ted's left,
David Icky Tarry is on MacCrosties left shoulder with tenor
drummer Ken Brookes behind him.
Other 63rd members of the band are listed below.
The 63rd
members of the Halton Apprentice Pipe Band
Pipers; Keith 'Curly' Youldon (Pipe
Major), Mike R Dennis, David 'Icky' Tarry, Trevor Lach, Dave
'Sam' Swinburn, Phil 'Tich' Davis, Peter 'Gus' or 'Spike' White,
Side Drummers; Robert 'Bob' Jones (Silver Side), Norman 'Puss'
Blondel
(Silver Side), Brian 'Bop' Colley, 'Rob' Richards, Jim
'Fincher' Weeks,
Tenor Drummers; 'Rod' Ames, Johnny Headland, Brian Edwards, Ken
Brookes.
Trumpeter; Stan S V Brooks. Goat Handler; John Harris, 'Ted'
E Cogan
.
Pipers of the 63rd
Entry piping at a wedding
Halton
Village
church – 1951.
From the left; Keith Youldon, Charles Jock Erskine (61st), Sam
Swinburn, Mike Dennis.
Side
Drummer Bob Jones and Piper Phil Davies
with Irvin Ron
Keen on the 63rd's Passing Out Day
Keith
585544 Keith Curly Youldon.
Photo was taken in 1949 in Wendover photographers studio.
Note pipers badge, Keith was already a piper in the band.
He later became Pipe Major and a Corporal Apprentice.
Keith
Curly Youldon
and Mike Dennis
A
Battle
of
Britain
Parade at the Airfield - September 1951. The Pipe
Major is Jock Erskine (61st) but
the band is dominated by 63rd Entry members including Jim Larke
the Drum Major and front row pipers,
seen from the left; Trevor Lach, Keith Youldon and Mike Dennis.
Pete Gus White is behind Trevor Lach.
Recent
Activities
63rd
Entry 60th Anniversary
Reunion
Dinner - 6 Sep 09
Seven ex-members of Halton's
apprentice bands attended the reunion at the Mount Hotel,
Wolverhampton
. From the pipe band were; silver side drummer Norman Blondel,
goat handler John Harris and pipers; David Tarry, Gus White and
Keith Youldon. From
the military band were; cornetist Min Larkin and trombonist Mike
Lethbridge. Photographs will be inserted when available.
Unfortunately, our still active silver side drummer, Bob
Jones, was recovering from an operation and was unable to attend
the reunion. Keith
piped the assembly into dinner to the tune of
Scotland
the Brave. After the
names of 'absent friends' were read out by Lionel Parkin, Keith
played the lament 'Hector the Hero' while he marched along the
gallery of the magnificent hall.
Keith later played more tunes after dinner including
requests for Highland Cathedral and Bonny Charlie.
He ended with We're No Awa Tae Bide Awa and Auld Lang
Syne.
Keith remains Pipe Major of the Golden Oldies band which
is performing in a Battle of Britain Parade in Maidenhead on the
20
Sep 09. This
is an annual event organized by another ex-brat.
More photographs are
needed of 63rd members who were in Halton's bands.
Please submit to Keith Youldon at breybrook@talktalk.net.
Keith has written a book titled 'Halton Drums – The
History of the RAF Halton Aircraft Apprentice Pipe Band'.
The cost is £25 plus P&P. Copies
can be obtained directly from Keith.
|
