Andover connection

[Deleted]

Dear Kevin,
Many years ago I was living at RAF Andover and attending Andover Grammar School. I took all my ABRSM exams on the organ in St Mary's Parish Church, Andover (fine instrument), sang in the local choral society, which was accompanied by the then Andover Orchestra, all under the baton of Lloyd Ponting. I left Andover in 1961 and studied aeronautical engineering, sponsored by the then British Aircraft Corporation in Bristol (fine musical opportunities|) Four years later, I went to the RAM as a mature student and, since then, have been involved in a lifetime of professional musical activities. One of my fishing friends was an ex-army bandmaster (Kneller Hall) who gave me an interesting insight into the world of military bands! I am presently upgrading all my hardware and accessories and hope to be a little more organised in the future.
Best wishes,
Colin Forsyth

[Kevin]

Welcome Colin. As you are probably aware I conduct the Andover Light Orchestra. Who was the Bandmaster you knew?

[Deleted]

Hello Kevin, The Bandmaster I knew was Eric Thompson. He was originally with the Green Howards, then the Anglian Regiment ? (I think) and later with the Junior Leaders at Bovington, Dorset. He was a bit of a rebel!
Another Bandmaster I came across in later years was Peter Sumner, Royal Marines who unfortunately, died a few years ago, as did Eric.
Regards, Colin

[Kevin]

They were before my time! However I did some basic training at Bovvy in the '70s. Ray Waite was the BM then. He was from Andover as well mind you I lived in Wales then.

[Kevin]

I mention Lloyd Ponting to a member of my orchestra and she recalled bath him and a story about a confliction of interest between him and the vicar!

[Deleted]

'Toccata and feud ' in the organ loft! This was splashed across some of the central pages of the national press more than thirty years ago. At the time, I was director of music at one of the central Bournemouth churches where the vicar was the previous vicar of Andover, so the grape-vine was fairly accurate. The new vicar of Andover did not like Lloyd's cathedral style choral and organ music and, during the last hymn of a Sunday evening service, he started shouting (allegedly) and rushed up into the organ loft and started slamming in the organ stops! A tussle ensued and the vicar was eventually removed from the loft.
Another incident was the positioning of signs and barriers around the building proclaiming 'beware - falling masonry' . Apparently, the vicar was trying to persuade the powers that were that the building was unsafe and should be pulled down and a new mission hall be built on the site where he could strum his guitar for services. Organist and choir walked out and, eventually, with other things going awry, the vicar was taken to an ecclesiastical court where the case was ruled against him. He did leave eventually but I suspect that the musical life of the church and other organizations took a long while to recover, if they ever did.
As you can see, the church still stands!

[Kevin]

That was exactly the story that I was told nearly word for word. My informant is Ros Yarlett (nee Field).

For your delictation my wife's family name is Tarrant. Now even you must know things about the Tarrants!

[Kevin]

I found these Colin (but you probably already know of them)

www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=24421905990&v=wall&viewas=0

www.andovermusicclub.co.uk/prev-sea/sea-20.html

www.geni.com/people/Lloyd-Ponting/6000000010235862992

[Deleted]

Many thanks for the links. Some interesting names appearing there in concert programmes of times past.

With regard to Tarrants, the only Tarrant I remember is Hurstbourne Tarrant (long, steep hill with nasty turn at the bottom). I believe , once upon a time, an army tank transporter driver received a gong for avoiding damage to life, limb and property when his brakes failed at the top of the hill and he stayed at the wheel!

Plenty of Tarrants in Balfour Gardiner country (who used to visit Delius in France) to the east of Blandford Forum. There are eight villages starting with Tarrant Gunville and ending with Tarrant Crawford; there used to be some good pubs there.

Talking of wives, my wife's ancestors were based around Bishops Cleeve, near Cheltenham for several centuries. Judging by old photographs they were 'not be messed with' and, in the nineteenth century, 28 of them were locked up in Gloucester Jail one Christmas for causing an affray!

[Kevin]

When I go to work I drive down/up that hill. I was only saying today that I feel sorry for people that have to take a train to work and I get to travel on the A343 through glorious countryside!

[Kevin]

Did you ever know the Goddard family Colin?

[Deleted]

Some names are lost in the mist of time. Have you any info on this family?

[Kevin]

Not really Colin. I just know there was a few of them!

[Kevin]

You would not recognise RAF Andover these days Colin. I served in a TA Band that rehearsed there in the 90's. Huge big hangers there then. Now it is a business park and HQ Army.

[fundrazor]

I used to live on it and my father flew from it - last grass airfield in the RAF. Once, as he was landing, a bright yellow Spitfire came right over the top of him, landing in front and making my Dad execute an emergency sheer-off. The pilot was an 80-yr old Battle of Britain veteran just popping in for a G&T at the Mess!

[Kevin]

Them guys knew just how to fly, even at 8o!