Kirkbymoorside Town Brass Band led the Armistice Centenary Commemorations in Kirkbymoorside and across the World
In keeping with tradition the band led the town procession from the British Legion to all Saints Church where Principal Cornetist Jeanette Kendall played the Last Post. A Kirkbymoorside Town Brass Band cornetist has played the last post there since the first Armistice in 1918, indeed for 44 years it was John Sails who has since moved to the Soprano Cornet position in the band.
After the Church service the band lead the procession back to British Legion where they played a concert for the town and guests, including Deputy Lord Lieutenant Philip Ingham, Brigadier Michael Perret Young, Parade Master Rupert Foster and the Town Mayor Angus Ashworth. At the concert they played ‘Flanders Field’by Gavin Sommerset, the piece was particularly poignant as two members of the band fought at Flanders: John Bowes unfortunately died of wounds he suffered there and Tom Medd (pictured, 3rd from right in full uniform) who returned. Five members of the band fought in World War I, as well as John Bowes and Tom Medd there was Bugler George Medd, Charles Rickaby, who survived and carved the memorial cross in the graveyard and Joe Hugill.
It was with these past “Kirkby-banders” in mind that the Band gathered at Pump Hill at 6.55pm to lead the world in the Official Battle’s Over Commemorative Last Post.
Battle’s Over, is an international commemoration marking 100 years since the guns fell silent at the end of World War I. Organised by Pageant master Bruno Peek LVO OBE OPR, it saw events throughout the United Kingdom, Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, and at scores of locations overseas, including New Zealand, Ireland, Australia, Bermuda, France, Belgium, Canada, the United States and Germany, to name but a few.
Kirkbymoorside Town Brass Band was one of 1000 locations sounding the Last Post and with 34 cornetists from all 6 of their bands (aged 7 -80+) was the single biggest group in the world to play together. Emma Smailes from the band commented,“We are so proud to be playing a part in this historic international event to commemorate the centenary of the end of the Great War, and to recognise the contribution and sacrifice made by the men and women of Kirkbymoorside. We particularly remember those members of Kirkbymoorside Band who went to fight. We hope they would be proud that the band they played in is leading these commemorations”
The event was again attended by Deputy Lord Lieutenant Philip Ingham, Brigadier Michael Perret Young, Rupert Foster and Nigel Richardson from the British Legion. It is particularly poignant as the band move forward with their new Hall in Manor Vale as 2018 also marks the centenary of the Band being there. Whilst some of its number went to fight the remaining band worked for the war effort at home and played numerous fund raising concerts, in 1918, fearful for the future of the band, they personally dismantled and moved the Bandroom to Manor Vale by hand where the band has been ever since. Emma Smailes stated, “We hope that that Kirkbymoorside Banders such as Bb Bassist and Wheelwright Dan Maw, who secured the home of the band in Manor Vale, would be delighted to see our new hall being built there 100 years on.”
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