DON'T MISS IT!!!

The full band won the North West Castle Trophy for the best in all the adult sections. There was further success in the junior solo sections. Hannah Birse was best in grade 2 and also won the SCWS Cup for the best marks in grades 1 to 3 and Kyle Fitzsimmons was best in grade 4 and won the James Allen trophy for best marks in grades 4 and 5.

Kyle Fitzsimmons

Hannah Birse

Sadly, his colliery closed down in 1978, in common with the majority of others, and with the loss of many fine brass bands nurtured amongst the pits in the region. But long before this, in 1939, Harry had been called up into the army and experienced an eventful war, initially as a member of an anti-aircraft battery where he became a driver, serving first of all in Blandford, Dorset and then in France where, in January 1940 he became one of the troops evacuated from Dunkirk. Back in the UK he served in London throughout the blitz, then in Belfast, where his unit’s role included the protection of the shipyards in which the aircraft carriers were being built. In 1942, Harry joined an early-warning radar station at the point where America joined the war, and he found himself in a training camp devoted to teaching the US soldiers about radar. Towards the end of that year, Harry volunteered to serve abroad, and it was whilst en-route to North Africa that he had his first experience of south west Scotland, staying in Newton Stewart where the army had actually taken over Kirroughtree.

In North Africa, Harry’s regiment joined up with the 8th Army, went through Tripoli, invaded Salerno, then became attached to the American 5th Army, continuing through Naples and Rome. By this time Harry was working as a radio operator in the Royal Armoured Corps, and he went on from there to become a member of the famous 5th Queen’s Royal Lancers. By the end of the war in Europe, having driven up through Austria, his regiment was patrolling the borders of Czechoslovakia and Romania looking for ex-Nazis attempting to flee.

Harry was demobbed in 1946 and took a job with the Forestry Commission in Kirroughtree. A house he was allocated was one of three made of timber sections, and the joiner who had come to put the sections together – a man from Gatehouse – was in the habit of whistling tunes which were very familiar to Harry because they were brass band marches that he recalled from his colliery band days. The joiner, it soon turned out, was Jimmy Gilmour a playing member of Creetown Silver Band, and it was not long before Harry, too, became a member, playing cornet under the baton of Welsh conductor Robert Hughes.

Since that time, in 1947, Harry has played cornet, flugel horn, tenor horn and finally baritone, under five different conductors before the current one, Mr Stuart McNab. Full of praise for Stuart, Harry says that he has done more for the band than any previous conductor.

But Harry too, deserves huge praise for his 64 years of loyalty to Creetown Silver Band….and for his astonishing energy. A forester until his retirement, he was also a prolific beekeeper, with at one point, over 60 hives, but he still found time to play not only his brass instrument, but also piano and double bass as well.

Left Harry Heaver right Leo McClymont Galloway Pageant 2011

On the 14^th of December a small group accompanied the pupils of Creetown Primary School at a carol concert which had to be held indoors due to the inclement weather. The following evening the band held its annual Christmas concert in the bandhall. This was very well attended and the band was in very good form, leading some community singing and playing several seasonal items including two brand new pieces: Christmas Fanfare and Manger Variations. The training band again took part and kept up their standards from the summer concert. It is worth noting that three of the group had already been “promoted” to the full band.

On Friday 16^th the band entertained a large and enthusiastic audience at the Isle of Whithorn. As in the previous evening there was a mixture of band items and carol singing. Despite very cold weather and treacherous roads there was almost a full turnout from the band. The effort and the playing of the band was much appreciated by those in attendance.

Two nights later the band was once again playing carols, this time leading a church service in Kirkcowan.

A small group visited the local adult resource centre on Tuesday 20^th and entertained members.

Fortunately there was a short break before the band played to guests at the Cally Palace in Gatehouse on the 23^rd. This was again a mixture of band pieces and audience carol singing.

The following night, Christmas Eve, the band played at Newton Stewart for some communal singing and then went on the Creetown to do the same.

At all these events the playing of the band received unsolicited compliments from many listeners. It was also heartening that the band members made every effort to attend these engagements and must be congratulated on this and on their standard of play.