At Henley Primary School our day was divided into four parts by morning recess, lunch and afternoon recess. After recess breaks we didn’t just walk into class, we had to line up outside the main door and when the teacher told us to enter we marched inside. After lunch each class lined up in their allocated spot on the big quadrangle. The band was all set up but I can’t remember if it was out the front or at the back. Whatever instructions there were for the day were given out then the headmaster signalled the drummer to let us know it was time for the band to start playing. Everyone else began marching very smartly, in their lines, back to class.
The band was made up of a Bass Drummer, two Kettle Drums and the lines of fife players, the drummers were always in the lead spread out across the front. The only two tunes I can remember that we played were, “Men of Harlech” and “Colonel Bogey” but I’m sure there were plenty more. Practices were held in the Lunch Shed.
Only boys played the drums but one day the drummers were all away somewhere and I remember feeling very excited at the prospect of being able to play a drum. When the time came I think younger boys took over the responsibility but it could have been very confident girls, I was very disappointed at missing out.
You didn’t know that about Nana did you?
Musings of a Retiring Person 