BUTCHER, builder. hairdresser. printer - sounds like a list of much sought-after jobs or a well-known rhyme - but actually they are all members of Perth Silver Band:
Coming from many, walks of life they all have a common -interest - brass music. And for the last eight years since the Silver Band reformed. this group of people have not only built a strong reputation for themselves but completed a lot of charitable work along the way.
Started in the late l9th century, the band was originally called the Pullars-Reid Band, before becoming Perth Trades Band during the First World War years and in 1930, gaining the title of Perth Silver Band.
The band then broke up in 1958, but, in 1972, a Perth Academy music teacher advertised for members and it was from here that 12 musicians first met and decided that there was enough interest in the area to start up again: .
"A lot of the members are following in the family footsteps," explained one of the band's original members, Alistair Kelly. "Therefore there was a lot of interest .in the area and things just grew from there " .
Now the band has about 30 members who regularly attend the twice-weekly meetings in the R.A.S.C. club in St Leonard's Bank, Perth.
When the previous band broke-up, all the instruments went to the Education Department and, so, the new band had to start from scratch, raising funds by holding raffles, jumble sales and coffee mornings. Fortunately, they also received grants from both the District Council and the Gannochv Trust.
Over the years, they have raised enough money not only to purchase 25 instruments and a new set of uniforms, but also to give money to charity.
Cancer Research will benefit from their third annual Christmas concert in the City Hall on December 21.
The show is aptly named "Stars on Sunday", for heading the bill will be television and Perth Theatre-favourite Walter Carr (who is in pantomime at the MacRobert Centre. Stirling), local singers Christeen Payne, Helen Goodison, and the Cecilian Singers and the "'Music Box" (Scottish Opera's Linda Ormiston, and Donald Maxwell and John Scrimger). The augmented choir of St Andrew's Church will appear with Martin Neilson at the organ and compere will be Mike Beese.
"We hope to do very well this year under the direction of our conductor George Dryburgh, who is a lecturer in Engineer-ing at Perth College of Further Education," said Alistair:
"We are going from strength to strength", he added, "and are already booked for venues well into next year"
Tickets for the Christmas concert are available from The Concorde, or from members of the company, priced £l and £1.50.
George Dryburgh hails from Cadham, near Markinch in Fife. The Scottish home of brass bands. He attended Preston Primary School and Buckhaven High School.
As is usual with members of brass bands, he followed both his grandfather and father into the ranks of the Tullis Russell Mills Band, learning to play the cornet at the age of eight. Progressing to a sixteen year old, he had by that time been for two consecutive years the Scottish Junior Champion and gained eighth place in the British Solo Championships held at Bellevue, Manchester.
National Service took George away from the movement for two years but on his return he rejoined his old band, this time on flugel horn which he still plays with the band. During the late 'sixties, he was appointed assistant conductor to Tullis Russell Mills Band. On moving to Perth to teach engineering at Perth College of Further Education, he joined Perth Silver Band in 1973, and in April 1974 took control of the baton since when he has progressively raised the standard of playing of this band.
A dedicated musician and bandsman, he still has to find time to spend with his ever patient wife and two daughters as well as two brass bands.
A request by Perth Silver Band Association for financial assistance towards the cost for buying instruments and equipment for their junior band has been rejected by the district council's policy and resources committee.
The move angered Labour Councillor David White who said the band was concerned about young people and their training in music. They played at competitions up and down the country and if they weren't going to be able to train young musicians, who else would do it?
He was seconded by Conservative Councillor, Mrs. Margaret Hockey. She said that the band had a special place in the affections of Perth and the place would be dull and drab without its services.
Councillor Tom Drane, convenor, said that he had sympathy for them but pointed out that they already received a grant of £200. If a further £200 was given for instruments and training, it would create a precedent and similar appeals from the Vale of Atholl Pipe Band and Crieff and District Young People's Brass Band had been refused.
The same line was taken by Councillor Alex Morrison who said that if the motion was carried it would merely lead to the suggestion that it had been done because it was a Perth organisation.
Councillor Willie Wilson refused to accept that it would create a precedent and said that other appeals could be considered as they came along stating that "It would be parsimonious in the extreme if the Council didn't support the Silver Band"
The committee decided by five votes to four to refuse the grant.
HIS father bought him his first musical instrument when he was only five years' old by paying 10 shillings for a trumpet. He has been making music ever since and recently took up the post of bandmaster of Perth Silver Band.
And for Tom Stewart, it was a case of following in a great family tradition. His uncle, James Stewart, had a long association with the Perth Silver Band and his father, also Tom, was, for the greater part of his lifetime, conductor of the Perth Salvation Army Band.
"Of course, I couldn't read music at that early age but I could manage little tunes," smiled Tom. "My father soon had me in the junior band of the Salvation Army and, eventually, I was attending the early music camps that were held at Aberfoyle."
He started work in the fifties as a motor mechanic and this was interrupted by a period of national service. By now he was a euphonium player and during his two years in the army made appearances with several Salvation Army bands in England.
On his return to Perth he had a period in the T.A. and played in the local Royal Artillery Band of which his father was also a bandmaster.
"It was in 1955 that I joined the Tullis Russell Mills Band at Glenrothes and played for them for 21 years," he continued. "For 15 of them we were in the first section of Scottish bands, won the Scottish championship once and were runners-up on another occasion."
It meant travelling to compete for the British title at the Albert Hall and rubbing shoulders with all the top names of the day.
"We were sandwiched in the entry between the Blackdyke Mills and Grimethorpe Colliery Band. We did quite well, but they were the topnotchers. The real thrill was playing at the massed band concert at night. There we were, sitting up on the platform playing with the best bands in the world."
An indication of the preparation that went on for such appearances was that Tullis Russell would engage a professional conductor in the period leading up to the championships. For Tom, it meant travelling to Fife five nights a week.
It was about then that Tom was asked to take his first post as a bandmaster with Crieff Town Band.
"I did this for five years, combining Crieff with playing with Tullis Russell but it became too much. I gave up as bandmaster and carried on playing in Fife until four years ago. I was given a medal for best euphonium player in the second section in 1980 and . thought it a suitable time to leave Tullis Russell."
Another factor was that for Tom, music was now his complete life. In 1,973 he had quit his job as a mechanic with S.M.T. and taken up a post as instructor in brass to schools in Perth and Kinross.
"Brass had been my hobby and now it was my life and I'm enjoying it still," said Tom, happily. "I was brought up to music, my father was a good teacher and he kept me at it in my younger days."
Tom's father died eight years ago but no doubt he would have been proud to see a fine tradition continued.
"I never thought I would ever be conductor of Perth Silver Band because I enjoy playing so much but there it is," he said with a sigh. "But we have a good mix of youth and experience with 27 players although we would welcome more to bring us up to complete strength."
There are also 14 members of the junior band under tutor Jack Hills and they could well be stepping up in future years.
"Although we are in the fourth section in Scotland, the band is playing well and is as good as any second section outfit. It is my ambition to get them up there and they have the enthusiasm and skill to do it."
The band rehearses twice a week on Mondays and Wednesdays and on a Tuesday, Tom has another responsibility with the schools junior brass band:
Already under their new conductor, Perth Silver Band have been heard in a concert at Dunkeld Cathedral and on Sunday, April 21, they are playing in Perth R.A.S.C: Club in a concert in aid ofthe Tayside Scanner Appeal.
After that they have public appearances at the Dundee Marathon, the P.R.I. fete on May 25, Dundee's Camperdown Park on July 21, Almondbank open day July 24, Comrie on July 28, and Dundee again on August 3 and it is back to Dunkeld Cathedral on August 11.
A busy spell for Tom and his wife who live in Perth. The couple have five of a family. One daughter is married but there are two boys and two girls at home.
"They are all musical, but none appear to be following me. More interested in guitars than brass instruments."
Perhaps they were the only words that Tom said with a slight tinge of regret.