HUGH JOHNSTONE & DALMELLINGTON BAND 150TH ANNIVERSARY BOOK (1864-2014)
Greetings all
HUGH JOHNSTONE & DALMELLINGTON BAND 150TH ANNIVERSARY BOOK (1864-2014)
You may be aware that Dalmellington Band will be celebrating their 150th anniversary in 2014. I am currently working with Hugh Johnstone MBE and Bert Ritchie (President), driving this project forward to produce a substantial book (hardback with dustcover) highlighting the long and distinguished history of the band from its foundations in 1864. The band has always been based in Dalmellington, a small East Ayrshire fromer mining village with a population of less that 3,000. We are making very good progress with initial research, albeit the project proper cannot begin officially until we get confirmation of the grant. If anyone has any spare bawbees to help finance the project, please contact Bert Ritchie direct (bert.ritchie@yahoo.co.uk).
The manuscript is getting ever larger and I have around 100 photos of the fascinating past in the bag and currently being captioned and literally 100s of photos of band in more recent years to select from.
Whilst I will be project manager and editor, The author of the work will be our very own Hugh Johnstone MBE as most of the memories of the early banding activities come from Hugh who has been very aware of the importance of the band history. Anyone visiting Dalmellington Band Hall will see the results of his labours which is nothing short of amazing.
Hugh Johnstone, 89, is one of the highly respected characters in brass banding in Scotland. I am keen to include a chapter which might be entitled: Memories of Hugh Johnstone. To that end I would invite small contributions from anyone who has special memories of Hugh in relation to his commitment to brass banding in Scotland. This can really be anything you feel is relevant, highlighting one of the true characters of banding. It might be a few sentences or a few paragraphs. At the end of any piece submitted, please include the name of the individual contributing the piece and their band/association. Please be aware that all contributions may require to be edited for space/style. By submitting information it will be assumed that you understand and accept the editing policy for this book.
Please feel free to copy this to others in brass banding in Scotland or elsewhere. Contributions for the book should be received preferably ASAP and the strict deadline is 16th August 2013. At that point we will know the result of the grant application and thereafter, if successful in getting the bawbees, we will work quickly to bringing this book to fruition. Anyone who has been involved in book pubication wil know that time quickly runs away!!
How should you supply the information requested? The preferred method of receiving your memories/book contribution about Hugh is via a world document send by email attachment to allow the piece to be cut and pasted. Other forms or receipt are also welcomed.
Thank you for your support which is greatly appreciated.
Donald L Reid
7 Manuel Avenue, Beith, North Ayrshire KA15 1BJ
Tel: 01505-503801
M: 07814614345
E: donaldleesreid@hotmail.com
