Hugh Johnstone MBE's 90th birthday
FAMILY, friends and band members have gathered to mark the 90th birthday of Dalmellington Band stalwart Hugh Johnstone MBE.
The surprise event, in the Ayrshire outfit's band hall, came on a junior band practice night when the long-serving bandsman and tutor was expecting to go to a rehearsal.
Once the party was underway Hugh conducted the young musicians in a rendition of his favourite hymn, All in the April Evening, before everyone enjoyed a meal and a piece of his personalised cake - complete with a cornet on top.
Lynsay Brown, a second cornet player in Dalmellington's senior band, said: "The evening was a complete success, everyone really enjoyed meeting old friends and watching Hugh enjoy time with his family.
"He is a very special man to us all, like a grandpa you would say, and currently teaches children who are hoping to go into the junior band."
The 19-year-old added: "He takes all the new starts and trains them everyday. He cares about all the youngsters and old ones just the same. There is no one that compares to him."
Born on April 1, 1925, Hugh began his banding career with Dalmellington Band in the early years of World War II.
In 1944 he was a dedicated bandsman and Eb bass player and every Saturday (with his instrument in a canvas bag), he made the 36 mile journey in two buses with wooden seats taking him from Dalmellington to Newmilns for private lessons from George Hawkins, a top class band trainer, professional conductor and composer of that period.
Hugh, who worked as a miner, was given permission from the pit manager to work on a Sunday to enable him to attend these lessons with George Hawkins. He received 10/- out of which he paid 3/- for a one hour lesson 1/9d for his bus fare and 3d for a bag of chips when he changed buses in Ayr on the route home to Dalmellington. Hugh carried on this epic weekly journey for four years until 1948, but in addition to honing his playing skills, he also learned composition and became an expert writer of band scores.
In 1960 Hugh took over the role of bandmaster at Dalmellington Band. Great success followed in the contesting field and the band was regularly featured on radio and television. After 30 years working underground in the pits in Dalmellington, Hugh left mining in 1969 and joined Ayrshire Education Authority as a brass tutor at Dalmellingon High School and Auchinleck Academy.
He spend 25 years in this role, seeing many of his young pupils go on to become very fine players. Having worked for 55 years in the pits and in brass band tutoring, Hugh retired in 1995 at the age of 70.
Hugh has also been a dedicated member of the Scottish Brass Band Association (SBBA) for many years. At every major contest over the past 30 years and more, he can be seen on stage quietly helping to ensure that contests flow smoothly. In 2009 he received a lifetime achievement award from SBBA in recognition of his outstanding contribution to brass bands in Scotland.
Everyone at the Scottish Brass Band Association (SBBA) would like to congratulate Hugh on the occasion of his 90th birthday.
