New Photo Album by Glen Jevon

Readers of the website might like to look at the latest Album "In Action" being photographs taken by Glen Jevon at the bands recent joint concert with the Southampton Youth Brass Band on the 25 June. A report having previously appeared in this news section.

The photographs are taken by Glen Jevon, son of our 2nd Cornet player Jean. Glen is a talented professional, who is a creative still and moving photographer. If anyone would like to use his services his web site is www.glenjevon.co.uk where all contact details can be found. For your convenience there is a link on this sites links page.

Thank you Glen... great photographs

BANDSMAN BILL DOHERTY PROMOTED TO GLORY

It is with great sadness we have to announce the loss of bandsman Bill Doherty, who until illness prevented him, was our Solo and 1st Horn player. Bill passed away at home on August 2nd and his funeral and thanksgiving service took place in a packed hall at Portsmouth Citadel on Monday 16th August. The service was conducted by Lt Col Gilbert Ellis, who had grown up with Bill in their home corps of Hanwell, West London. Moving tributes were paid to him by another childhood friend and associate of The Fellowship Band, David Shaw alongside a tribute from his daughters.

Colonel Ellis remarked on looking around the congregation and seeing so many former colleagues from Hanwell that Hanwell Corps hadnt closed it had just moved elsewhere!! Those present were a fitting tribute to the esteem Bill was held in.

Bill was an enthusiastic and supportive member of the band, who loved music and Salvation Army music in particular. He will be sadly missed by us all and our thoughts and prayers go out to Thelma his wife and to Lorraine and Jackie his daughters.

Bill was born in Whitechapel, East London in 1936. During the war the family moved to the slightly safer district of Hanwell. This began a long association with the area for both work and church. At first Bill was a coppersmith in Southall but when the company closed in 1979 he embarked on a completely different career with the Department for Health and Social Security, from where he retired in 2003.

Bill was always an active member of The Salvation Army in Hanwell, making his way through the junior sections and taking his place in the band and songsters. In 1968 he married Thelma who also soldiered at the Hanwell Corps and they went on to have two children, Lorraine and Jacqueline. Many will remember Jackie playing second cornet in the Fellowship Band with her father.

On the closure of the corps at Hanwell Bill and Thelma soldiered for a short while at Hillingdon before retiring to Waterlooville and transferring to Portsmouth Citadel. As well as The Fellowship Band Bill was also a member of the Portsmouth Citadel Band and Songster Brigade.

A small party of bandsmen attended the crematorium and the full Fellowship Band took part in the thanksgiving service playing music before and after. Contributing the Peter Graham arrangement Swedish Folk Song during the service. It was a mark of respect that almost a full band was able to attend and, supplemented by former colleagues of Bills, only just fitted on the platform.

Knowing Bills character and knowing his affirmed Salvationism it was fitting that the last piece the band played for Bill was the rousing March To Regions Fair by Norman Bearcroft.

Bill... we will all miss you but have no doubt as to where we will see you next! God Bless You.