User:Peter Berrie/sandbox

= Prince of Wales School Brass Band = The Prince of Wales School Brass band is attached to the Prince of Wales School in Freetown, Sierra Leone. This article provides a brief history of the band from its inauguration in the 1970s to the present day.

Origins of the Band
Mr. Jonathan Fitzjohn was appointed as the music teacher in 1969, signalling a rebirth of music onto the school's curriculum. To support and enhance music in the school curriculum, a number of pitched and non-pitched instruments were purchased including recorders glockenspiels, xylophones, metallophones, castanets, tambourines, timpanis and cymbals.

As Mr Fitzjohn recalls, these purpose of the instruments was to allow a broader spectrum of students to develop musicianship. As the music syllabus was developed, some school pupils were formed into an ensemble that performed at Speech Day ceremonies and, later, on the local radio.

At Speech Day 1974, the ensemble performed “The Blue Danube” with the school choir and two other German pieces. This performance encouraged the Alumni Association to invest in a further set of instruments with the aim of creating a marching band. Members of the ensemble became founder members of the band and still more pupils joined the band.

While researching for this, the author understood from Mr Fitzjohn that the formation of the band started a shift away from music in the curriculum towards marching band music. However, the die was cast, and the brass band was formed.

The Early Years (1970s)
From the accounts of some members of the band from the 1970s and early 1980s, those first instruments were quite basic and most likely of poor quality. The sound production was embarrassing and the band had to cope with what had and learn to brush aside comments from onlookers.

In those days, the band played in the school's ceremonial uniform: white shirt, white trousers, school tie and white straw boaters. For the school's 50th anniversary in 1975, a green sash was added.

Some of the marches that the band played were Onward Christian Soldiers, John Brown’s Body, The Happy Wanderer, John Peel and Shekpendeh. One ex-band member, Nathaniel Kwame Nelson Streeter, recalled that "we had so much zeal and inspiration to be one of the best someday”.

The band was helped in its development by some experienced hands from beyond the school. Some experienced bandmasters and leaders from other marching bands, including Assistant Commissioner of Police Pa Allen, the Late Willie O Pratt and Justice Ebu Thomas, began visiting and assisting at band practice. Some non-Princewaleans with good experience were declared “honorary” Old Princewaleans so that they could play in the band Examples of this are Messrs Bockarie, Sam and John from the Police Band.

After the Independence Day march in 1978, which ended at the National Stadium, the late Colonel John Bangura (then band master of the Sierra Leone's Military Band sent Sergeant Kelly to work with the band - particularly with the drummers who apparently were a lot to contend with!

Thanks to further support from Pa Allen, the band got access to scores of "real” marching pieces of which the first challenge was “Marching Through Georgia". Nathaniel Kwame Nelson Streeter remembers that "when we played Colonel Bogey and Standard of St. George, we were in top form and shocked the nation!”

It was about this time that Jonathan Fitzjohn left his position as music teacher and band leader and senior members of the band stepped forward to take his place so that the band's future was assured. Nathaniel Streeter recalls that Victor "Shaft" Macauley was a leading contributor in this respect and he (Nathaniel) encourages present day band members to give Victor "the utmost respect".

The Middle Years (1980 to 2000)
In 1980, the late Rev Ernest Redwood-Sawyerr came to the band’s rescue. He paid for a smart new uniform - white jackets with green shoulder straps, covered pockets and two stripes at the bottom of the sleeves. It is said that the change of uniform led to a change of attitude in the band, although this as also perhaps in part due to the discipline that Pa Sawyerr (as the Rev was known to all) instilled into the band. Pa Sawyerr was held in high esteem in society and the band’s confidence grew.

Pa Sawyerr met the financial needs of the band and, through his leadership, the band obtained new instruments of a better quality. He also brought in new music and Nathaniel Streeter recalls that "no march was a problem for us anymore”

In 1990, the uniform was further enhanced; green jackets with blue shoulder straps, two covered pockets at the bottom and one at the top left with a stripe at the bottom of the sleeves.

In 1995, for the 70th anniversary of the school, the band introduced a ceremonial uniform (so-called "P-Coat") and, in 2000, the ceremonial uniform was again changed from P-Coat to the present day ceremonial uniform which is green jackets with blue shoulder stripes and two stripes at the bottom of the sleeves.

In 2000, the band organised its first thanksgiving service at the Warren Memorial Methodist Church on Kroo Town Road (in Freetown) and, in 2007 under the leadership of William Lewis, the band was proud to be and to remain the only school band that has come up with an opera-inspired performance called The King’s Gift!

The Band Today
The Prince of Wales School Band is today composed of past and present pupils. Many Princewaleans and non-Princewaleans have contributed immensely over 47 years and with the most notable contributions coming from Jonathan Fitzjohn, Victor Macauley, Rev Ernest Redwood-Sawyerr, Ethan Harris-Faulkner, James Benka-Coker, Eugene Onipede Gabbidon, Vivian Walt-Macfoy and William Lewis.

The average age of the band remains at 13 with young players being constantly recruited to enhance performance. More recently, the band has extended a teaching aid to other bands including The Freetown Secondary School for Girls (FSSG) Brass Band, Vine Memorial Secondary School Brass Band and the Government Technical Secondary School Brass Band.

In 2006, along with the internationally-based charity group “All As One”, the band helped to raise funds for the female prisoners at Pademba Road Prisons (now know as the Correctional Centre).

Accolades and Associations
Over the years, the band has received recognition in a number of championships and competitions:

·      Smile Salone Brass Band of the Year Winners 2003

·      Ballanta Academy of Music National Brass Band Champions 2004

·      Ballanta Academy of Music National Brass Band Champions 2005

·      Ballanta Academy of Music National Brass Band Runners-Up 2006

·      The People’s Choice Awards Winners 2006

·      Football Championship for Brass Band Winners 2005

·      Football Championship for Brass Band Winners 2006

The band is a member of the National Secondary Schools Brass Band Association, an association that comprises many Sierra Leone Secondary School bands.

Band Leadership
The following people were appointed to support leadership, administration and development of the band over the years:

Known Band Members
The following people have played in the band at one time of another (listed in no particular order):


 * Dr. Julius Spencer
 * Cecil Tony Jones
 * Nathaniel Nelson-Streeter
 * Victor Macauley
 * Edward Smythe
 * Edmond Pratt
 * Peter Berrie
 * Dennis Nelson-Streeter
 * The late Donald Williams
 * Dr. Donald George
 * Ralph Shepherd
 * Donald Manley
 * Donald Scott
 * Christopher Davies
 * Alieu Iscandri
 * Dr, Ethan Harris-Faulkner
 * Anis Adams
 * Cyril Faulkner
 * Eugene Nichols
 * Collins Pratt
 * Keith Aki-Sawyer
 * Arnold Kanu
 * Dr. Harold Roy-Macauley
 * Randolph Pratt
 * Alhaji Alghali
 * Ernest Benjamin
 * Ivan Benjamin
 * Dr. Jide Pratt

Credits
The original article was drafted by Peter Berrie with support from Melvin Davies with thanks for contributions from Jonathan Fitzjohn, Nathaniel Kwame Nelson Streeter, Ebun Derick Pratt, Williams Lewis, Eugene Onipede Gabbidon,Vivian Walt Macfoy and Collins Pratt BEM (De Champ).