Celebration at Creetown

Members and friends of Creetown Silver Band gathered recently to recognise Gillian McKnight’s 50 years service to the band. Gill started playing at the age of nine on the cornet. Subsequent moves to Flugel and Soprano followed till she settled on Euphonium, on which she has performed with great credit. At the function she was presented with the Harry Heaver trophy for service to the band as well as a certificate from SBBA to celebrate her 50 years tireless work for the band. She held the post of Secretary for many years and is a long term committee member.

Gill is the fourth generation of Barr’s to be associated with the band since its beginning some 139 years ago. John Barr was one of a group of men who in 1880 raised £20 to purchase a set of second hand brass instruments and so started the Creetown Silver Band. John was a player for over 40 years, a committee member and bandmaster during the early years. He had 12 children 6 of whom followed him into the band. One of John’s sons was Louis who was a player and committee member for over 50 years. His son Rob was not a player but still had an interest in the band being on the committee for about 50 years and secretary for 13 years. He was one of a small group responsible for keeping the band alive in the 1970s. Rob was Gill’s father and she took over the secretary’s post in 1988 from him.

There is therefore an unbroken line of one family which has played and still is playing a significant part in the fortunes of the band.