Personnel News
Lieut. Colonel Ray Bowes Promoted to Glory
Friends and former members of the International Staff Band will be saddened to hear of the Promotion to Glory of Lieut. Colonel Ray Bowes, a former Bandmaster of The International Staff Band.
We understand that the Colonel was admitted to hospital last Thursday evening following a fall. Complications set in and he passed away peacefully on Saturday evening (February 13th) at around 7 p.m.
Ray Bowes was a serving member of The International Staff Band for over 42 years, which is a truly remarkable period of service. He succeeded Colonel Charles Skinner as Deputy Bandmaster of the ISB in 1972 and was then appointed Bandmaster on 7th July 1975, following the retirement of Colonel Bernard Adams OF.
Lieut. Colonel retired as Bandmaster of the ISB, and also from active service as a Salvation Army Officer, on 1st February 1990.
We do not yet have any information about funeral arrangements, but will make those known as soon as we can. In the meantime, our prayers are immediately directed to all the family.
Kevin Ashman
Band Secretary
2010/02/17
Bass Trombonist Gordon Camsey retires from the band after 27 years
July saw the departure of another long serving member of the band. This time, we said goodbye to Bass Trombonist Camsey. Gordon was another of those remarkable personalities that the band has been privileged to count among its members. Moving to London from Sunderland, Gordon joined the band on second trombone, but soon found himself being moved onto bass trombone - an instrument he has played with real distinction for the band for so many years. His last appearance with the band was a the Commissioning Ceremony for new Salvation Army Officers. Perhaps not a high profile engagement, but certainly a significant one in the life of The Salvation Army, and one of the 'staple diet' of 'official engagements that the band undertakes each year.
We were pleased to learn that Brad Turnbull's personal and work circumstances had changed since his departure from the ISB last year, and are delighted to welcome him back into the band on Bass Trombone. This is not the instrument he played last time, but the few occasions where he covered the part due to Gordon's absence left us in no doubt as to his ability to 'fill the seat' as they say.
2009/08/01
Change of Executive Officer
Our other change in personnel was precipitated by our Executive Officer (Lieut-Colonel Trevor Davis) retiring from active service as a Salvation Army officer. His replacement is Leiut-Colonel David Hinton. Lieut-Colonel Hinton took up his appointment at the beginning of September. His main appointment is as the Secretary for Business Administration for the United Kingdom Territory with Republic of Ireland.
2009/07/31
End of season sees several changes to the band
The life of the ISB seems to go on regardless of changes in the band's personnel and even the impact of the departure of players who have served the ISB for many years seems to be minimised by the need to secure replacements quickly so that the band continues to function at the very highest level possible.
Last Month whilst on tour in the USA, we said a sad and emotional farewell to Robert Foster. Robert was the longest serving member of the band, with over 40 years membership to his name. A remarkable man with a sense of loyalty and commitment that could not be faulted. For many years, Robert's flugel playing was synonymous with the band. The final weekend of our visit to the USA Eastern Territory's Old Orchard Beach camp weekend was Robert's swansong. Such is the esteem with which he is regarded, Our good friends in the New York Staff Band arranged a party to celebrate Robert's service and mark his retirement. The ISB's Deputy Bandmaster, Derick Kane, spoke warmly about Robert's service in the band and made a presentation of a retirement certificate and acknowledgement of Robert's exceptional service, complete with greetings from the Territorial Commander and other Territorial leaders. The Bandmaster of the New York Staff Band, Ron Waiksnoris, also made a presentation to Robert and spoke not only of the way in which the ISB is seen as the 'pace-setter' by fellow Staff Bandsmen around the world, and how Robert has epitomised everything that is good about a Staff Bandsman.
Although slightly overshadowed by Robert's retirement, we also said farewell to Staff Bandsmen Bradley Turnbull and Nick Samuel. Brad's work and family commitments had been making membership of the band increasingly difficult for him - and Nick relinquished his position in the band to enter the William Booth College for Officer Training - where he is currently training to become a Salvation army officer.
The life of the ISB goes on, and we are pleased to welcome Richard Woodrow (Norwich Citadel) into the band to replace Robert on Flugel. Richard is the Bandmaster at Norwich Citadel. Nick Samuel's replacement on percussion is Christopher House - also travelling from Norwich, Chris is a member of the Mile Cross Corps. Brad is replaced by Yorkshireman Lyndon Moorby from Leeds West Hunslet Corps.
2008/09/10