Harold Walker

The cornet solos of Harold Walker, one of the bandmaster's six children, were featured in all of the band's musical festivals and his presence on the solo cornet bench gave great impetus to the advancement of the band. Before transferring to Boscombe he was already known to be a fine cornet player - his reputation, no doubt, being acquired as a result of 2 or 3 hours of practise every day, with much of this time being spent down a coalmine.

While a Boscombe bandsman, he made two gramophone records of well known melodies and variations for Regal Zonophone and his talent was much in demand. He was offered a position in the SP&S band, together with a job sorting rags, but this offer was declined.

A more lucrative position was offered as trumpet player in the Bournemouth Municipal Orchestra and, even though coming at a time of personal crises, Harold Walker turned it down, deciding to keep the Best for the Highest. Many years of outstanding, unbroken service resulted from this decision to devote all his talent to the glory of God.