1950 to 1964
The festival which marked the retirement of Bandmaster Mountain also saw the commissioning of Courtney Bosanko ALCM. He was a member of a well known Salvation Army musical family, his father being the retired BM at Bargoed, and his brother BM at Cardiff Canton. In early life he was greatly influenced by his mother's Godly example and was converted during his school days. In his teens he played solo euphonium in the Men's Social HQ Band, under the leadership of Col. Arthur Goldsmith, and at the age of 21 was commissioned bandmaster at Walthamstow. After two years he transferred to Salisbury where he served as BM for 17 years.
During the war he was bandmaster of the 7th (Haytor) Battalion of the Devonshire Regiment and was congratulated by Field Marshall Alexander upon the performance of his band in Rome. He held very sacred the fundamental principles of S.A. banding. In writing to a friend in 1943 he stated that he had rededicated his life to God some three years before on the eve of going into Tunisia.
A personal relationship with God is the thing that matters and my relationship today is stronger, richer, deeper, firmer than ever before. A little musical ability is only one of the many things needed to be a bandmaster.
With experience gleaned from 19 years as bandmaster and expertise acquired from Col. Goldsmith's instruction he soon proved his capabilities as a band trainer with an ability to give confidence to those who doubted their own abilities and to extract extraordinary performances from ordinary players. The band was soon much in demand with engagements being requested up to two years in advance.
First campaign 'under new management' took the band to Paignton, for the weekend of 31st March/lst April, 1951, and later that year they travelled to Wolverhampton. The Saturday evening festival was in fact held in the Friend's Institute, Sparkbrook and consisted of a Symphony of Brass shared with Sparkhill band and songsters, plus Tottenham band. Boscombe contributions included The Valiant Heart, King of Kings, The Great Physician and Reg Tubbs' soprano solo An Irish Melody. Rita Green and Deputy Bandmaster James Williams also rendered solos.
Weekend campaigns were plentiful in the next 3 years, with visits being made to Staple Hill, Catford, Bargoed (twice), Maidstone, Nottingham Memorial Halls, Canton and Blackheath, the latter visit being marked by
not only the outstanding musical abilities of the bandsmen but also by their spiritual deportment
Later campaigns took the band to Reading, Gloucester, Maidstone, Salisbury, Leighton Buzzard, Cheltenham, Hendon, Worthing, Watford, Cambridge, Luton Temple, Newton Abbot, Trowbridge and Bargoed (for the third time). The regular visits to Bargoed - the bandmaster's home corps, immortalised in his march of that name - coincided with the Annual Rhymney Valley Festival, and the band was always well received. Most of these campaigns were memorable not only for the quality of the playing but also for the spiritual impact which regularly resulted in seekers, with 15 being recorded at Canton alone.
Following his retirement to Boscombe in July, 1954, General Albert Orsborn readily accepted invitations to special with the band, and in the next few years accompanied them to Exeter, Ipswich, Regent Hall, Croydon and Bristol Easton. Referring to Boscombe as 'My Band', he not only proved to be inspirational in his leadership of meetings and band spirituals but also a tremendous source of encouragement to each bandsman.
Festivals were regularly held at Boscombe, often in partnership with other local bands such as Poole, Winton, Sholing and Portland. On occasion festivals were given at surrounding corps, sometimes by the full band, sometimes by a dozen or so of its members. Among the unusual engagements, the band was called upon to accompany the singing on Monday, 23rd May, 1955 for the dedication of the site of the Punshon Memorial Church, and also to participate in the Ringing Bournemouth evangelistic campaign held in a tent in Iford, July, 1958.
In June 1962 the band was honoured by a second appearance in the Royal Albert Hall at the Bandmasters' councils festival. As in 1949 they shared the platform with Coventry City Band and the ISB, with Tottenham Citadel being the other guests. A report by Michael Kenyon details Boscombe's performance:
The tone poem When they Crucified my Lord (Ray Steadman-Allen) was an ambitious choice by Boscombe Band (Courtney Bosanko) and the dramatic qualities of the music were not always made apparent. For the band's second item, a spirited rendition was given of a Soderstrom march Army of God, a choice from the American Band Journal and not from the extensive repertoire of Band Journals published in London.
Although not appealing to Michael Kenyon's tastes, the playing of the band was generally considered to be very good, but perhaps the first piece was unsuitable for the occasion.
Fisherman's Walk bandstands were attracting ever greater crowds, and the repertoire was increased significantly from Bandmaster Mountain's 50 to over 114 items by 1961. Band songs and timbrel displays were now regularly featured and attractive glossy brochures were produced to include details of band history and personnel. Each programme concluded with the benedictory song Oh how good to trust my heavenly father.
Summer openairs came under much scrutiny from holidaymakers and a photograph taken of the band on one such occasion was published in the Musician (11th October 1952). Particular attention was drawn to the good points that it illustrated - people listening; the smart appearance of the band; careful, efficient spacing; excellent deportment; high standard of playing and impressive witness.
Monday night openairs were an important summertime engagement, often attracting large crowds - especially when General Orsborn was involved. The editor of the Musician visited Boscombe to record not only the meeting itself, but also some background of those participating in it, and this resulted in a four page spread.
Under Courtney Bosanko's leadership the band was frequently asked to broadcast for the BBC, the first programme being transmitted on 6th September 195l on the west of England Home Service. Featured items were Indomitable, Moments with the Masters, Harold Walker's cornet solo Oh had I Jubal's Lyre and The Light of the World.
The Temperance hall in Haviland Road acted as the studio and recordings were often made in front of an audience, with some of the earliest programmes being broadcast live. For each of the next 4 years the band contributed at least one programme to the 'Band Night' series, which was compered by Keith Hamilton-Price.
An unusual broadcast was transmitted on 26th February 1955, with 'Listen to the Band' featuring a shared programme by Boscombe and Cardiff Canton bands, their Bandmasters being brothers.
During the period of his bandmastership, Courtney Bosanko had a band numbering between 40 and 45, and he was unable to accommodate all those wanted to join the section. A floating system was introduced whereby bandsmen unable to command a regular place would step in for those who were sick or on holiday. After floating for 3 or 4 years in some cases a permanent place could often be found following the transfer or retirement of another member.
Such retirements occurred between 1952 and 1955 when the band said farewell to four stalwarts who had given exampiary service: Harold Walker, Will Rice, Percy Cutler and Bill Andrews.
Harold Walker played his last cornet solo at Poole on 19th February 1955 and his rendition of Haydn's Trumpet Concerto proved that even in his fifties he was still one of the Army's leading cornetists. Such was his stamina that even after a hectic hand practise he would continue to play for 20 minutes or so, often testing, out the latest cornets supplied through the Bandmasters music shop. He has even been known to carry through a musical festival as the only solo cornet. Not only was he an excellent cornet player, but he was equally at home with his Bible. His heart warming messages and thought-provoking Bible talks were very much appreciated by his fellow bandsmen, and had been responsible for leading several people to Christ.
For 10 years he had also held the position of Deputy Bandmaster and it was mainly due to his faithfulness in this respect during the war years that he was able to hand over a worthy combination to Bandmaster Herbert Mountain.
When giving his testimony upon retirement, Bandsman Walker said
If I had my time over again I would do exactly the same. I could not do better for I have done my very best.My spiritual experience is better, today than it has ever been, and I retire a happy man.
The retirement of Will Rice marked the end of an era for the band as he had shared with Frank Antell a partnership of 40 years on Boscombe's Bb bass section. In fact, between them, they had devoted 100 years to Army banding.
Percy Cutler retired after 42 years service as a bandsman, the last 18 years being a non-playing librarian and Band Secretary. Known for his meticulous organisation, he was responsible for arranging much of the band's campaign to Holland in 1947, plus the tours of the North of England and Channel Islands. He had previously been a founder member of Boscombe YP Band.
For more than twenty years Bandsman Bill Andrews of Boscombe was unable to hear a note of musio played by the band, owing to severe deafness and throughout that time he had to rely solely on the conductor's beat. For 28 years he played solo euphonium, following an earlier spell on cornet, and before the deterioration of his hearing had served as Deputy Bandmaster.
At the time of Bill's retirement in 1956, his son Robin was already making a name for himself as a trombone soloist being regularly joined in the bandstand and festival programmes by a variety of soloists who included Percy Smith (trombone), Doug Lawrence (cornet), Band Sergeant Hector Main (Concertina), John Beale (piano), Geoff Otter and Bob Allison (vocal), Deputy Bandmaster Reg Tubbs (soprano), Chris Parker (euphonium) and Norman Cutler (elocution). In later years three additional cornet soloists were featured - Maurice Brotheridge, Glyn Bosanko and Graham Coote - a1so a trumpet player with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra.
The retirement of Bandmaster Bosanko in January 1964 closed the chapter on probably the busiest period in the band's history. During his 13 years leadership the hand had travelled extensively, being highly complimented on its spiritual deportment, fine singing and top quality playing, which more than once had been described as 'precise and soulful'.
He had not only maintained the standards set by his illustrious forbears at Boscombe, hut had taken the band to greater heights of achievement, proving himself to be an excellent band trainer.
Quite apart from his Salvation Army activities, Courtney Bosanko founded a band at Boscombe Secondary (later Beaufort) School, and also served as Music Master at Oakmead School. His services to banding were later recognised by his award of the MBE in June 1975.