July 2019 has been a busy month!

Although technically not in July, this event did take place during the July long weekend. It was a beautifull Sunday summer evening at the bandstand in Stratford Park where we performed for a very appreciative audience. This is one of the nicest venues we have the privilege of performing at, and you can’t beat the ambience of this park.

The very next day, it was back to Goderich where we took part in the Goderich Canada Day opening ceremony at Courthouse Square. We had a great turnout with everyone enjoying the sunshine, hotdogs, and cold drinks.

The band was all decked out in our reds, perfect for Canada Day. I think everyone was relieved that this year, the sun continued to shine, unlike the drenching downpour we experienced last year.

We like to thank TTK Transport once again, for supplying us with a driver, truck and trailer for this year’s parade. It was a very smooth ride and I think we had the best seats in the house!

On July 15th, we performed a benefit concert for the Van Egmond House Museum. Normally this would have taken place on the grounds of the museum, but this year a rain squall threatened, so we moved to the clubhouse of the Bridges golf community in Seaforth.

Tonight (July 17) we are taking the trip up to Kincardine and will be playing in Dunsmoor Park. If you’re in the area, drop by, stay for the concert, and watch the sun set over Lake Huron. If that isn’t an option, join us back in Goderich July 28th, when we will be performing on the Harbour Park stage behind the Park House. We have great sunsets there too.

Letter to Editor, Goderich Signal-Star by Doug Bundy

The Goderich Laketown Band is comprised of musicians of all ages and takes great pleasure in performing for our community. When we see feedback such as that given by Doug Bundy (see below) and our wonderful audiences, it makes all our hard work worth every bit of it. Thank You for your support!

Letter to Editor, Goderich Signal-Star

Dear Editor:

Once again, we have to be very fortunate to live in a town like Goderich, because last 
Tuesday we experienced the wonderful music of some of the very talented musicians who live in or near our town!

The “Sound of Goderich” concert, staged each year, showcases some of the musical talent that we have the privilege of listening to, here in “The Prettiest Town in Canada”!

The evening started out with rousing numbers by the 45-piece Laketown Band, , then we heard from The Harbouraires Men’s Choir, the MacKay Choristers Seniors Choir, and The “Three Music-teers”,( Reynolds, Robinson and Lodge) before the Band returned with its final 4 numbers.

When the band played its last number, “Mama Mia”, the standing ovation that erupted from the appreciative audience was well deserved. Conductor Hugh McGregor spoke to remind the audience that most of the musicians began their training as students in a High-School music class but, he cautioned , many High Schools in Ontario will see their award-winning music classes cancelled next year! What started out as a discussion about the Government saving money by getting rid of thousands of teaching positions and increasing class sizes, will no doubt result in the cancellation the classes that the students look forward to taking: Like Music, Drama or helping with the School Year-book!

We all hate to see this happen, and hope that the great music we have come accustomed to, will continue.

The Laketown Band will be playing again, on June 20th on the Courthouse Square, in downtown Goderich , and Monday, July 1st before the Canada Day parade.

Music like this, featuring local musicians will continue throughout the summer at the Courthouse Park, every Thursday evening, starting at 7 PM. You can bring your own lawn chairs, or sit on the iron benches that are provided. (But best bring a pillow or a blanket because they get a bit uncomfortable after a while! )

And don’t forget that there is also Music every Sunday evening, throughout the summer, at Lions Harbour Park, sponsored by our Laketown Band.

Lots of music by our many talented residents, for us to enjoy!

Sincerely,

Doug R. Bundy

Don Scott 1933-2019

CANADA DAY COURTHOUSE SQUARE GODERICH 2018

Don Scott passed away peacefully last week in Arizona after a short illness. While he spent winters there, playing with the Mesa Arizona Concert Band, he summered in Bayfield and has been with The Goderich Laketown Band since retiring here in 2005. He was a valued member of our band and a great supporter, volunteering his services whenever and where ever needed. Several of the musical selections we play today are due to donations made by Don.

Photo courtesy of The Goderich Laketown Band

Don’s musical career started when he was 5 years old, playing trumpet in The London Police Boys Junior Band. As he grew older, he graduated to The London Police Boys Senior Band then eventually created The Don Scott Knickerbockers, a 12 piece dance band. At that time, he played trumpet and stringed bass, spending Friday nights with the band playing on the London radio station CKSL. In his late teens, he and his band were playing the dance halls up and down the Lake Huron shoreline, sometimes filling in gaps when the visiting big bands of that time were needing extra musicians. During these London years, he even managed to squeeze in playing for the RCR Band.

A few years later, married and with a young family in Kitchener, he formed the Dutch Boy Cadets Drum and Bugle Corp so his sons could have the same great musical experiences he had as a child. They played and competed in Ontario, Quebec, and several of the eastern states. This band of 120 musicians, dressed up in lederhosen, became a regular part of the annual Kitchener Oktoberfest parades. Don arranged a 10 day tour through Germany, where the band performed at the Munich Oktoberfest celebrations, then later at the Canadian Armed Forces bases in Lahr, and Baden Baden.

Photo courtesy of the Ayr-Paris Band

Don played trumpet with the Waterloo Regional Police Band for over 10 years, then in 1997 joined the Ayr-Paris band. He was with them for another 10 years before retiring and moving to Bayfield. Even with the move, for the first two years he continued to commute to Ayr for practices and performances. He toured with the Ayr-Paris Band, visiting England and Europe (Don is in the top row second from the left on the steps of the cathedral in Prague).

Photo courtesy of the Ayr-Paris Band

He was the type of person who felt the glass was always half full. Nothing stopped him…he was a “can do” kind of guy. If there wasn’t a band somewhere he could join, he made one up. I don’t believe there ever was a time when Don wasn’t in a band. I’m sure that even now, Don is up there playing his trumpet in the “Holy Trinity Band”.