1945-1987: Funny Things

Funny things that have happened to the Kilities

I am running out of "newsey" material. At church the other day, was talking to Colin and he said "why don't you put in some funny things that has happened with the KILTIES?" With some help her are a few items that hopefully will give you a chuckle.

We had a bass drummer named George Steep. He started with the 29th. Regiment in 1884 and finished with the Kilties in 1945. Neil Harvie took over his position in 1946. Now George was a scotsman. The band was having a concert at Victoria park one Sunday evening and George came in late. He did not want to walk up the center stairs so he climbed up the side and went over the top. Apparently a lot of women were shocked when he went "over the top". He did the same thing when the band was playing at the north bandstand at the C.N.E.! For that time he got a sentence of a leave of absence.

And then there was the time when Frank Gadd was leading the parade up Main St. He turned down Water St.,‚ the band went up Main St.!! Bet and I can still remember it. R.W. Roelofson did the same thing!

Bill McFadyen (just after his second marriage), came to rehearsal with lipstick all over his face. Just everyone there had a smile on their face. I don't know if anyone told him of his condition.

And now there is the wearing of spats. When we were playing for the Teeswater Reunion, Liz Lorenze had her spats on with the buttons on the inside.

Another good one was, Leon Stroh helped us out for the Labour day parade. He put on his spats with the buttons on the inside! Rather than been late for the gig he wore most of his uniform to bed.

Good old T O [Toronto] Labour Day parade. Bob Green wrote an article which I know will get you laughing,it's coming later. Bob tends to exaggerate things but I do remember well Joe Burchill getting soaken wet. It was Joe's bright idea to wear white shirts for the upcoming Labour Day parade (Labour Day is always a a hot day). Guess what? The weather turned and we froze!

Bet has the distinction of been the only female who has ever done the Labour Day parade. We did the parade in full uniform and the weather was HOT! Everyone wanted to get changed out of their soaked uniform but as the old saying goes "ladies before gentlemen" so the rest of the band waited outside the bus for her to change.

And on Thurs. Aug.6th.1987, Paul was going for a ride on the Cam river in Cambridge England. He was in a punt and was polling his way along. The pole went one way -- the punt went the other way and Paul took to the water! Jeff and Donna helped him out of the river.

Source: Galt Kiltie Band Newsletter: Issue #8, Christmas 1995, written by Bob Fox

Sources:

Retyped and posted to the web by band member, Graham Nasby, in 1999.

Reformated for new website on April 3, 2005.