Post by Dave Homewood on May 23, 2017 20:06:58 GMT 12
History, and the RNZAF's own website, tells us that "The Royal New Zealand Air Force Band was formed in 1935 and made its public debut on 12 May 1937, leading a procession through Wellington marking the coronation of King George VI." This debut was celebrated only a few days back in Wellington on the 80th Anniversary.
HOWEVER, I just discovered this from the Evening Post newspaper dated 18 March 1936:
paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/EP19360318.2.93.1?query=McGregor%20Fund%20Rongotai
www.airforce.mil.nz/nr/exeres/23de8324-47f8-4b0c-8ea7-6b6fb32f1cc6,frameless.htm@nrmode=published.htm
HOWEVER, I just discovered this from the Evening Post newspaper dated 18 March 1936:
ENTERTAINMENTS ARRANGED
HART-O'BRIAN AND AIR FORCE BAND
Several functions and entertainments have been arranged to swell the Wellington total of the McGregor National Appeal Fund. On Sunday evening, by kind courtesy of Sir Benjamin Fuller, members of the Hart-O'Brian Company and the New Zealand Royal Air Force Band, under the direction of Bandmaster Booth, will give a concert and well-varied programme at St. James Theatre.
The Sunday concert given by the White Horse Inn Company for the fund at Christchurch brought in almost £280, almost a record figure for such an entertainment, and a big response is expected also from Wellington. The concert will be of added interest in that the Air Force Band, which is a full military combination, will on this occasion make its first public appearance. The band has reached a very high standard of performance.
On Saturday week the Wellington Aero Club, assisted by pilots and machines from the Air Force and from other aero clubs, is to stage a pageant at the Rongotai Aerodrome and will hand the gross gate takings and other proceeds to the committee controlling the fund. Over 100 Wellington citizens took the opportunity of visiting Mr. E. G. Sundgren's beautiful garden at Ferndale, Homewood Avenue, Karori, which is open to the public, in aid of the McGregor appeal, at the weekend, and the fund will benefit by £5 12s as a result. The garden will remain open every afternoon between 2.30 and 5 p.m. until March 28."
HART-O'BRIAN AND AIR FORCE BAND
Several functions and entertainments have been arranged to swell the Wellington total of the McGregor National Appeal Fund. On Sunday evening, by kind courtesy of Sir Benjamin Fuller, members of the Hart-O'Brian Company and the New Zealand Royal Air Force Band, under the direction of Bandmaster Booth, will give a concert and well-varied programme at St. James Theatre.
The Sunday concert given by the White Horse Inn Company for the fund at Christchurch brought in almost £280, almost a record figure for such an entertainment, and a big response is expected also from Wellington. The concert will be of added interest in that the Air Force Band, which is a full military combination, will on this occasion make its first public appearance. The band has reached a very high standard of performance.
On Saturday week the Wellington Aero Club, assisted by pilots and machines from the Air Force and from other aero clubs, is to stage a pageant at the Rongotai Aerodrome and will hand the gross gate takings and other proceeds to the committee controlling the fund. Over 100 Wellington citizens took the opportunity of visiting Mr. E. G. Sundgren's beautiful garden at Ferndale, Homewood Avenue, Karori, which is open to the public, in aid of the McGregor appeal, at the weekend, and the fund will benefit by £5 12s as a result. The garden will remain open every afternoon between 2.30 and 5 p.m. until March 28."
www.airforce.mil.nz/nr/exeres/23de8324-47f8-4b0c-8ea7-6b6fb32f1cc6,frameless.htm@nrmode=published.htm
