Centenary celebrating Shipston Town Band honoured its oldest member this week.

1937

Oliver Kemp began his banding career with the Fleckney Band in Leicestershire in 1937, and after military service spent many happy years with the Kibworth Band, playing baritone, horn and euphonium at various times as well as being bandmaster as they rose to the Championship Section to compete at the Royal Albert Hall.

On his retirement he moved to Sheringham and joined the Cromer & Sheringham Band playing euphonium and serving as librarian until the final move to Shipston in 1996 to be near his family.

Euph and library

Band Secretary David Birch told 4BR: "He became a member of our non contesting band Stour Concert Brass and remained playing the euphonium until deciding to retire and concentrate on the band library.

He carried on with this until some 12 months ago and is now a highly popular and respected social member of the band with his wife Miv."

Presentations

David Stanley, MD of Arrow Valley Band presented Oliver with a framed certificate recording his 75 years service to brass bands, whilst Shipston Chairman Charlie Cox Shipston’s and committee member and former euphonium colleague Alan Birch presented him with an engraved silver salver.