One could be mistaken in thinking that BCB stands for Bert Cathro’s Band, rather than Brechin City Band.

Early start

Bert started playing in the newly formed junior section of Brechin City Band in 1931 aged 12, on the baritone and soon after moved on to Eb Bass.

On leaving the school at age 14 he started working in a local mill before he trained as a signaller in the Black Watch. War service saw him in France in 1940, and was ordered to abandon his bass in favour of a bren gun, when being evacuated from Dunkirk!

War service saw him in France in 1940, and was ordered to abandon his bass in favour of a bren gun, when being evacuated from Dunkirk!4BR

Heading home

He remained in the army until 1946, occasionally managing to play with a military band and despite being offered a full time position in a band which was about to head to America he decided to return home to his wife, and young daughter.

He resumed his position at the local mill until his retirement and also returned to the Brechin Band. He spent some time back on baritone after breaking a leg, and being unable to march with an Eb Bass, but once again returned to this instrument, which he plays to this day.

Keen golfer

Away from the band he has been a very keen golfer until hanging up his clubs fairly recently. His other major hobby however is weaving, having built his own loom in his house, and indeed designed his own 'Cathro' tartan which is registered with the Scottish Tartan World Register.

Hobby for life

Having received life membership of the Scottish Brass Band Association in 1983, Bert is as keen and as passionate a bandsman today as he was 78 years ago, and is sorry that at present Brechin City Band itself is currently very short of players, and would like to encourage others to do what he did all these years ago, take up an instrument and have a hobby for life.