My life story

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Guest 649
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
15 February 2015 07:08278647
#161 report
Back to night with my last few weeks at Kneller hall, and what happen the night I was on Friday night is music night on the radio still going today,Never a dull day. And the night we was in that great well known club in London now pulled now it was Called The Two Eyes Club .get it up on your lap top it will tell you all about the club and the rock and roll stars and pop stars that used it some still about today.There are some great storys coming up over the next few weeks some will make you cry some will make you smile.
Guest 649
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
15 February 2015 18:52278655
#162 report
It was a few days after the turnout with the fireworks that I was called into the music Directors office there was a s/bandmaster
sitting at a desk.He went on to tell me that kneller Hall had been asked to play on Friday night is music night on the radio .
(This is still done today on radio 2) and it was going to be a band and orchestra for about 40 members or so.And it was going to be conducted by a very well know conductor at that time("This spelling is wrong) his name was was Mr Vellerm Tolcsry .
He went on to say this year Kneller hall is short of Violin players for the orchestra, and your name came up ,so we asked your music master did he think MATCHAM was up to playing in the orchestra the number we was going to play was The Barber of Seville by Rossini, this is a Opera but we was to play it without any singers .I must say now it is a very hard Opera to play and the parts for the strings in the Figaro Aria ,well only the best can play it and I was not one of them it was far to hard for me to play,having already played it in the band on the clarinet and bluff my round it and got away with it because we had such a big band.But I know in a small orchestra I would not get away with it.
But Mr Jones my music master told them the same "This part would be to hard for Matcham to play.
But if you put him in with the second violins stand he might just able to play the second violin parts but not the first only the second parts .So that is what they done . Must say I did worry about this knowing myself that I was not up to playing parts of it even being it was the second parts and not the leading parts.
But as you know you have to follow orders in the army you have not choice or say in the matter.
Guest 649
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
16 February 2015 16:10278711
#163 report
All the rehearsal ,s went well at the school ,all I had to do was make certain that I was in time with the others when they were bowing upwards and the same down .it looks very odd when you have 20 violin players doing the up bow and one doing the down bow,so it was all down to timing if I could get that right then I could bluff my way through the number.
Any way the last rehearsal was done on the afternoon of the concert going out live on the radio and it was done at the B,B,C, not at kneller hall. When we got there Max JAFFA and his orchestra had already done their last rehearsal and was sitting down with some members of the public and staff from the B,B,C .And they were going to sit there and see us doing our rehearsal .
Well we all got setup and tuned up ready for the off ,On to the stage came Mr V Tolcsry with Mr Max Jaffa .
Mr Jaffa went on to tell us about our guest Conductor after that, we all clap and welcome him .
And then we started the final rehearsal it was going along well till we came to the Figaro Aria and in this number there are lots music rest where all the orchestra stop playing at the same time for only a very short time about four beats and then start off again,(Well that is how it should have gone )But what did happen was that the whole orchestra did stop at the same time bar one violin that played on. Yes that was me next thing I could see was the conductors baton coming at me in the air. And with the conductor shouting -------------- at me.
It had all the persons watching us rolling over in their seats at us.
But it went well on the night. And nothing more was said about it.
Guest 649
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
17 February 2015 08:11278734
#164 report
Last week at Kneller hall then back to my unit ,and what happen there .it went all downhill from there.
Guest 649
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
19 February 2015 16:41278833
#165 report
Back late tonight.
Guest 649
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
19 February 2015 20:21278847
#166 report
There are still lots to tell about my year at Kneller hall but we still have lots to tell so we are going to move on but before I do that. Just to tell you there were two local men along side me at Kneller Hall and you will know one if not both The first one Is Mr Arthur Healy who you all know as the leader of the Hythe Military Band ,he was doing his 3 year training as a Bandmaster at Kneller hall when I was there he then went on to be the bandmaster of the Irish Rangers he was very good and along with his brother was also in the Buffs band .And the other one who was a great Clarinet and also very good on other instruments as well,He loved playing Jazz .He worked with bands for many years on cruise liners,and behind stars like Simply Red.He once told me Mick Hucknall was the hardest man to work for,He would keep them all working before a concert. day and night till they all played the numbers in the way he wanted them played.With Mr Hucknall it was work and work he would not stop.He still lives in Dover but no need to work anymore and will not even play local he has packed it all in and called it a day his name is Mr Water Thatcher his dad was just the same but he played local. Both of them great lads to know .His dad is no longer with us sad to say.his dads name was Lorrie Thatcher he played the Accordion for over 30 years round Kent and H/camps,pubs etc.
In the last week of collage I was given my orders to report back to my unit in a weeks time so I had a week at home before rejoining the Buffs Band which had been removed from Canterbury to Shorncliffe .This turned out to be a very bad move for myself and the next four years was a nightmare as you will read.
Guest 649
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
20 February 2015 15:44278879
#167 report
I was only a young lad when I was at kneller hall and did not take any notice of what was going on apart from music round the world after all it was only 14years after the world war two .
And what was going on in the army in the late 1950s and into the 1960 was the very last thing I was thinking about .I did not even know why the buffs had left Canterbury More Barracks just a few miles down the road to Ross Barracks at Shorncliffe. But I was about to find out.I returned to my unit around 14 9 1960.I turned up at the Bks gate with all my kit and was told to report the band office .Having found my way there I was marched into the bandmasters office .Up till then I had never heard of the new bandmaster.

"Bandsman Matcham welcome to your new home I am Mr LYNES,S I am not only your new bandmaster but also the bandmaster of the new Regiment."
"Sorry Sir did you say the new Regiment ?can I aske what new Regiment because I am in the Buffs and that is the second a foot a very old Regiment.?
Well if looks could kill I would not be here today.
"And you standing in front of me and telling me you do not know what is going on here."
"I am sorry sir but as you know I have been at kneller hall ayear and have not been told anything only to report to yourself."
"Have you not been reading the papers?
"No sir"
"Well Matcham the army is being cut by 15 battalions and what is left are joining up with each other ,also they are cutting down the number of men in each Battalion to below a 1000 in each and we are told there is more to come."
Guest 649
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
22 February 2015 09:12278949
#168 report
Do not miss tonights story ends up with me in the Dover nick under the Town hall (All true)
Guest 649
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
24 February 2015 12:07279006
#169 report
I am very sorry to have let you all down,but both my wife and myself have been giving our help to a mate of mine moving to Scotland and he has gone now. You all know him and is a member of the Dover Forum .But I will catch up over the week or two. Thank you.
Reginald Barrington
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 17 Dec 2014
- Posts: 3,257
24 February 2015 13:43279008
#170 report
Was wondering where you'd dissappeared to thought you left Kneller hall and ran off to the Foreign legion.
Arte et Marte
Guest 649
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
24 February 2015 13:47279010
#171 report
As you will read later I was not far away from doing just that,
Reginald Barrington
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 17 Dec 2014
- Posts: 3,257
24 February 2015 15:41279013
#172 report
Arte et Marte
Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
24 February 2015 16:23279014
#173 report
Jacqui,just got over a nasty bug,must have been one of my better days,lol
Guest 649
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
24 February 2015 16:55279016
#174 report
The axe fell on the two Kentish regiments that is why both regiments were at Shorncliffe and we was all told to prepare for the joining together by March 1961.
There was a lot of discussions going on with all ranks from both regiments that surrounded this unwanted marriage for the two regiments of the Royal East Kent.(The Buffs)and the Royal West Kents.and let me tell you there was no love for each other as you will read.Both regiments had great History going back 100s of years.And with the Buffs just returning from Aden where they lost men,the last thing they needed at this time was to lose their own ID and name of a great regiment .
At this time there was a lot of arguments between the both of them and fights broke out both in the bks and the town after a night of drinking,
And the new name and the new cap badge.
We was trying to work out what the name of the new regiment might be ,most of the officers and ranks was hoping it would be called the Royal Kent Regiment it sounded good and did not favour one or the other.
+I would be a new name for a new regiment.
But that did not happen they put together a Amalgamation Committee from both of the regiments that was not a good choice the arguments between the members went on and on for months in fact they went on so long that the committee got a final ultimatum fro the MOD fix a name soon or we will make one for you.
Guest 649
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
24 February 2015 17:15279018
#175 report
In the mean time we in the band was playing out at concerts and officers mess dinners etc.
But it was two bands made into one and there was so many of us something had to happen a few members were getting near to the end of their army time ,so they went first but still more needed to go ,
This made it a very unhappy band because we did not know who would be next on the list to go ,as most of us were young men with many years ahead of us in the Army.
Anyway at last a new name for the regiment was going to be called "The Queens Own Buffs."that turn out to be at that time the longest title of any regiment at that time in the army.
We was then told the new cap badge was going to be a Home Counties Brigade cap badge ,this did not go down well with the Buffs as we had a great badge with the Dragoon on it .The new badge was much smaller and was poorly made it was rubbish none of the members from both regiments liked it.
Guest 649
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
26 February 2015 13:31279099
#176 report
As the time got close to the joining up of the two regiments the more upsetting it was to all officers and men.And the traditions of both regiment and all the silver cups and the funds so a lot to sort out and where it was all to go.
Both regiments still had National service men which did not help as most of them did not have long to service even had short term officers doing 3 years only so the only thing they were thinking about is getting out.And it was about this this time I took my eyes off the ball that was a very wrong move to make and it cost me alot over the next few weeks.
At this time the band was playing in the mornings only and at times when we was needed for the rehearsals on the parade square playing when all the troops were marching etc.the rehearsals were done over the whole week and weekends.
So when that was not happening we was left to practice on our own anywhere we could.
But because I only lived at Dover I was skipping off by going down the bank at the back of our block and jumping on a bus and home.
At this time I found myself going out with a very good looking girl in Dover and she was why I was skipping off,because I would meet her from work ,and then we would go out or back to her place or mind at Westbury Rd.
This went on for some weeks,but at times I was late because we was doing rehearsals.
Well it was one of the times I was running late and I came back to Dover with a mate .It was about 20.00hrs at night and we was both walking up Folkestone rd. And coming the other way towards us was this girl and a chap was with her and they were kissing and he had his arms around her.
Guest 649
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
26 February 2015 14:00279103
#177 report
Well I was not happy about this going on behind my back and sorry to say I lost my cool and hit him and more then once ,well the girl was crying my mate was trying to stop me,and as luck would have it a police car came along,next thing was I was fighting them all the chap and the police. In the end I was over powered and taken to the nick ,or police station as we now call it. They phoned up my unit and told them I was being held overnight and would be taken to court in the morning .
Well as you know the court house then was in the town hall, so in the morning I was taken to the cells below the town hall and locked up till it came my turn to go into the court house, Many years later as you know the cells were open to the public to go round and in one of the cells they could see my name which I put on the wall still there today.(VIC MATCHAM WAS HERE and it is dated.
Anyway back to my story ,it came to my turn to go up a staircase under the floor leading into the court house .
The charge was read out ,it was fighting and hitting a person.The Army had send a officer along to the hearing ,and the court asked him for a report about my army service.
Must say that report was the only thing that stopped me being locked away.
So I was bound over for 1year and told to stay away from both the girl and the man she was with.
The officer turned to court and said to the court "That will not happen as we will make certain Matcham stays in the camp till the new regiment moves on.
Was this going to be the end of the matter
Guest 649
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
26 February 2015 21:04279119
#178 report
Do not miss the next one.
It will start with me being in the bandmasters office at 0900hrs next day and in the CO office by 16.00hrs in the afternoon and the end of my music years in the army ,but what did the army do with me after that, for the next 3 years. Not one of my better days.
Guest 649
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
28 February 2015 13:18279164
#179 report
Back tonight. better then the watching the box and my storys are true.
Guest 649
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
1 March 2015 01:18279193
#180 report
That night on return to my unit I was locked up in the nick.
Next morning I was marched into the bandmaster,s office.
And was told by the bandmaster that it had nothing to do with the fight and it was down to numbers, that he has been told again to cut numbers in the band,and that the band had two many clarinet players and because a band only needs one Ef clarinet and that we had two and the other player was a full cpl and a very good one at that, I would have to go.There was no sorry or goodbyes or good luck nothing even being I had just come back from Kneller Hall ,it was to be the end of my playing days in the army and I NEVER PLAYED THE CLARINET again in my life.
But I said to the bandmaster "What happens to me now ,am I out of the army to?
All
he said is"I do not know ,you are to report to the main office after this meeting.
Must say I was very upset on hearing this news ,but it happen and I blame myself.
So off I went to the office thinking my army years was over and I would not have been sad about that if that had been the case the more I saw of the setup within the two regiments the more I wanted to get out.
I was told to wait outside the new RSM office .
I was called in and found myself in front of the R.S.M .
"Matcham my name is Mr Parker and as you know I am the R.M.S and I have been told all about you and what has happen, also given the job to find out what happens to you from now on.
I have looked at your records and seen that you joined as a boy and in the band from day one.
Am I right in thinking that is all you have done, and you have done no army training?"
"Yes sir you are right that is all I wanted to do and sighed up for just music and nothing more.
Can you then tell me if I am to be discharge from the army .?
"Is that what you expecting Matcham or just hoping for? because if that be the case you are wrong that is not going to happen you sighed on for 22 years with a 9 year offer after doing 9 years +the boys service you have already done then you can get out but not before unless the army let you go and right now that IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.."

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