No 7 — July 1977 Edited by Michael Walters
As recounted elsewhere. I ran into Robin White, former MD of ICOS., at Sunbury's Pirates, and subsequently he sent me the following rhyme, which is extremely well written, if a trifle irreverent.
When I was a lad and in my teens
I went as a bandsman to the Royal Marines
I played my part and kept my place
And polished all the tubing on the B flat bass.
That B flat bass it looked so smart
That now I'm the conductor of the D'Oyly Carte.
At polishing brass I made such a name
That a second Lieutenant I soon became
I played my scales to a metronome
And I practised triple tonguing till the cows came home!
I practised triple tonguing to such a fine art
That now I'm the conductor of the D'Oyly Carte.
A Captain's rank I soon acquired
But to greater glories I aspired
And then one day I was overjoyed
To meet up with a gentleman called Fred’ric Lloyd.
He said "Now Roy, if you'll work for me
I'll make you the conductor of my company."
Now bandsman all, whoever you may be,
If you want to climb to the top of the tree
If your soles aren’t nailed to the quarter deck
Just keep your musicianship in careful check
Stick close to your score
And never give a cue -
And you all may be musical directors too!
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