22nd (Cheshire) Regiment Association

Band & Drums Branch

1st Battalion Bandmasters

Mr Pappe

1870’s – 1880

A Civilian Bandmaster whose responsibilities were apparently confined to the practice room and paid engagements, but did not extend to the parade ground.

William James Birkby

18 February 1880 – 4 August 1908

The longest serving Bandmaster - served 45 years with the Regiment! Although he retired in 1908 he re-enlisted and ran the 17^th Battalion Band until 1919 (aged 63).

Ernest Noble

5 September 1908 – 3 November 1923

Arranged the original Regimental Music, but the scores were lost circa 1945

John Cawdor Hitch

4 November 1923 – 27 November 1935

Became the Director of Music of the Straits Settlement Police in Singapore. When the colony fell to the Japanese in 1942 he was captured and incarcerated in the notorious “Changi Camp”

Frank Buckmaster

15 December 1935 – 5 February 1947

Thomas Geggie

6 February 1947 – 12 November 1947

Walter James Adams

13 November 1947 – 31 March 1958

The only person to serve as Bandmaster in the both the 1^st and 2^nd Battalion Regimental Bands. He also re-arranged the Regimental Music, circa 1947, which is still in use today.

Gordon Alan Rutherford

1 April 1958 – 31 March 1964

George Arthur White

1 April 1964 – 19 May 1968

John Victor Ayling

20 May 1968 – 6 July 1970

George Eric Gregory

7 July 1970 – 4 March 1973

David Evan Price

5 March 1973 – 20 October 1977

Attained the position of Director of Music, Scots Guards, with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel

Roger Allsopp

21 October 1977 – 27 February 1982

Thomas Edward Pickering MBE

28 February 1982 – 4 February 1990

John Arvid Camillo Huggins

5 February 1990 – 30 September 1994

The Regimental Band was disbanded 30 September 1994

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These pages were last updated on: Thursday, 09 October 2008