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| Myrtle's envelope |
Myrtle’s Band has a make-over!
After the disaster in November 1940, Myrtle met with the other survivors: Sarah Somaton; Dorothy Crochet and the trumpet section. They decided to start building a new band in the New Year. So in January 1941, they began searching for new members. Myrtle still wanted the band to be un-prejudiced and open to all who excel, but the trumpet section was pushing for a more professional feel.
The trumpet section’s quest for excellence and professionalism started a number of arguments within the band. These arguments happened on such a regular basis, that between the years 1940 and 1962 many individuals joined but very quickly left. This volatile atmosphere was upsetting and early in 1945 the entire band walked out leaving Myrtle Appasionato; sarah Somaton; Dorothy Crochet and the trumpet section for a second time.
Myrtle made it quite clear that it was her band and the trumpet section needed to back off. The trumpet section made it clear that they believed the band was unprofessional; Myrtle corrected them by maintaining that she led an amateur band! This debate between them concluded in an agreed set of rules for the new band:
The new Rules were as follows:
1. To be un-prejudiced and open to all, as long as they are the best at what they do
2. To excel and be exceptional
3. To be a professional amateur band at all times
4. To have a uniform which is neat and looks good
5. To have a logo which fits the sophisticated band’s ethos
6. To always be on the look out for exceptional people
7. To have a new name that evokes the band’s ethos
The band’s ethos was:
· To provide quality entertainment to their fans.
· Keep waste to a minimum - so they would continue with a make do and mend vein and create uniforms from their own clothes until they had some money to buy new ones.
· They would endeavour to be innovative and ambitious in their choice of music to be played at each gig.
· The colour scheme was to be black and gold.
As for the new name, since most of them were happy to settle in Kenilworth and thought of the place as their home they decided it should have a Kenilworthian theme. Taking the original Kenilworth name Chinewrde they became the Chinewrde Marching Band in July 1945.
While on the look out for band members they were limited to what music they could play having only three trumpet players; a baton twirler; conductor and a percussionist who played the whistle and triangle. Myrtle was in desperate need of some drummers, and a xylophone player at the very least!
In 1948 Myrtle gave birth to her only child Sophia. Desperate to keep the band going Myrtle started to teach Sophia to play the xylophone and glockenspiel as soon as she could hold the beaters! Sophia Appasionato joined the Chinewrde Marching Band in 1950 at the age of 2 and played her first few gig’s in her pushchair. Meanwhile in an attempt to please the woman who saved her from the workhouse, Dorothy vowed to learn a new percussion instrument every year. However, this was not enough and Myrtle was still on the look out for drummers. The band continued to multi task and struggle for the next few years.
As their profile and fan base grew, it became easier to persuade musicians to join the small group and in 1962 Myrtle finally got a drummer! Lady Fleur Merlotte joined the band in an attempt to restore her sanity. And in the 1970’s Alfred and Bert joined the band playing the harmonica and the banjo thus enabling the band to play much more diverse music including Hello Dolly and Oklahoma!
During the 1980’s the band grew with 3 new recruits, the first of which was a 17 year old called Annie Greenberg. Annie joined in 1982 as a way to cope with her loneliness; the band was really all she had. Then in 1987 Barbara Mallone, a tuba player, joined. And finally in 1989 Stixx Malone joined and with his drumming abilities matching those of Lady Fleur’s, the Chinewrde Marching Band was finally on its way!
Official Biographer for the CMB – Godfrey Yammerstein: A Profile of a Great British Marching Band
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