SAYING farewell, Bodmin Town Band held a presentation evening on Sunday, October 9, for three long-standing band members who are set to retire.

Michael (Mike) Webber, from Launceston, was one of the three members being thanked for his many years of service to town bands across Cornwall ahead of his retirement.

He was presented with a framed letter on October 9, by Bodmin Town Band’s president, Clifford Bunt, to commemorate his many years playing with various bands.

Michael was born in 1935 and started his career in September 1946 with the Boscastle Silver Band as a learner. He went on to become a solo cornet player at the age of 17, which he continued right up until the beginning of his national service in 1954.

Even national service didn’t stop Michael from playing. He said: “I was lead bugler in REME corps of drums. Also played the trumpet for social events on camp (badly).”

After his national service ended in 1956 Michael rejoined the Boscastle Town Band, where he played the solo cornet from March 1956 to 1959.

In November 1959 he left Boscastle to join Bodmin Town Band where he was the repiano and front row cornet, under the direction of Bill Lawton and John Berryman. He later left Bodmin Town Band, in 1974, due to work commitments.

A few years later in 1977 he rejoined a band once again as a solo cornet player. He played with St Gennys Silver Band until June 1980 when he left to join St Austell Band on the back row to play under Albert Chappell until 1985.

He joined Launceston Town Band in 1992 and played there for two years, before joining the Torbay Brass in 1994 until 1999, under the musical direction of Brian Buckley.

Michael returned to Launceston Town Band in 2004 where he played the trumpet with both the Launceston and Bude orchestras.

Finally, in 2011 he left Launceston to join the Bodmin Town Band where he played up until his retirement in September 2016.

Also receiving commemorative letters at the event on Sunday, October 9, were John Colling of Bodmin, 76, and Fred Angove of Wadebridge, 87. Among their long histories playing for various bands across Cornwall and beyond, John previously played for St Breward in 2010 and during Fred’s long band career, he played for Delabole Band and the Kernow Band.

All three of the men being celebrated at the recent event have had long and interesting careers with various bands and many remaining members will be sad to see them retire.

Bodmin Town Band’s musical director John Maines was unable to attend the celebrations, however, he voiced his thoughts in a letter on the three men who are to retire from the band.

He said: “I have known Fred and John for many years and Mike maybe a little less time. I have valued not only their friendship but also their great dedication and commitment to Bodmin Town Band.

“As a former player in the band I remember well Fred’s excellent cornet playing as principal and John’s lovely sound on flugel, both making a massive contribution to a fine band.

“As I have said I met Mike later in life but it is obvious to me what an educated musician he is. Marry this to his encyclopaedic knowledge of fish and you have someone bordering on genius!

He added: “These three wise men have certainly enhanced my enjoyment of conducting the band for the past three years especially Fred’s infectious laugh, John’s ‘heard it all before’ expression and Mike’s ‘questioning’ looks!

“The band will go forward of course but Fred, Mike and John will be sorely missed by us all and you must continue to visit us whenever you can. I send my very best wishes to Fred, John and Mike for whatever your futures may hold. Once again ‘three very big thank yous’.”