SCOUTS AND GUIDES
Scouting out musical
lthough this band has been around since 1965
when it first formed as 5th Leek (St. Marys)
Scout band, it was the newly reformed version
that made a special guest appearance at the
Sticks and Tones concert at the Wreake Valley
College Theatre in Leicester recently.
Originally formed in 1965 with around 20
members, the traditional marching outfit
comprised of mainly drum and fifes. By 1973 some
of the local Guides joined and bugles and upright
bell lyres were introduced as gradually the fifes
became less popular. By the late seventies the band
was 30 strong and competing in Scout band
contests up and down the country from Cornwall,
and Bristol up to the East midlands.
Over the last decade the band became renown
in the district for leading the St. George’s day
parades as well as Remembrance services and had
even been invited to play at Lichfield Cathedral, the
National Arboretum at Alrewas and was delighted
to attend and perform in Leek’s twin town of Este in
Italy.
Over the last 14 months however the newly
reformed 5th Leek and District Scout and Guide
Band, led by Paul Bullock and a team of dedicated
instructors, is proving they too have what it takes
to continue to build on the highly regarded
reputation of the band.
Chatting to Leek Life band leader Paul
explained how the traditional musical outfit had
been going from strength to strength over the past
14 months since reforming: “This is a band of young
people that have already and will continue to gain
a wealth of experience and knowledge as they
attend the many functions we already have lined
A
20 Leek Life May/June 2014
up. It is very rewarding to see them as individuals
and as a unit grow, showing dedication and
commitment to the band and learning new skills
which enhance their scouting and guiding
experience while keeping up the proud tradition of
a Scout and Guide drum ‘n’ bugle band with the
recent addition of the Irish tin.”
The Sticks and Tones concert which the band
performed in recently was part of the Syston Show,
Syston being a national class band as well as the
oldest Scout and Guide bands in the world, which
to