On the 17th February, the Cinderford Band will celebrated the 90th birthday of Mr Cecil Chappell, its current Musical Advisor and former Musical Director.

Banding life

Cecil Chappell has given his life to brass banding, notably in the Forest of Dean and Gloucestershire where he is also the current President of the Gloucestershire Brass Band Association.

Dedicated

He has been a life long dedicated member of the Cinderford Band for 82 years, having started his banding career at the age of eight, playing cornet with the band where he developed his playing career, soon becoming the band’s principal cornet.

The band engaged excellent professional conductors during the 1930’s and Cecil well remembers rehearsing under the famous Mr J.C. Dobbin (of Cory fame) and Mr T.J. Powell (the Welsh march wizard who played a ‘left handed cornet’ as well as conducting), he said were marvellous band trainers.

Fond memories

One of his fond memories was performing ‘Die Feen’ at the 1935 Crystal Palace contest under Mr Dobbin, where he played Repiano and Flugel parts with the aid of a bowler hat, so the conductors clearly used some ‘musical licence’ in those days too!

When Cecil was conscripted into the Army, he soon began playing Trumpet and becoming more involved in dance bands. He learnt a lot from the American musicians stationed in the area at the time which further generated his interest in dance band music as well as maintaining his love of brass bands.

Prestigious

On demobilisation he formed a very well known dance band called the “Les Chappell Sextet”. This band became most popular and travelled far and wide, playing at prestigious venues in Oxford, Cheltenham, Hereford and Wales to name a few, as well as reaching the finals of the “All England Musical Express Championships” held in Blackpool where his first entry was on a ‘top E’.

Through the war the band struggled to keep going and in late 1946 Cecil was formally invited to takeover the conductor’s baton, he accepted this challenge with much enthusiasm having to build a new band, with new music and instruments before any concerts or contests could be undertaken.

He has been a life long dedicated member of the Cinderford Band for 82 years, having started his banding career at the age of eightCinderford Band

Young players

The development of young players became a focus for Cecil Chappell early in his tenure as Musical Director and his work with the junior band provided a continuing influx of ready made players to the Senior Band, who became part of the Cinderford success story and ensured the ongoing commitment to high standards of performance and behaviour.

During the early 1950s the band had a very successful quartet, winning the 1953 Championships held in Oxford (the home of Morris Motors) playing ‘Concordia’. The players were well known and included Albert Meek, Taff Dolman, Peter Clack and Fred Wilcock, who gave excellent service to the band along with many others who helped them gain promotion from the third section in 1954.

Sadly Albert and Taff are deceased and Peter went on to enjoy a long career as a professional musician; however Fred (79) still plays euphonium occasionally for the Leeds City Police Band.

History made

History was made in 1958 when the Cinderford Band became the first Forest of Dean band to qualify for Championship status, by winning the West of England area contest second section at Bristol.

Within three years the band had qualified to play at the Albert Hall in London National Finals, and was the first Gloucestershire Band to play in the Championship Section at London in 1962.

Albert Hall

This was followed by two further appearances at the Albert Hall in 1966 and 1971 as well as achieving many other notable successes throughout the years.

One of the hallmarks of the Cinderford Band is its concerts, where they are highly respected and noted for their variety and entertaining programmes, this was largely due to Cecil’s innovation and desire to improve the standard of the band.

As well as the more traditional concerts, concerts were also given in clubs introducing vocalists, Gloucester Cathedral where John Golland’s ‘Gloucester Psalm’ was premiered to serious acclaim and Harry Secombe’s Highway programme.

50 years

He held the position of Musical Director for over 50 years and as the ultimate commitment to the Cinderford Band, during 1997 when he suffered some periods of ill health (which he did not make widely known), he continued to conduct the band whilst in the background he found a suitable replacement for himself — a very noble gesture.

In September 1997, he made his plans known and gracefully handed over his role as musical director to a younger man, himself taking a back seat as musical advisor; a position he still holds to this day.

True gentleman

He is one of life’s true gentlemen and he is respected by everyone who knows him. He has always given his time freely and many fine players have benefited from his wisdom and guidance, these include Lyndon Baglin, Robert Morgan (MBE), Kevin Robbins, Steve Walkley, Phil Turner and Jackie Gwynne to name but a few.

He commanded respect from the young and the mature with his musical ability, and many members who have known him for more than 40 years still address him as ‘Mr Chappell’.

Dedication

Whilst his dedication to the Cinderford Band is unquestionable, he has also given a great deal too every band in the Gloucestershire area.

In 1958 Cecil was appointed as the inaugural conductor of the Forest of Dean Youth Band, encouraging youth from all bands in the Gloucestershire area to join in musical harmony for their own development and helping to sustain the tradition of Brass Bands in the area.

Expertise

All bands in the area benefited from his expertise and many successful concert tours over a period of some 20 years were undertaken to Germany and Holland.

Cecil married his wife Elizabeth (Bet), also 89, in 1941, they still live in Gloucester as a very independent couple. They have one daughter, 2 grand-daughters, and 3 great-grand-children.

Professional

In his professional life, he and his younger brother Ken were partners in a well respected Gloucester Funeral Directorship, E Goodwin and Son. Ken played the ‘drums’ in the dance band and was a budding Euphonium player in his early youth and still actively supports the band as a Vice President.

Until recent ill health impacted his ability to drive, his commitment and dedication to the Cinderford band has continued: he has turned up for every concert and contest engagement and members remember him missing only one rehearsal and this was because his house had been burgled.

Selfless

Even though he has not conducted the band on a regular basis for some 15 years, his attendance continues to be exemplary; he has always put the band before himself and turned up to guide the band with the same degree of musical enthusiasm. A truly remarkable man!

First love

His first love has always been to the Cinderford Band as well as maintaining a strong interest in the brass band movement via the British Bandsman which he has subscribed to for over eighty years!

We sincerely hope this interest will continue and wish Cecil all the very best on this special birthday.