Welsh Journals

With many regrets that I have to write about this. 129 A similar letter was also received from a visitor from Gloucester. The council responded by placing notices in and around the Pavilion asking for silence while the orchestra was playing. Miss McDermott played at Llandrindod for the 1938 and 1939 seasons. For the former season her orchestra shared the Rock Park Pavilion with the Golden Rays Concert Party. In 1940 Glyn Samuel's Orchestra provided music for concerts and dances for the season having previously played at the Grand Pavilion, Porthcawl. With Training Regi- ments in the town the council maintained the orchestra throughout the year. Glyn Samuels had to end his engagement in December 1940 as several members of the band had joined the forces. Trumpeter Evelyn Hardy and her orchestra played until April 1942, having previously been employed at Minehead. With her departure, Thelma Hammond and her orchestra arrived in the town. Her orchestra, which had played at the Pier Pavilion, Plymouth, until it was bombed, was made up of five players. Miss Hammond herself played alto saxophone, violin, and clarinet. There was also a tenor saxophonist who doubled on the 'cello, a violinist. a pianist and a drummer. This versatile group played for concerts and tea dances until 1945. With the departure of some of the training regiments. in 1944 the council sought to end the year round employment of the orchestra but continued the contract on assurances that further regiments would be arriving in the town. Miss Hammond had difficulties in maintaining her orchestra in the face of increased demand for lady musicians as more and more men were called up. The council never paid highly and players found they could obtain more lucrative engagements elsewhere, such as with ENSA, for example. She had to pay above the usual rates for a series of suitable violinists, who were essential for light music concerts. With the end of the war Glyn Samuel's orchestra returned, playing daily morning and afternoon concerts. Sunday evenings saw Community Singing with audiences of three and four hundred being recorded. Other engagements included playing for a tea and concert for the senior inhabitants of the town organized by Mrs Worthington. As well as the Sunday concerts with local artists, concerts were also, organized in conjunction with the Development Association, and these featured professional soloists. In 1946 there were Celebrity Concerts at the Grand Pavilion, with principal singers from Sadlers Wells and Covent Garden, including on June 29th, 1947, Joan Hammond. The Thelma Hammond Orchestra returned in 1950 and for the Carnival Dance they were augmented by local players. For the annual Bowlers Concert at the Grand Pavilion in August they accompanied Walter Glynne. The Rock Park Pavilion was rebuilt yet again in 1951, the older shutters being replaced and the building renamed the Winter Garden. The building was re-opened by Sir Ernest Canning on May 16th. The concert which followed featured the orchestra playing a Selection from the Merry Widow and the Skaters' Waltz. There were solos from Lyn Shearn and Sheila Northwood, and dances by girls from the County