The Victoria Boys Band

The picture was taken at the Victoria Day Parade 1964.

"I played clarinet in The Victoria Boys Band. I also at age 7 played in the Vancouver World Famous Kitsalano Boys Band. Arthur Delamont the leader now passed was a musical genius and multi instrumentalist. When I moved from Vancouver at age nine to Langford, Belmont Senior High School allowed me to join them and soon to be doing solo 1st Clarinet. I joined The Victoria Boys Band in 1962 and played the Victoria Day Parade and played Ladysmith, Duncan, etc. For some bizarre reason I took up Trombone and played in The Victoria Boys Band and then quit around 1963. I also hung up the clarinet and took up guitar in 1963. With the Beatles causing mania it was the obvious choice".

Richard Moore

I played euphonium with the Victoria Boys Band as a kid. I believe the years were 1958-1965. The conductor then was local trumpet/band leader George Kraeling (brother of trombonist Jack Kraeling). We rehearsed at an old 'shack' near Colville Rd in Esquimalt, then moved to the scout hall on Nelson Street. Later we moved to the Jubilee Hall on Fraser Street once it had been upgraded with a new addition. We performed many parades in Victoria and up-Island. We also performed in Portland's Junior Rose Parade many years (lots of memories there). Ken Mawdsley was our Manager/Bus Driver. Other names that come to mind: Steve Mawdsley (clarinet); Gerry Cadwallader (baritone); Tim Bragg (baritone); Peter Fioran (trumpet - deceased). Hundreds of kids went through that band over the years.

Bob Cadwallader metchosin@shaw.ca