Salvation Army

Bert is pictured below receiving a frame picture of the band on 25th April 2004. Bert was presented with this gift from the band after Bert was officially transferred to the band reserves.

Pictured from left to right: Bandmaster Ian Dickie, Bert Elliot, Captain Gary Robb (Bellshill corps officer)

The following is Bert's own account of his time in a Salvation Army Band:

My banding commencing in 1933 when I learnt to play a tenor horn in the junior band at Hamilton Salvation Army. Later I transferred to Hamilton senior band in October 1941.

After playing tenor horn for several years, I moved onto the trombone section to play G trombone and remained there for 30 years before moving back onto tenor horn and then back to the trombone section to play tenor trombone.

During the Second World War, a band of about 18 boys and the older men within Hamilton corps, were able to keep the band functioning. After the war ended the size of the band increased substantially and soon saw us taking part not only in the services at our own corps, but also participating regularly in radio broadcasts.

I travelled many miles with Hamilton band under the leadership of Bandmaster Coull and then Bandmaster Jimmy Hamilton (for nearly 40 years), to take part in services all over the British Isles.

While attending Hamilton Salvation Army I found many opportunities to tell others of my Christian beliefs and experiences, particularly through working with young people in the youth group, Sunday school and boys' brigade.

After serving God for 50 years as a bandsman in Hamilton band, my wife (who had been a songster for 41 years at Hamilton) and I transferred to Bellshill corps in 1991, where we began a new chapter in both our careers and our service for God. 

At Bellshill I was welcomed into the band where I have served for 12 years under the leadership of 3 bandmasters Jim Crombie, Jackie Dickie and the current bandmaster Ian Dickie. I've found these 12 years to be the busiest and most enjoyable of my life. My particular highlights have been the many varied engagements the band has taken part in; the times spent with Stephen Cobb and Derick Kane of the International Staff Band; and the band's Easter campaign in 2003 to the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany.

by Bert Elliot