Garrison Fields

Chapter 22 - Life inside

The boys quickly began to adapt to their lives in the orphanage. They had followed in their father's ability, in being able to learn new ideas quickly. Their father had also been able to pick up most instruments given to him and before he had even learnt the scales, he would be amusing himself by playing it by ear. The boys seemed to have acquired the knack without knowing it and were to be given instruction at the mission.

The band of the orphanage was mainly a brass band, though there were several other instruments which had been donated over the years such as violins and a cello. The boys found themselves at liberty in their time at the mission to explore many instruments and would grasp the fundamentals of several of them. They learnt to read music as well. It must be emphasised that the mission band would lead a procession to the main church each Sunday with the resident girls and boys from the orphanage marching behind. In the summer they would perform at several band stands on public and bank holidays and take part in other events on weekends, sometimes at the Roker Park bandstand, if a slot was available. This was the public face of the mission. It was Matt and Luke's ticket out of the orphanage and allowed them to see something of the world outside the orphanage. Those who didn't, soon institutionalised, especially those who had been put into the care of the orphanage at a young age.

Jacko had asked Matt if he could play any music on that first day. Both Matt and Luke had been brought up in a musical house and could knock a tune out of a squeeze box and a piano when Matt told him he looked disappointed.

'That's a pity.'

'Whys that?' Asked Matt.

'Well getting in the band, that's why!'

'Why do I want to get in the band?'

'Because if you get in the band, you get excused from most of the dirty jobs as you have to do music practice, and you go on trips out.'

'Oh, well me and Luke can play a few other instruments.'

'What like?'

'Well, I use to pay the baritone and Luke the flugal horn.'

'He played what?'

'The flugal horn.'

'What in the name of god is a flugal horn?'

'It's like a really big cornet.'

'Oh, where did you learn to play those?'

There was indeed a look of interest on Jacko's face was it he was really interested or just curious to find out, where these instruments which Matt had tried to hide been learnt.

'We used to be in the Salvation Army Citadel band at Lambton Street, we had to go up to three times on Sunday and then for band practise once during the week!'

'The Sally Ann! Well, why didn't you say, you've got it sorted!' Jacko paused for breath and then continued, there was real enthusiasm in his voice.

'If you want to join the band, I'll take you and Luke to the Bandmaster. He's always looking for boys to join, he gives them a trial for a few months to see if they have an aptitude. If you two can play already, well that's half the battle won!'

And so, on that evenings parade, Jacko made an excuse for them all to leave the dormitory. He requested permission of the Duty Officer to see the Bandmaster, who patrolled the dormitories during that period before their free time ensuring that, they were getting about their tasks such as cleaning their uniforms, polishing their boots or buckles perhaps on their uniforms, blancoing the gaiters they wore on their dress uniforms for Sundays.

Those boys who had been caught on a morning with their uniforms not up to the required standard or perhaps a face unwashed would have to queue up at the end of the evening parade to show, the offending article or extremity cleaned. They were as it was known in the book this was filled in each day and the offenders would either have the offence cleared off if suitable or if it appeared, they were not correcting the item to the required standard thy would be given a dirty job, which would be written into the book, this book appeared to be like a bible for the duty officers to review, to decide on the most suitable punishment for the perpetrator.