A PICTURE in the April 11 issue of the Times showing a Tavistock band has sparked a flood of memories from a reader 'down under.'

Merv Collins, a former Tavistock resident who joined the Royal Australian Air Force and who now lives in Fitzroy North in the state of Victoria, was fascinated by the picture and recognised the Tavistock Salvation Army Band, circa 1950.

It prompted Merv to send the Times a related picture of the Tucker family in 1940, to whom he was related.

He said: 'The Tavistock Salvation Army Band, very active in the town and the district in those days, was manned — there were no women members then, women played the tambourine! — by members of my extended family, the Tuckers.'

In the April 11 picture there are five Tuckers, including the bandmaster, Len; brother, Bill on the cornet and his son, Cyril, the middle trombone; and Harry (drummer) and his son, Les.

It also included Dick Collins, Merv's father, on drums, who married Ellen Tucker (Nell).

Merv added: 'The band and the corps, which has had a renaissance in recent years, diminished as young people, including Tucker family members, moved away for employment reasons.

'In the end, for a while, the only bandsman left was Bill, who played his cornet beautifully in services into his nineties.'

Bill was a well loved Tavistock personality known not only as a Salvationist, but as a council worker, St John Ambulance officer and all-round sportsman.

He bowled fast and is still reputed to have hit the biggest six ever from the Ring, finishing up halfway down Pixon Lane!

Merv said: 'The sons of the family were taught well and became good musicians.

'Les and his brother, young Harry, were cornetists with several good bands in the area; Cyril, an engineer by trade, later taught trombone at Mount Tavy School.

'Ivor Dolbear was perhaps the finest instrumentalist of them all, a soloist in his teens, later a warrant officer and drum major in the RAF Central Band, a player of great repute —and a fine footballer and wag to boot!'

Merv is still a great lover of Tavistock and will fly over from Australia to be at a special reunion of the class of 1953 from Tavistock Grammar School.

He and his classmates will be celebrating and reminiscing at their 60th anniversary to be held at Tavistock Golf Club on May 25.

Merv concluded: 'I feel fortunate to have been brought up in Tavistock environs and to have been educated at the great grammar school there.

'It's stood us in good stead over the years. I add to that my gratitude for the time spent at the "Army" up Kilworthy Hill. It was a blessed childhood in so many ways.'