My Grandfather (Kirstin’s) was the conductor of the Royal Navy (England) band. Gramps was ‘loaned’ to the Royal New Zealand Navy to assist them with establishing their own band. He decided not to return to England and instead settled in Devonport, Auckland. Unfortunately, his musical abilities missed my generation, and I am just rubbish at anything musical (in fact, so bad my recorder teacher at Primary School used to ask, “who is humming down their recorder – it sounds terrible?” it was me). However, that does not stop us from supporting and providing musical opportunities for others. Three Miners donated a class set of ukuleles to Clyde Primary School to enable the children to learn to play (so much better than the recorder, if you ask me).
