Herbert Twitchin
From Sawiki
Present with his parents at the opening of the Regent Hall was young Herbert W. Twitchin, not then eight years of age. The family linked up with the corps, the father becoming one of the first sergeants. Trumpeter Sheard became Bert's boyhood hero and the youngster made up his mind that, given the chance, he would play a cornet.
How he reached his ambition is now history. As a cornet soloist `H. W. T.' became world renowned. He played variation solos years before they were popular in the Army and rendered the first arrangement of this character to the International Music Board in 1926. His own compositions, 'Silver Threads' and 'Wondrous Love ', are popular solos of this type. He toured Canada and the U.S.A. in 1927. His musical thoughts at the piano, upon which he accompanied his cornet solos, were a feature of 'Rink' festivals for many years.
After serving for twenty-five years as Deputy Bandmaster, Herbert Twitchin became Bandmaster in 1909 and served with distinction in that capacity for thirty-seven years. He was admitted to the Order Of The Founder by General Evangeline Booth upon her retirement from office in 1939, and in 1946 was awarded the MBE for sixty-four years' voluntary work with Salvation Army bands. He retired a year later.
Bandmaster Twitchin was honoured to march at the head of his band through the gateway of Buckingham Palace on four subsequent occasions-on Armistice Sunday, 1918, Peace Sunday, 1919, in March, 1932 (the fiftieth anniversary of the `Rink' corps and band), and April, 1946. At the conclusion of the programme in 1932 the Bandmaster was conducted to one of the state rooms to be presented to King George V and Queen Mary, with whom were their grand-daughters, Princess (now Queen) Elizabeth and Princess Margaret. The party had listened from an open window and the King revealed his great interest by discussing the instruments, the men and the music played. Pointing in the especially bound programme to the title of Eric Ball's selection, `The King of kings', His Majesty commented: `This piece is very appropriate'.
`I went back to my bandsmen and the waiting crowds', said Bandmaster Twitchin, `thanking God that He had allowed me this high honour in the fiftieth year of my connection with Regent Hall Band, and also proud of the fact that I had been able to represent Army bandsmen everywhere for the first time in the home of the English monarchy'.
His happy Salvationism won for Bandmaster Twitchin many friends. Although he encountered what some would consider to be more than his share of life's sorrows and disappointments, his faith came shining through the darkness and despair, and smilingly he would dedicate himself to the future.
This happy spirit was not reserved for the public platform. It was in evidence in the band room during those never-to-be-forgotten monthly spiritual meetings when his 'family' would gather around him and share fellowship and eschange experiences, thus strengthening each other for the battle of life.
In his business, too, he was the genial `governor'. From a Smithfield Market van boy he became managing director of a large firm of provision merchants, and throughout the long years revealed during the week the same brand of Christianity he preached on Sundays.
Bandmaster Herbert Twitchin was promoted to Glory on October 21, 1954, just a month after his eightieth birthday.
