During a recent concert at Prince’s Hall in Aldershot, Alder Valley Brass MD presented Roy Poole with an inscribed photo in recognition of his outstanding service to the band. Ian Carter, representing scaba, presented Roy with a certificate honouring over 50 years service to brass bands.
Roy started his interest in music as a boy soprano singer and went on to become a professional tenor oratorio singer, and still enjoys singing now. Roy was a drummer in the 5th Army Cadet Queens Royal Regiment and England international drum major, leading the parade in Farnham on VJ day in 1946.
His relationship with the Aldershot brass band, now known as Alder Valley Brass, started when conductor and band founder George Prior learned that Roy had purchased a drum kit and asked him to play with the band at a concert in Cranleigh. At that time Roy was only a tipper drummer, but with help from George Prior and Bruce Gentry he played in that concert and never looked back.
Roy has played all over Europe with various bands and enjoyed playing with Aldershot on the BBC Two Ronnies show and Harry Worth’s “Oh Happy Band”. Concert and contest performances have been wide and varied with both Alder Valley and other local bands. For many years Roy played with the Tadley Band where he was chairman, and he is currently a member of the Hampshire Police Band.