If you have a story or memory you wish to share please email bandmaster@rdtc.org

The early years

I am now 62 yrs old & I have still real fond memories of the band.I was in the band as an E flat trumpet player, promoted to 'tipper' and then ended at the back of the band as one of the four solo E flat trumpets.

I remember the White City Tatoos and all those competitions that we went to.

I believe it was in 1959 that Dick Bouchard arranged for the whole band to go to the Essex Regiment based in Brentwood (now FORD Motor head quarters) and had us square bashed by the regimental Sgt. Major for two days and practicing our music too. That year the band won everything going and beating all other bands especially our local rivals the Romford British Legion Band!

Also, we all went off the Calais, and showed the French what the youth of Romford could do. Had so much applause.

As the band had old army uniforms I remember the hard work getting our uniforms up to scratch especially whitening the belt and polishing the brass buckle & buttons.

I tip my hat off to Dick Bouchard and his brother for the perseverence they took in us and the pride in marching along side us. Also the 'Pike brothers'& one cousin ( all cymbol players) got onto a childrens T.V show and featured what they did in the band.I remember us doing this for BBC T.V at the Dagenham Greyhound track.

After leaving the band I joined the Romford Civil Defence Brass Band and then took a major step in 1970 in joining a Championship brass band (Newham) and ended up in 10 national Finals at the Royal Albert Hall and 2 British Open contest finals in Manchester plus numerous T.V and radio broadcasts.Without the start that the RDTC gave me I would never have got this far in my music.

Thank you Dick. I am still living in Hornchurch but not playing any more.Ian Bennett

Ian Bennett

So many memories

I remember that incident at Harold Hill Community Centre with Andrea Barrett, my dad still talks about it everytime we drive past it. I think everyone felt embarrassed for Andrea.

I also remember the cold Sunday mornings practising in the old Odeon mutli-storey car park for the Royal Albert Hall.

I remember our trips abroad to Lille, Bolougne, Calais & Lunden. To this day some 21 years after meeting the memebers of Verein Lundener Speilleute we still go back and visit them and they come here and visit us.

There are so many memories from my good old days in the RDTC that I couldn't possibly fit them all on here

Sharon Reynolds (Green)

Amazing Times

What times we had and things we did. I could go into school on Mondays and tell of things that the other kids could only have dreamed of doing,like marching in the Battersea Easter Parade, playing in Billy Smarts Circus,appearing live on Sunday Night at the London Palladium. The fantastic band holidays will always stay with me. Sleeping in army barracks on damp mattresses staying in schools in the Isle of Sheppy and Hotels in the Isle of Man. Then the serious business of band contests. Square bashing with Mr B at Chelsea barracks and Mr B telling the guardsmen that they did not know what hard square bashing was.We would all work together to put on some great performances.

The band and the people I knew and shared my young life with were my family as much as my friends. Thanks to Dick Bouchard I have had and still do have a career in music and have played my trumpet in many styles of music all over the UK and Europe. Dick taught me that no matter where I play that every performance was important. Whether at the Savoy Hotel or the local working mans club give the audience a show. I also met my wonderfully wife Geddy in the band and we celebrate thirty years of happy marriage together this year.

Congratulations on the 50th year and I am looking forward to my forthcoming performance with the oldies band at the reunion. Come on you lot get your hair cut and get rehearsing with us on Thursdays. Oh and Mr B deserves a knighthood for what he has done for the youth of Havering.

Steve Conner

A message from Coventry

I am an outsider to your band but having just read the article in the IMMS journal "Band International" it brought back memories of the late 60s early 70s when I was Drum Major of The City of Coventry Corps of Drums. In those days we used to tour the contests when the judges had the impossible task of comparing E flat, B flat and full brass and woodwind. A lot has changed now but it's good to see the Romford tradition carries on and I congratulate you on reaching 50 years old. In support of this I will place my order for your CD as soon as I have finished this note. Incidentally those of you who remember The City of Coventry Corps of Drums may be interested to know that they celebrate their 60th this year. Good luck for the future.

Mick Hefford

American Tan Tights!

My funniest memory of the band is when we had a photo shoot at Harold Hill Community Centre. We were told only photo's, no marching involved. My best friend at the time Andrea turned up in full uniform and told me she didn't have tights on because her mum could not find them (in those days girls wore the most amazing american tan tights with our band skirts). So I said "what have you got on then?" she replied "My Mums stockings tucked in my knickers and they keep falling down". As we stood chatting she kept pulling them up. "Don't worry it's only pictures,We only have to stand there you'll be fine".

Oh no Bouchie being Bouchie had other ideas. Why waste a big hall like this when we can march!! The look on Andrea's face I could have died for her. "what can I do" "just march, remember you can't stop for anything". We grabbed our instruments which at that time was cymbals, and we were eight years old. We fell in, her face was red as we stood to attention. We began to march as we turned out to the 3 circles playing the Can Can I glanced over at Andrea,her head held high crashing away on her cymbals with very wrinkly legs. I began to laugh as did the drummers. She put her cymbals in one hand to pull the stockings up. Too late she dropped one of her cymbals SMASH!! Bouchie gave the Bouchie stare, then jumping up and down going red in the face, blowing that famous whistle.

The band stopped, Andrea nearly died on the spot. Her stockings were down round her ankles, Standing there knock kneed. The band tried to stiffle their laughter, Bouchie shouted "Girl Barrett what have you got on" Andrea stood there my heart sank. She was going to cry, Bouchie was mad! He gave her a right earbashing about correct uniform, the band couldn't hold in the laughter any longer. We all began to laugh and laugh and Andrea's face broke into a smile. Bouchie found his sense of humour and saw the funny side. Andrea was excused and the band carried on as usual, Bouchie had managed to control us all, as he always did.

Andrea was saved by good old Sheila Lamb, she had a pair of the famous American Tan tights in her bag. She saved all of us from a good telling off at one time or another

Heidi Cotterell

Girls V Boys

Having spent 12 years with the band there are so many memories. From carnivals to television shows, winning contests, many band holidays, sunday morning practices getting freezing cold, when the boys and girls band split into two and went head to head in a contest, shame we never beat the boys but we did beat the Haverettes and finally, the band playing at my wedding. These are just a few long lasting memories.

Tina Ray (King)

The Early Days

I am now 60 yrs old and was a member of the band known then as the Romford Borough Drum and Trumpet Corps, I can remember the first trip abroad or the band sailing on the MV Royal Daffodil from Southend pier to Calais where we had a quick march through the town and an even quicker bite to eat but it's a nice memory. We held band practice in those day's in a small school in Albert rd Romford. I was also a competetor at the swimming competitions held at Mawney rd Baths and won 3 cups which were presented to me by Mr Bouchard ,its wonderful to see the band on the web and I am proud to have been associated at one time if anyone can remember me they are welcome to contact anytime. I have retired to the Philippines.

Tony Stretch

Many Memories

Jersey, Isle of Man, Colchester Tattoo, Band Contests, great people well supported by a large group of hard working parents. Our social evenings at the old band hall near Romford Football Club. Not a drop of alcohol in those days, but great times had by all. Many thanks Dick Bouchard

John Munson

Famous Places & Faces

I have so many great memories of all our many shows, and the same amount of energy was put into every show from a performance at a village fete to performing in front of Royalty. I remember doing an evening cabaret at London`s "Cunard" Hotel in the mid-seventies which was spectacular and has stayed in my mind. It was a very glamourous show. I still have my two "Blue Peter " badges which have been regularly admired over the years by my sons` friends. They are not so happy that I have mislaid the Bobby Moore autograph which I got in 1970 when the band opened a sports shop in Romford. Perhaps it will turn up one day! The comradeship in the band was second to none and it was lovely to have a life with such a purpose at such a young age. See you all soon!

Valerie Timmers (Acres)

Candlelight cabarets at Bedfords Park School

I remember one particular evening Bouchy had his back turned to the band talking to the parents about the next tune we were going to play. When he turned back to the band his list of tunes that he always had on his lyre had gone! Everyone was almost wetting themselves with laughter as it was attached to the end of Charlie Tyler's trombone slide going backwards and forwards in front of Bouchy's face and he did not even notice for ages.

Sharon Green

Lets Remember!

Come on all you old band members lets all get together and reminise the old days in May & October it will be fun to get together again so get in touch and let me know if you make it.

Pat Eastwood (Stone)

Famous Faces

Sunday Night at the London Palladium with Jimmy Tarbuck and Charlie Drake. Blue Peter ( I've lost my badge - my daughter still hasn't forgiven me and she was 31 last week!). Billy Smarts funeral, brilliant band holidays in lovely Sheerness getting tipsy on cider - those were the days!

Jean (Butler) Pounder

Lyme Regis

The best memory I have is when we went to Lyme Regis, all sleeping in the dormatories and tying Alan Wisdom up in his sleeping bag, getting drunk on cider witht he lads, going fishing to catch mackeral gutting our catch and cooking them.

The the serious business of the candellight parades and the shows on the promanade in the marquee. A jolly time was had by all.

Tom Blunderfield

Isle of Man

John Grace

Cromer

My memory is when the band went to cromer, I enjoyed every parade and also when I won the talent contest I was flaberguasted but it was also very tiring. At first i didnt want to leave romford but once we got there I felt great.

Maria Cardwell

Friendly Rivalry

We went on to beat Hornchurch with my 5 new tunes which for me was brilliant.

Kevin Lee (Stretch)

1966 World Cup Squad

A favourite memory was playing at the Hilton Hotel in London, in a boxing ring, at a Variety club dinner - playing a fanfare for the England 1966 winning world cup squad. To add to an already special experience I also received the first of my three Blue Peter badges!

Ron Yorston

Albert Hall Contest

My overriding memory of my time in the band is the Royal Albert Hall competition. We would spend three months practicing at Harold Hill Community Centre or the old multi storey car park on Sundays. Bouchy would quite often go a rather peculiar shade of purple whilst screaming and shouting at us.

On the day you had the horrible wait in the bull runs backstage prior to going onto the arena. Once it had all started it was the quickest 15 minutes of your life. It was always a good experience and I seem to remember we had a number of victories.

Happy Days!!!!
Glad to see the band is still going strong and by the look of things, are having a fair amount of success

Kathryn Evans

Photo’s & Video’s Wanted

For us to celebrate the 50th year we would like some photos of the band in the past and/or yourself in uniform. If you can scan and email any photo’s you have , or post them to 27 Orchard Road, Romford, Essex, RM7 8HR. Also if you have any videos of the band such TV appearances and Royal Albert Hall or Wembley contest video’s we would like to put together a compilation of the bands history for next year.

We will return them back once copied!!!!