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Page 10 WEST VANCOUVER HISTORICAL SOCIETY March 1994 Mr. Arthur W. Delamont - Master Bandmaster. Following are a few of Mr. D.’s career dates. He was bom in 1892 in Hereford, England where he acquired his early musical experience playing in the local Salvation Army Band along with his father and four brothers. The family settled in Moose Jaw in 1908 where Arthur worked as a grocery clerk for 6 years. He married in 1917 and they had 2 children. He moved the family to Vancouver in 1922 where he played in bands at the Pantages and Strand theatres until the advent of talking movies. He formed his first band at General Gordon School in January of 1928 which evolved into the Kitsilano Boys Band. The first mention of overseas success was a European tour with the Kitsilano Boys Band in 1934. There is a picture of Mr. Delamont’s Mass Band at the Orpheum Theatre 1935. The list of bands includes the West Vancouver Band, Kitsilano, Grandview Junior Band, Vancouver Girls’ Band, U.B.C. Band, General Gordon Band, R. Grey School Band; 240 musicians in total. Shelley Fralic wrote an interesting article about Delamont for the publication “Canadian Musician”, Vol2,No 5, Sept/Oct 1980. Delamont was a perfectionist. He expected and received perfection from the members of his bands right down to the colour of their socks and their posture while playing! It was his tradition to open all concerts with “Oh Canada” and finish them with “God Save the Queen”. He received a record209 awards; conducted at five World Fairs and took his band to 39 European cities. In Febmary of 1963 (Van Rovince - Feb 12/63) Delamont conducted a Kitsilano Alumni Concert at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre to celebrate the 35th Anniversary of the Kitsilano Band. Many of his former band members were there to play for him again; notably Dal Richards, Jim Pattison and Alan Young. He won 160 international awards while leading the Kitsilano Band. Arthur Delamont passed away at the age of 90 in Vancouver. He died suddenly September 12, 1982 while walking back to his seat after making a presentation at a Masonic Meeting. (Van Sun obituary by Denny Boyd, Sept 13, 1982) Delamont received the Order of Canada in December 1979. Point Atkinson Lighthouse - To Be a National Historic Site. The September 17A8 weekend has been set for the Official Declaration of Point Atkinson as a National Historic Site. This honour is the culmination of the efforts of many individuals who have worked diligently to have the historical significance of Point Atkinson Lighthouse acknowledged across Canada. Hopefully, this new National status will result in Point Atkinson's development as an interpretive centre for the history of aids to navigation on the West Coast. There are many valid reasons why Point Atkinson Lighthouse should be chosen for this honour: • It was one of the immediate results arising from British Columbia joining Confederation in 1873. • In 1876 the wife of the keeper gave birth to tbe first white child bom in West Vancouver. • First operating as a light in 1874,it was the northern most light on the West Coast until 1898. • The new concrete tower poured in 1912 is as old as the Corporation of West Vancouver. • During World War II it was armed and manned as part of the network of coastal defence. The West Vancouver Boys’ and Girls’ Band Two Anniversary Booklets have beenpublished, a 25th in 1951 and a 50th in 1981. A copy of the 50th Anniversary booklet may be found in the West Vancouver Memorial Library clipping file and informationfromthe25thAnniversary booklet is available through theWVHS. Further Information is available through theWestVan Band Association. At a May Day celebration in 1930 the music of a Boys’ Band from Vancouver prompted the question, “Why can’t we have our own Band”? For one man in particular, Mr. J. E Condon, it was to become a driving ambition. Mrs M. Masterman and other members of the school board, together with Mr. and Mrs. Condon, assisted by Tom Russel and others, became the nucleus of the first band. Mr. and Mrs. Condon dealt with all the worrying and financial affairs of the stmggling young band during those first difficult years. Jack Condon, forever planning and scheming to make ends meet, was ever ready to help and encourage, giving his time and more in a manner not generally realised by the community. The Band’s debut. May Day 1931,was under the baton of Jack Condon, acting temporarily as Bandmaster. Jack’s commitment to, and association with, the Band continued for many years. The List of Music Directors published by the West Vancouver Band Association in 1981 is as follows; Arthur Jordan, 1931 -1933; Arthur W. Delamont, 1933 - 1958; Cliff Bryson, 1958 -1963; Len Whiteley, 1964 - 1970; Roy A. Comick, 1970 - 1978; Jeff Kennyon, 1978 - 1981.