THERE was a special reason why the departure of Bletchingdon Band for a contest in London was delayed – the conductor’s wife was giving birth.

The coach had arrived before dawn and the musicians were ready with their instruments.

But no-one was prepared to leave until the baby had safely arrived.

Bob Reason came into the world at 5am at the family home in Heyford Road, mum Dolly could rest and the band could at last set off for the capital.

The band included five members of the Reason family – Bob’s grandfather Dick, father Bill, the band’s conductor, and Bill’s three brothers, Arthur, Richard and Les.

Bob recalls: “The band attended many fetes and functions.

“At band contest time, having one bandsman in the family is enough for anyone, but to have five at one time, was bedlam. Uniforms had to be cleaned and pressed, there had to be clean shirts all round and shoes had to be polished.

“Then all the instruments had to be cleaned and polished.

“The whole place would be in chaos.

“When contest days arrived, everyone was on tenterhooks.

“Rehearsals had taken place in our spare time over the previous few weeks, and this was the culmination of all that preparation.

“Even the girls in the family helped with the cleaning, preparing packed meals and clearing up afterwards.”

The churches at Bletchingdon and Kirtlington also benefited from the family’s musical skills, after they moved to Oxfordshire from their native Wales in search of work at the car factories in Cowley.

Bob, who now lives in Camborne, Cornwall, writes: “The churches suddenly acquired a new sound – the family, being Welsh and choir trained, mostly had fine voices and would sing in harmony.

“Teenager Dorothy, already a fine young pianist, learned to play the organ and eventually took over that position when it became vacant.”

  • In the photograph of the band, conductor Bill Reason is in the back row, on the extreme right, and Arthur Reason is standing next to him. Richard is the middle of the three trombone players. Les is one of the boys sitting to the right, although we are not sure which one.