The Sound of Drums
(Written last Thursday night, then completely forgotten about!)
It’s seldom that I find myself sat in the cold confines of an empty reference library, but here I am, sat in the cold confines of an empty reference library on a rainy Thursday evening proudly watching my brother teaching children how to drum.
I’m here at the old reference library building in Trowbridge. It’s a cold asbestos-filled florescent tube-lit concrete shell of a building that can at best be described as post apocalyptic, yet it teems with life as the strains of Colonel Bogey are being played with a passion from the hall on the upper floor.
Trowbridge Reference Library - a fantastic space once full of files and records
In this hall, twenty-odd children are marching up and down whilst pounding on drums and xylophones - my brother, Tony, and his ex-army chums bark out orders and heap encouragement on the young band members as they march. This is the tentatively-titles Trowbridge Corps of Drums, a new group of people who, save for my brother and colleagues, only a few months ago had never marched or drummed before. Their progress in this short space of time has been quick, so quick that the group plan to march in the Remembrance parades in November.
For me, the best part of all of this is seeing my brother doing not only something that he enjoys, but something that brings enjoyment to others. After years of silly family arguments and petty fall-outs I feel so proud watching him do all this marvellous work.
I think I’ll come along again next week and offer my support. Do you think they’ll have need for a Stylophone player?
