THE best kept secret in Ramsey was sprung upon a surprised and delighted Reverend Ray Gillis at a Friday night concert held in his honour at Scoill Ree Gorree.
Ray, a former Grenadier Guard, recently stood down after many years as a tutor to the junior Ramsey Town Band, who go under the name of the Neptune Street Nippers.
Attending what he thought was going to be the band’s spring concert, Ray was quickly told that the evening was a celebration of his own contribution to music in Ramsey.
He was then introduced to special guest, band Sergeant Andrew Wood of The Grenadier Guards’ Band who conveyed the Grenadier Band’s best wishes and presented him with a gift.
The Town Band, under the baton of musical director Robert Quane, played a lively first half featuring George Allen’s march Bravura, O Magnum Mysterium, The Celt of Glencoe and other light music, plus a solo by tuba player Theo Leach.
Compere Alan Gelling kept the spotlight on Ray’s music career and contribution to music in the town.
Ray’s hard work with the junior town band, the Neptune Street Nippers and its impact upon the senior band was highlighted in the second half when the massed bands of Ramsey and the Neptune Street Nippers brought more than 65 musicians to the stage for a joint concert of lively music.
The finale was Cranberry Corners USA - one of Ray’s favourite pieces for the Neptune Street Nippers.
Robert Quane said: ‘Ray has recently handed on the baton of the Nippers and taken a step back from the band. We couldn’t let this event pass without doing something special that would allow the band and the community of Ramsey and beyond to acknowledge, applaud and celebrate the amazing things he has achieved through his dedication, musicianship and expertise from a lifetime in music.’
The band offered its sincere thanks to Andrew Wood for giving up his weekend to attend, to the Grenadier Guards for their willingness to contribute to an evening celebrating the achievements of one of their musicians, and to the audience.
