James Reilly founded an award-winning harmonica band at Elmdale public school in the 1930s
They were the worst of times, those early 1930s.
But harmonicas were cheap. And when James Reilly suggested starting a harmonica band at Elmdale public school, where he was the janitor, parents and the St. Thomas school board quickly agreed.
The investment paid off big. With James directing the ensemble of boys and girls, the band won first prize three years in a row at the Canadian National Exhibition’s annual music festival – until they were told to just keep the trophy after no one entered the competition against them.
A trained and accomplished musician, James Reilly was “like the Music Man who came to town,” historian Paul Baldwin says.
He not only organized and led the harmonica band, he also started an accordion band at the school, and served as the Elgin Regiment bandmaster. His musical career also included conducting the Ontario Agricultural College orchestra in Guelph before St. Thomas.
Among members of the harmonica band was James’ son, Tommy, who inherited his father’s musicality and who grew up to become an internationally recognized harmonica soloist.
After the family returned to England, Tommy became a featured performer with both symphony orchestras in the U.K. and Europe and, in 1992, was made an MBE for his service to British music, Paul says.
In May 1982, he performed with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and returned to St. Thomas to visit former friends and tour the highlights of his youth.
All of which is a part of St. Thomas history that caught Paul’s eye while he was researching another story out of our past.
“I was doing research at St. Thomas Public Library on the history of rugby football in St. Thomas,” Paul recalls.
During this research, he chanced on a report of city man Tommy Reilly being interned in wartime Poland where he was studying violin.
Something twigged. Could this be the same Tommy Reilly, the harmonica virtuoso Paul recalled from CBC radio?
And, so, the story of the Elmdale Harmonica Band and its progeny started to emerge, as Paul explored a chapter of largely forgotten St. Thomas history he says “not many know about.”
“Well, some people in St. Thomas do, but I didn’t know about it.”
Paul is to share the story of the band and Tommy Reilly in a talk at 2 p.m. on Feb. 28 at the Elgin Heritage Centre.
Fun fact: Murdoch Mysteries actor Georgina Reilly, coroner Dr. Emily Grace on the show, is Tommy’s granddaughter.
Even funner fact: Paul was able to contact her for family history through our town’s Ben Sanders, who has a recurring role as Detective Edwards on the popular TV show.
Back almost when Moses was still wearing short pants, Angela Southern was cast in 1988 in a London, Ont., community theatre production of Evita, the very first show to be staged by what now is the venerable Musical Theatre Productions.
It was, as they say, the start of a beautiful friendship.
Through the years, Angela has performed on stage, played keyboard in the pit, and music directed any number of productions for Musical Theatre Productions and many other troupes in the area.
“Angela Southern is well known in the London theatre community and abroad as a powerhouse onstage and a tour de force in the pit,” Musical Theatre Productions officials say.
Next month, the organization is to recognize her contribution to the local scene by naming her a life member.
Angela says she feels “incredibly honoured and fortunate.”
But, she is quoted, theatre also has given back.
“The most important relationships in my life – the meetings that set me along my path – happened because of theatre. I wouldn’t be me without the people and things that theatre has given me.”
Indeed, through Evita, she met Parkside collegiate institute drama teacher Betty Anne Heikkila, now retired, who asked Angela to musically direct a school show. Angela now is performing arts head at the high school, where she has taught for 21 years.
And it was through a production of South Pacific that Angela met her future husband and collaborator, Sam Shoebottom, a fellow cast member.
Musical Theatre Productions will honour Angela on March 8 on the Auburn stage of the Grand Theatre following a performance of Stephen Sondheim’s Company, which the troupe is presenting Feb. 29 to March 9, and during a reception after. (Ironically, it’s one MTP production in which Angela is *not* involved. She’s busy elsewhere.)
And, perhaps, she will share just how her favourite memory of Musical Theatre Productions “involves a huge flower pot, grumpy dancers, Ken Sadler and a Skil saw.”
Tickets for the show are available by clicking through mtplondon.ca.
So, here’s a true story.
I’m catching up over coffee with Ian McCallum, the news guy over at MyFM, the proprietor of the must-read CityScope column, and a former Times-Journal colleague.
We are commiserating over cellphones because, if you’ve got one, and who doesn’t, these days, there always seems a horror story to tell, or even two.
Ian tells this tale on himself.
He’s just had his new cell for a couple of weeks when he leaves the radio station for a soccer game. (He’s been much involved in soccer as a coach, a ref and more.)
Getting in his car, he puts his laptop, wallet and new mobile on the roof of the vehicle to fish his keys out of his pocket.
And he forgets them there as he drives off. When he parks at the pitch at 1Password Park, his laptop has made the trip, but wallet and cell are nowhere to be seen.
Being the good reporter he is, knowing how to nose the news, he decides to give his mobile a call to see what happens.
And the woman who answers, says, “Hi, I’ve got your phone.”
She refuses a reward for its return, saying she’s just doing the right thing, which is a great thing to think and say these days.
No, she doesn’t have his wallet, but she knows it was picked up and turned over to St. Thomas police.
Ian retrieves the billfold at the police station and everything is there (not that any reporter earns enough scratch to carry any cash, just credit cards). And a laughing Deputy Chief Scott Barnes tells our man it is Ian’s lucky day, suggesting he go buy a lottery ticket.
Which is advice taken.
But here ends today’s true story.
“It didn’t win.”
You know, Macy’s may not tell Gimbels.
But Central United and First United churches are getting together March 2 for a fun joint fundraiser that’s anything but trivial.
It’s a Trivia Night that also promises prizes, a 50-50 draw, food, drinks and more. Tickets are $20 (heck, buy a table of six with a bunch of friends for $120) and are available by clicking to 1stunitedchurch.ca/upcoming-events.html or centraluc.ca/events.
What happens to your recyclables after they are picked up at the curb?
Good question.
Christian Krupa, business development representative at TRY Recycling Inc. of London, is to answer, explaining how municipalities recycle their waste, when St. Thomas Hort meets 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Canada Southern station.
All are welcome. Admission is free. There are refreshments, door prizes, a mini flower show, and a jigsaw puzzle exchange to help us get through the last of the dread of winter.
Meanwhile, snowdrops are up in the garden. And daffodils, too, in their south-facing sheltered part of the yard. They are showing yellow buds of spring promise. It’s just a few more weeks to go until the turn of seasons!
Stay well.
ericbunnellspeople@gmail.com
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