I can't go to Eastbourne without thinking about Major Jimmy Howe
Some of my older readers may have a vague memory of the name. I never knew or met Major Howe but every time I pass the Eastbourne bandstand I think of him. So allow me to explain.
Many of you will know about my connection with the World War Two massacre at Le Paradis in Northern France and the official website I write and edit with the help of my friend John Head and the support of the Le Paradis Commemoration Group.
During our research we came across the names of many soldiers who fought in the area in and around Le Paradis but who were not killed in the massacre. Many survived the war and lived to tell their stories.
One of them was Major Jimmy Howe. For me his story combines two of my great passions - music and history.
Major Howe survived the heavy fighting around Le Paradis to carve out an illustrious career in military music after the war. He joined the Army in 1933 and saw active service in Palestine in 1938 before being sent to France in 1939 to serve with The Royal Scots as a stretcher bearer.
He was at Le Paradis when The Royal Scots came under severe fire from the SS Totenkopf and he was taken a prisoner of war. He was forced to march 300 miles through France, Belgium and Holland, followed by a three day rail journey in a crowded cattle truck with 50 fellow POWs. He eventually arrived at Stalag 8B Lamsdorf. In the camp he formed a dance band using instruments donated by the Red Cross and others bartered from Polish prisoners and German guards.
In 1943 he was repatriated as a medic to assist with wounded British prisoners in their journey home.
After the war he became Bandmaster of The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders in 1949. In 1970 he was appointed Senior Director of Music (Guards Division) and was responsible for organising music for the Trooping of the Colour, the annual London Cenotaph Armistice Parade and for providing orchestras for state banquets at Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle. He was awarded an MBE for his services to military music.
Major Howe retired from the army in 1974 and went on to direct concerts for the BBC. In 1983 he moved with his wife to Eastbourne where he was closely involved in organising band concerts and was vice-president of the national ex-prisoners of war association and president of the Eastbourne branch of the Dunkirk Veterans' Association, amongst many other official positions. During the 1960s and 70s he brought The Scots Guards Band to Eastbourne for two weeks' of concerts each year.
For many years he organised the attendance of Royal Norfolk and Royal Scots veterans at the annual commemoration events in Le Paradis.
In 2002 his autobiography "A Conductor's Journey" was published. He died at the age of 87 in 2005.
The above is taken from the web site www.leparadismassacre.com.
The photographs of Major Howe are from the same source.
Whilst on the subject of Eastbourne, following yesterday's blog Julie Sparkles sent me a wonderful photograph of the pier she took last year. It really does put mind into the shade and I hope she doesn't mind me reproducing it at the end of this blog.