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ABOUT THE BAND
East Bank Protestant Boys are a flute band from Londonderry, Northern Ireland. The Band was formed in the Irish Street area of the City in 1973 and is still based in the estate today. We have close links to both the Apprentice Boys of Derry and the Orange Order in the City and also take part in many parades and concerts across Northern Ireland as well as in England and Scotland.
East Bank Protestant Boys are a flute band from Londonderry, Northern Ireland. The Band was formed in the Irish Street area of the City in 1973 and is still based in the estate today. We have close links to both the Apprentice Boys of Derry and the Orange Order in the City and also take part in many parades and concerts across Northern Ireland as well as in England and Scotland.
BAND HISTORY
The Formation
The idea of forming a band first came to the fore in 1973 with Northern Ireland going through the worst spell of the troubles. From this idea the Irish Street Sons of Ulster emerged. After months of fundraising the band eventually began to take shape with the purchase of one key flutes, side drums, bass drum and cymbals.
Under the instruction of the late Tommy Wallace (then a leading member of the Hamilton Flute Band) the band began to practice in the Irish Street Community Centre on Saturday Mornings.
The fundraising continued and enabled the band to purchase uniforms. Jumble sales, work sales, street collections and various other ventures were the order of the day. Band uniform was to consist of an orange jumper, blur tabby bow, white shirt and black trousers.
After months of practice a date was finally set for the Dedication. The 31st July 1974 was to be the bands first outing.
The Transformation
In late 1979 recruitment for the Sons of Ulster slowed down, partly due to members marrying and work commitments.
Rising standards throughout Northern Irelands bands was clear to be seen. Jumpers were being replaced by jackets and the musical ability was improving all the time. With the numbers dwindling the Sons of Ulster ceased to function. However there was a will among some of the members to keep the band going.
It was decided that the name of the band should be changed to East Bank Protestant Boys Flute Band. This alone was enough to give us the boost that was required to attract new faces to the band.
The approach was also to be different. Regular band practices were compulsory, if you missed two band practices in a row without an excuse you would be expelled.
Although our first uniform was still jumpers, and in the same color as the original band, it was our intention from the outset to purchase jackets as soon as our funds would permit.
With many members having played the flute or drum before it didn't take long before we were ready for marching again. The band now had 24 flutes, 6 side drummers, two bass drummers, two cymbal players and a leader.
The Formation
The idea of forming a band first came to the fore in 1973 with Northern Ireland going through the worst spell of the troubles. From this idea the Irish Street Sons of Ulster emerged. After months of fundraising the band eventually began to take shape with the purchase of one key flutes, side drums, bass drum and cymbals.
Under the instruction of the late Tommy Wallace (then a leading member of the Hamilton Flute Band) the band began to practice in the Irish Street Community Centre on Saturday Mornings.
The fundraising continued and enabled the band to purchase uniforms. Jumble sales, work sales, street collections and various other ventures were the order of the day. Band uniform was to consist of an orange jumper, blur tabby bow, white shirt and black trousers.
After months of practice a date was finally set for the Dedication. The 31st July 1974 was to be the bands first outing.
The Transformation
In late 1979 recruitment for the Sons of Ulster slowed down, partly due to members marrying and work commitments.
Rising standards throughout Northern Irelands bands was clear to be seen. Jumpers were being replaced by jackets and the musical ability was improving all the time. With the numbers dwindling the Sons of Ulster ceased to function. However there was a will among some of the members to keep the band going.
It was decided that the name of the band should be changed to East Bank Protestant Boys Flute Band. This alone was enough to give us the boost that was required to attract new faces to the band.
The approach was also to be different. Regular band practices were compulsory, if you missed two band practices in a row without an excuse you would be expelled.
Although our first uniform was still jumpers, and in the same color as the original band, it was our intention from the outset to purchase jackets as soon as our funds would permit.
With many members having played the flute or drum before it didn't take long before we were ready for marching again. The band now had 24 flutes, 6 side drummers, two bass drummers, two cymbal players and a leader.
Contesting
Although we are mainly a marching band, we have on several occasions entered various flute band contests. We entered the NW contest, the Londonderry feis and we have also played in the all Ireland Flute Band Contest which is held in the Ulster Hall in Belfast each year.
They say its the taking part and not the winning that counts. Although we were among the prize winners on more than one occasion, it was the learning of all these marches and hymns, under the direction of Billy Calms, that greatly improved the playing standard of the band.
We also improved in our appearance, changing the uniforms in 1989 to black and sky blue. During the first month following the purchase of these new uniforms we attended parades every Friday and Saturday night and we collected no less than 15 trophies. This was the proof that the contesting had brought us to a new playing level and the new uniforms had given us the added style and appearance.
Although we have not competed much since the late 80s we still set ourselves the same standards now as we did then. Indeed in December 1999 we purchased 20 new Miller Wicks flutes and six side drums and a bass drum costing in the region of £4500.
Concerts
In recent years we have been taking part in a lot of concerts, band nights Ulster-Scots evenings and of course our trip to Blackpool to the end of season Rangers party.
Band nights seem to be a new trend in Ulster, although it has been popular in Scotland now for a long time. It is only during the last few years that it has become popular here, but I must admit they make a pleasant change and are very enjoyable evenings.
They involve meeting a lot of friends, both old and new, and it gives us a chance to listen to other bands playing at close quarters, something you can't do while on parade. We had a band night ourselves in Irish Street Community Centre in 2001. This turned out to be a very successful evening, we had five bands playing on the night to a very enthusiastic audience , raising £600 for our band funds in the process.
We also played in Ballymoney Town Hall at an Ulster Scots evening. This was run by Dunaghy Flute Band. The concert was recorded on video and when we watched the replay we were quite surprised by the quality of our performance. you don't appreciate how well you sound when you're actually playing.
Although we are mainly a marching band, we have on several occasions entered various flute band contests. We entered the NW contest, the Londonderry feis and we have also played in the all Ireland Flute Band Contest which is held in the Ulster Hall in Belfast each year.
They say its the taking part and not the winning that counts. Although we were among the prize winners on more than one occasion, it was the learning of all these marches and hymns, under the direction of Billy Calms, that greatly improved the playing standard of the band.
We also improved in our appearance, changing the uniforms in 1989 to black and sky blue. During the first month following the purchase of these new uniforms we attended parades every Friday and Saturday night and we collected no less than 15 trophies. This was the proof that the contesting had brought us to a new playing level and the new uniforms had given us the added style and appearance.
Although we have not competed much since the late 80s we still set ourselves the same standards now as we did then. Indeed in December 1999 we purchased 20 new Miller Wicks flutes and six side drums and a bass drum costing in the region of £4500.
Concerts
In recent years we have been taking part in a lot of concerts, band nights Ulster-Scots evenings and of course our trip to Blackpool to the end of season Rangers party.
Band nights seem to be a new trend in Ulster, although it has been popular in Scotland now for a long time. It is only during the last few years that it has become popular here, but I must admit they make a pleasant change and are very enjoyable evenings.
They involve meeting a lot of friends, both old and new, and it gives us a chance to listen to other bands playing at close quarters, something you can't do while on parade. We had a band night ourselves in Irish Street Community Centre in 2001. This turned out to be a very successful evening, we had five bands playing on the night to a very enthusiastic audience , raising £600 for our band funds in the process.
We also played in Ballymoney Town Hall at an Ulster Scots evening. This was run by Dunaghy Flute Band. The concert was recorded on video and when we watched the replay we were quite surprised by the quality of our performance. you don't appreciate how well you sound when you're actually playing.
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