1961 Canadian Tour 14th Aug to 6 Sept

14th Aug to 6th Sept 1961   TORONTO EXHIBITION (Canada) (Paid £1,000)  

14 Aug 1961         The MEN O’ BRASS were asked to take part in the “Canadian National Exhibition” in Toronto (28 Day Tour) with the Canadians paying the wages of those involved.   Over 70 Year’s old Bob Shepley and Hubert Sheargold were unable to attend as insurance companies wouldn’t insure them against illness so when a press  photographer was asked to do a picture of the oldest and youngest members of the band it fell to Joe Moores (oldest - Trombone) and James Charles (Jimmy Charles) who had only joined the band in December from his local band. Trying to balance the picture wasn’t easy as Joe was a tall man with a long trombone and Jimmy a small boy with a cornet. It was decided that to make a better photograph both men would hold a cornet something that Joe was not happy with.

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HARRY MORTIMER RECALLS THE TOUR

The various companies agreed to the tour on the condition that Harry pays their wages. Harry agreed and while the band members were on tour he arranged for the usual payments to be sent to their wives of the players according to the band members wishes, some of whom only wanted their wives to have the usual amount they themselves gave them each week with the rest of the money being paid to them on the tour. The band also had to get to Canada and so Harry hired a BOAC plane to get them to the other side of the Atlantic. The plane was due to take off at night after the band had said goodbye to their families and had made a farewell broadcast from the BBC’s Maida vale Studios in London. 

The plane had the standard all trip bar which Harry asked them to close at 1am UK time so that the band could get some sleep before arriving in Toronto. 

When the plane arrived the Canadians had laid out a breakfast table at the Hilton Hotel for the band which included bottles of whisky, gin and brandy and large amounts of food. Tommy Morecambe (Morris Motors) the bands Manager had arranged for them to rehearse at the CNE Bandstand at 2pm which was promptly cancelled as the band were not going to be in a fit state after all that food.

The band were able to have trips away from the concerts including one to the Niagara falls where the band played an impromptu concert trying to compete against the falling water.

There was one casualty of the tour when one of the members lost a tooth, costing $2 to replace.

(Adapted from “Harry Mortimer On Brass” ISBN0906670047)