SKEOGH FLUTE BAND SPRINGS BIRTHDAY SURPRISE FOR TED
AN elderly pensioner and former bass drummer was reduced to tears yesterday as his beloved flute band gave him a 90th birthday to remember.
In a closely-guarded surprise, members of Skeogh Flute Band arrived without notice at the home of recently-turned nonagenarian, Ted Carey.
The Katesbridge man celebrated quietly with family and friends on Friday, not knowing the public musical extravaganza that was forthcoming.
The retired farmer can claim 82 years' service with the Dromore-based melody flute outfit having joined the band as an eight-year-old on the triangle before taking up the bass drum.
Since reluctantly handing over his drumsticks in the mid-1990s, Ted assumed the role of band president, which he retains until this day.
As well as playing an array of tunes on the pensioner's front lawn, including Happy Birthday, band members presented Mr Carey with a specially engraved Tyrone Crystal vase and produced an extensive photo album containing pictures of the bandsman down through the years.
Ted's daughter, Berneice, admitted her father was overwhelmed with emotion.
Describing the gesture as "absolutely fabulous", she said: "He was in floods of tears and just could not believe it. It is not every Sunday afternoon that a flute band arrives in your front garden."
Ms Carey revealed that to mark her father's 80th birthday the band organised a local artist to produce an oil painting.
She added: "I don't know anyone else who has respect for my father like this band."
Band chairman David Craig admitted it was "very important" for serving Skeogh members to recognise the occasion.
"Ted is very much revered within the band. He is very quiet, very unassuming and has very little to say but his presence certainly makes up for it," he said.
"He is very much respected by young and old and it is fantastic for us to have someone like Ted. Young ones coming into our ranks all ask about him – it acts as a good connection with the older generation."
Mr Craig said the pensioner remained within the ranks of the band for as long as it was humanly possible to do so.
"Even in his 70s he was carrying the bass drum the whole way around Londonderry without stopping or changing and he used to wonder why younger bandsmen changed the drum over. He is a typical old farmer and is as hard as nails," he said.
Skeogh, which marked its 125th anniversary in 2007, ensured Ted was guest of honour at its celebratory dinner.
Paying tribute to the 90-year-old, drum major Colin Ward described Mr Carey as an "absolute inspiration".
"Ted is unique. It's not even the fact he has been involved in the band for 82 years, it is his personality. It is the way he behaves – he is just a perfect role model for anybody," he said.
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Weather for Dromore
Wednesday 08 February 2012
Today
Light rain
Temperature: 3 C to 5 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Light showers
Temperature: 7 C to 9 C
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