Thomas Rive’s Spirit of Joy (featured by BCB under Bandmaster Bram Williams at the Royal Albert back in 1967) set the scene for a wonderful evening of celebration of the life of Bandmaster Bramwell Williams.

We welcomed back to the corps members of the family, including daughters Patricia, Marilyn, Ruth and Pamela. Joined by bandsmen spanning many BCB years and other friends, we were all able to share in an evening of memories reminding us vividly of Bram’s dedication throughout all of his many active years.

Just how do you pack into less than two hours, memories of so many years of service?

We were reminded that Bramwell arrived at the Citadel back in the early 1930s, transferring from the West Bromwich corps with his parents. And so began years of total involvement in a very busy corps life.

The writer of this article (back in the 1950s an impressionable YP bandmember) has memories of standing outside the Citadel in Corporation Street on many a Sunday evening awaiting the return of the senior band from their open air ministry and being almost blown away by the sound of Victors Acclaimed and more particularly by the sight of those sousaphones (one of which was played by Bram) heading the impressive BCB march.

The songster brigade augmented by ‘volunteers’ from the congregation chose to sing Eric Ball’s The Awakeners as a tribute and reminder of Bram’s years from 1952 – 1955 as songster leader at Birmingham Citadel.

It was in 1955 that Bram was commissioned as bandmaster. What a formidable task, following in the footsteps of retired Bandmaster
BT Langworthy. But it was a challenge that over 29 years, until his retirement in 1983, he more than rose to.

Tributes from Pamela (representing the family), and Melvyn Owen and Vincent Hayward (both of whom had worked alongside Bram as band secretaries), reinforced our memories of Bram’s special qualities. We were reminded of his very ‘impressive’ persona, of his untiring commitment throughout his years of service and of his being such an ‘encourager’ both within the corps and also within his involvement over the years in the Divisional and National School of Music where he influenced so many young lives. Bram would have been thrilled to listen in on our YP sections as they shared in our evening of celebration.

The evening was blended together by CSM Martyn Pearce (one of nine of the current BCB privileged to have directly experienced Bram’s leadership qualities). A very poignant part of the programme included video clips prepared by Martyn for the band’s reunion in 2008. September 5th 2010, and Bram was back with us sharing just a few of his memories of his time with BCB.

Dean Goffin’s To God Be The Glory and congregational songs such as Simply Trusting and We Are Marching On and our doxology Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow were often featured in Bram’s programme planning for the numerous band engagements - the band travelling widely both in the UK and abroad during Bram’s leadership. Once again on this occasion the sentiment of the words associated with them reminded us of Bram’s very positive witness throughout his years.

For many, the Red Shield March, Bramwell Williams and the Birmingham Citadel Band are synonymous. It was fitting therefore that this celebration evening should finish with a rendition of that march. There could have been no finer way to salute the memory of Bramwell Williams and to thank him for the wonderful source of encouragement and inspiration that he had been to so many over so many years.

Words: Keith Watts
Pictures: Gordon McKee