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THE OSHAWA TIMES, Seturdey, Februsry 26, 1966 3A MRS. KATE COPPING, 74, AT PIANO PREDOMINANTLY DISTAFF... The 23 members of a unique and popular Oshawa musical organization known as The Golden Age Club Band believe in that old adage: "Life doesn't really begin until 60." Organized in June, 1960, at the Simcoe Hall Settlement House on Simcoe st. s., the band has an age-scale ranging all the way from 60 to 84. One re- cent retiree was 90. Thé group -- all are members of the Distaff Side except Percy Danniels, the enterprising 79- year-old leader and one of the original founders -- started out without serious pretensions. They made their public lebut at a district picnic for senior eitizens in Cobourg in July, 1960 -- that seemed to start the ball rolling in a big way as they quickly widened their scope of musical activity. Today they appear regularly at large public functions in Osh- awa and district. PROUD ACHIEVEMENTS They scored their latest hit on two successive daily appear- ances last December at ban- quets for more than 900 Gen- eral Motors retirees staged by Local 222, UAW-CLC, in the UAW Hall on Bond st. The Golden Agers have other achievements of which they are justifiably proud, including their second-place prize won Tast July in the open Parade competition for the Oshawa Folk Festival ('"'We were at our best that day," says Danniels "but there was a better musical aggregation, 'The Sweet Ade- lines'. We'll beat them next time, especially if we have our uniforms."') Danniels says he doesn't mind being the only male in a pre- dominantly female _ group. "We get along well together." He is a native of Kent, England, and was employed for 30 years in the Paint Depart- ment of General Motors here. He likes to talk of the "fine"' performances of his 79-year-old wife, Elizabeth, also a found- ing-member of the organization who plays the cymbals, who has also helped him in the organ- ization and. administration work, Miss Bessie Brown, 84, who performs on the Triangle, was also praised by him for 'fine performances."' "We were a pretty amateur- ish-looking group when we-first started out," said Mr. Danniels. '"'We were short on instruments -- only had a drum and a few trinkets. No wonder they laughingly referred to us as 'A Kitchen Band.' Plenty of prac- tice and hard work overcame that situation. Danniels said that the Golden Agers stay pretty well away from "the modern stuff," lean more heavily on such old and sentimental favorites as 'Pack Up Your Troubles in Your Old Kit Bag," "Waltzing Matilda," "Under The Old Apple Tree." Danniels says the band only practices twice monthly now, but they hope to increase that schedule in 1966. BIG OBJECTIVE Their big objective at pres- ent, he says, is. to get regular band uniforms -- white blouses and black skirts for the ladies and a gold-colored coat for him- self to signify The Golden Age Club (Senior Citizens' group of the Simcoe Hall Settlement | House, which they represent). "We don't know yet how we will raise the money for the uniforms, but we have many friends and we feel that they would like us to have them." Tne" band's" equipment at present consists of drums, piano, tambourine, cy mbals, shakers, accordions, bazookas, triangles, but they hope to en- large on this line-up. The band has another prob- lem--transportation. They usual- ly make out in this regard, but it does sometimes create a problem because, as Mr. Dan- niels explains: "None of our members drive cars." Keep a close eye on those Golden Agers. They are fast becoming one of the better-known musical organizations in this city. Give Them The CHANCE To Enjoy Music Now! Qualified Teachers of . . . @. Spanish Guitar' @ Steel Guitar @ Piano Accordian. ' ) Apptitude Test et Neo Cost. {Loaner Instru- ment Supplied During Apptitude Period) Canadian Conservatory of Music , 735 Erie St. 723-0101 (Station Plaza) MRS. BESSIE BROWN, 86, PLAYS TRIANGLE ARM ENDE® DANCING Bill Raisch, who plays the one-armed man in The Fugitive on TV, was a dancer until he lost his arm in the Second World War. All popular makes and models, of cors in stock. We also have availoble complete racing facilities with very reason- able rates. Pollard's Hobby ~ Shop 92 Simcoe N. 723-9512 _ ... MANY PROUD ACHIEVEMENTS Golden Age Club Band Unique, Popular FOR THE FINEST IN COLOR SEE YOUR COLOR TV STORE PARKWAY TELEVISION FULL YEAR PARTS and SERVICE WARRANTY 918 SIMCOE ST. N. 723-3043 "We Service What We Sell . . . Ourselves"