Musician’s Final Note after 77 years with Band

Eric Mackness-Retiring after 77 years service with the Rushden Mission Band.

A Musician has played for the last time after 77 years as a member of the same band.

Eric Mackness, 87, of Oakley Road, Rushden, joined Rushden Mission Band when he was ten.

His grandfather and father were among those who founded the band in 1898 and Eric decided to follow in their footsteps, first learning to play the cornet.

Over the years he has also tried his hand at the flugelhorn, soprano cornet and trombone before ending on the baritone horn.

Mr Mackness lives in the house where he was born and worked as a shoemaker in the RAF and at a former Rushden shoe manufacturers Jaques and Clarks. He has also worked as a postman.

He said: "I joined the band because it was like tradition and I’ve stayed for so long because I loved it. Over the years I’ve seen many new faces and there have been more than 15 conductors.

"When I was seventeen I won the Northamptonshire Junior Cup for a cornet performance and we also used to take part in contests."

Mr Mackness, who has two children and five grandchildren, performed his last  concert in March and retired from the band last  week due to poor eyesight.

Band secretary Karon Rice said: “It’s sad that he has retired. He is a good friend and will be greatly missed. It’s like the end of an era."

Cornet Player David Rice who has been a member of the band for 57 years said: “There is a lot of loyalty in the band and Eric was always there. It’s sad but we shall keep in contact.”

At his last concert Eric was presented with a CD player, and several CD’s including “Brassed Off”.  In his younger days Eric was a keen cricketer and Karon arranged for Northamptonshire cricketer and Umpire Peter Willey to present his leaving gift.

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