My treasures include a collection of 19 lead soldiers depicting the Fort Henry guard. Of the 19, only 4 were purchased from the gift shop at Fort Henry.
Where the rest came from is one of my 1970’s Pipes and Drums stories.
Fort Henry
My father loved to travel and every summer we traveled/camped. The many hours spent in the car are not one of my fond memories of the 1970’s.
I can say though that I’ve been pretty well everywhere worth seeing in Ontario and parts of the Maritimes.
Our travels included visits to a restored 1830’s British Fort in Kingston Ontario – Fort Henry. Amazing place (google it).
I still to this day remember the fresh bread baked in the original kitchens of the fort. It was to die for and maybe why I’m a bread fanatic to this day.
The reenactments were pretty amazing as well.
Meet Bob
First though I want to introduce Robert Fairburn (Bob). He was a tenor drummer in the Toronto Scots Pipes and Drums.
I was impressed by the bands tenor drummers the first time I watched them. They were what they call flourishing tenors.
There were seven of them that swung tenor sticks in a synchronized routine that was amazing. The equipment was so old school. They had wood drums with skin heads that were tensioned using rope.
As is common in Highland Regiments they wore real leopard skin aprons. Fully kitted out – show stopper.
Oh and Bob, important to note that he was really into Model Soldiers, especially those made of lead.
Bob
Doctors of Music
Side story – come on admit it, you were expecting one weren’t you?
Notice the white jackets in this picture from a performance at Toronto City Hall.
Pretty fancy with all the accessorizing right. Would you believe that they were made of the same white cotton material used in doctors uniforms and surgical gowns?
It’s true, I remember having to order a few of these from the surgical supply company that custom made them for us.
They were forever being washed which is why we each had a few of them. Each wash involved involved removing all the buttons and badges, heavy scrubbing and copious amounts of bleach.
A real pain in the ass but worlds better than our regular performance jackets. Made by Ascott Clothes of Toronto, these wool lined jackets were an artifact from the early 1950’s. Thankfully they were relegated to winter use only.
Four becomes Fourteen
Back to my story and the mystery.
Really not that much of a mystery at all. The storyline goes like this….
Toy Soldier geek gets his hands on new toys, takes them apart and creates many parts. As a thank you I received my soldiers.
Sure there are a few missing parts.
Most obvious is that one of the drummer is missing his head, which given my 70’s experiences, isn’t all that unexpected.
But for being 40 plus years old they are still pretty cool.
So there you have it. New territory for this website – a pipe band story that doesn’t involve any debauchery, alien abductions or otherwise borderline risky behaviors.
Kind of seems out of place doesn’t it?
But it’s one of my treasures – memory shared.
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