Local Band Mourns Long-Serving President

At its regular Wednesday evening rehearsal, the Boxted Methodist Silver Band (BMSB) paid tribute to William (“Bill”) Kettle, who died on Saturday 24th October after a short period of illness.

Bill was a stalwart at Boxted Methodist Chapel until its closure in 2019 and a member of the BMSB from 1954 until his passing. Bill first joined the Band playing the trombone before accepting the position of Conductor. He went on to conduct BMSB for 25 years from 1967 to 1992 (also stepping in from 2004-2005 during the terminal illness of his successor, Tony Page). Bill became Honorary President of the band in 1995 – a position he held until his death.

Commenting on Bill’s passing, Russell Sawyer (current Chair of BMSB) said, “the thriving Band we have today would not exist without the determination and enthusiasm Bill and others showed to rebuild the Band when it only had around seven players at the end of the 1960s. Bill continued to be a passionate supporter of the Band until the last. We owe him a great debt”.

Victoria Steinitz, Conductor since 2010, commented, “Bill’s dedication to BMSB was second to none. In my youth, he frequently conducted the training band and, when I took over the baton, he gave nothing but wise words and encouragement. His passion was unending and generations of brass players throughout East Anglia will mourn a local legend.”

Last Wednesday, Mr Sawyer led prayers of tribute, and the Band played the hymn “And Can It Be” to the tune Sagina – one of Bill’s favourites and often termed “the Methodist anthem". In serendipity, the Band was accompanied by rousing singing from members of Lexden Choral Society, who had joined the rehearsal in preparation for their annual Remembrance Concert at St Botolph’s Church on Saturday 7th November.

Funeral arrangements:

27th November, 1pm, at Wimpole Methodist Church