Frank Eatwell, 4-2-1930 - 22-11-2020 An appreciation from Roger Trobridge. For most of his 25 years of active committee work, Frank was the membership secretary and welcomed everyone and helped them when he could.
I spoke with Frank after he retired and here is his story in his own words. Frank wrote: I was born in 1930. I joined the Army aged 18 in 1948 and served until 1969, with postings in many countries. Like many of my generation, I took up the harmonica when I was in the Forces. My first harmonica was a Hohner Echo de Luxe, tremolo tuned. Most players vamped, playing chords and melody. I couldn’t, but I could pick out a tune and soon realised the need for sharps and flats. I bought my first chromatic when serving in Hong Kong, a 10-hole Thorens (Crossbow), but then I found my first 3 octave chromatic, which became my instrument of choice.
90 YEARS YOUNG Roger Trobridge Chairman 2000-2012 Between 1980 and 2006, when Frank stood down from the committee, almost everyone in the NHL would have met Frank, either when they joined the NHL or when he was on the NHL Help Desk at our festivals.
I was soon playing popular tunes, and I bought my first harmonica record - ‘Comedians’ Gallop’ by Jerry Murad and the Harmonicats. I was self taught, but I got lots of musical help from the Regimental Bandsmen. The Army Radio broadcasts featured Ronald Chesney and Sidney Shaw, and my knowledge and technique improved a lot. On my return to the UK from Hong Kong, I joined the Hohner Song Band League, which soon became the NHL. I became aware of great players like Jim Hughes, Douglas Tate and Dave Beckford but never met any of them until the 1980s as the Army kept sending me abroad. I formed a five man group, the Harmonica Hoboes, when I was in Germany, and we performed in the NAAFI clubs and hospitals. It was a wonderful time until I was asked to go to the Far East again. An Army padre asked me if I would go with him to small units and play hymns for them. I found it a very profound experience. I was fascinated by steam engines, and I built a small one when I was in the Army. After leaving the Army I became a founder member of the newly formed Banbury Steam Society and spent many happy days taking part in the Original Bloxham Rally in Banbury – one of the biggest and best traction engine and steam roller shows in the country. After leaving the army in 1970, I had very little contact with any other harmonica players. I rejoined the NHL in 1979 when John Tyler was in charge and I began to attend all the functions. Hohner passed the NHL over to John Walton in
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