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Ivy Rennocks – Wright’s Commanders Band, 1930s
Faith Ivy Rennocks (known as Ivy) was born in 1916 and lived with her parents Arthur and Alice Rennocks at 10 Mansfield Street Quorn.
In the 1930s she joined Wright’s Commanders Band, a thriving group of about 100 until war broke out and it had to disband.
On the 30th July 1938, Ivy married PC Maurice Davie in Quorn Church, where band members formed a guard of honour. The couple settled in Leicester and Ivy’s band days were over.
Ivy died in July 2003, aged 86.
Below is a press article from May 1991. The 1937 complete band picture (Artefact 281) was in the newspaper a few weeks prior to this, and Ivy was one of the former members who responded with her memories.
May 1991 LOOKING BACK
Carnival Band Photo Strikes the Right Note
THE PICTURE of Wrights' Commanders Carnival Band, featured in this column on April 16, has provoked a good response from readers who remembered their time as part of the colourful troop.
"We wore red jackets, white skirts or trousers and a black hat with a white feather," said Mrs. Dot Whelband (73), of Durham Road, Loughborough.
"It would be nice to meet some of them again. I was thrilled when I saw the picture."
She explained how the band members were adorned with lights as part of their costume, so they cut quite a dash during evening parades.
Former bugle player Mr. George Hall (71), of Barrow-upon-Soar, remembered his family's connection with the band — his three sisters were also members.
When Mr. Samuel Ball (81) turned to the centre pages he was delighted to see his wife in the picture.
"My wife was 28 when it was taken. I recognised her straight away. They used to do wonderful torchlight parades, with bands from all over the area."
Childhood memories of watching the band practice on Beeches Road came back for Mrs. Baker of Loughborough.
"We children were drawn like a magnet on sunny Saturday afternoons to watch the display. One of the pieces regularly played was 'When the poppies bloom again'..
"When I hear this on the radio I'm back at the five barred gate on a Saturday afternoon. Ah! happy days," she said.
Mrs. Ivy Davie (76) of Leicester has her friends to thank for sending her a copy of the paper with the band's picture in.
She said: "I was the lady leader in 1937. I lived in Quorn at the time but a year later I married a policeman and moved to Leicester ."
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Submitted on: |
2025-10-07 |
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Submitted by: |
Tony Danvers |
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Artefact ID: |
2630 |
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Artefact URL: |
www.quornmuseum.com/display.php?id=2630 |
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Print: |
View artefact in printer-friendly page or just on its own (new browser tab). |
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