An “old timer” has returned to Dumfries Town Band.
The ornate wooden case wall clock was a gift from his bandmates to Henry Wells on the occasion of his wedding more than 100 years ago and has been a treasured heirloom to generations of his family.
However, Henry’s great-grandson, Calum Gray, and his wife Julia, have decided to ring in the changes and returned it to the band as a lasting legacy for future generations of musicians to appreciate.
It will now be hung on the wall of the Dumfries band hall for all to admire and enjoy.
Calum said: “The clock had been hanging on the wall of my parents’ house all of my life.
“It travelled with my mum and dad across all of the UK and also Turkey and Spain when they lived abroad.
“Earlier than that, my granny lived in Dumfries and Glasgow, so the clock would also have travelled to those places with her.
“It was an important part of family history for my granny who’d had a difficult life.
“She contracted polio when she was young and was only unable to walk with difficulty since then.
“I’m sure she could have sold the clock when times were tough, but she kept hold of it as it had belonged to her parents.”
It is uncertain what instrument Henry played or what role he had with the band.
Dumfries Town Band chairman, Gillian Tweedie, said: “We were absolutely delighted when Calum and Julia offered the clock back to us for putting up in the band hall. It is such an impressive timepiece which represents a happy moment in our band’s history.”
