Frederick George Carter – “Nick”
24th August 1929 ~ 3rd August 2025
A small group from the band were honoured to play at the funeral of our former Musical Director on 5th September at St. Dunstan’s Church, Cranbrook.
Among the group were David Newsom and myself who were taught to play at school by Nick over 40 years ago, as well as Alan Smithers and Viv Lovewell, the 2 remaining members of the band who had played during Nick’s tenure as Musical Director.
In a moving service, his son and grandson paid tribute to Nick before the band accompanied the mourners in the hymn “Guide Me, O Thou Great Redeemer”, shortly afterwards playing “Dear Lord And Father Of Mankind” unaccompanied before we finished with the final sung hymn, “Abide with me”.
Remembering Nick
Nick learnt his musical skills with the band of the Royal Fusiliers which he joined in 1947. During his time with them he attended the Royal Military School of Music at Kneller Hall where he won the prestigious Cousins Memorial Prize in 1953.
He left in 1959 and returned to Cranbrook where he worked as a postman and later a peripatetic music teacher with Kent Music School.
To avoid confusion, Fred who shared his fathers name was known as “Nick”, and he took over the reins of the band from his father in the 1960s where he began the process of rebuilding a somewhat depleted band.
As a music teacher, Nick worked in many of the local schools providing brass lessons to eager youngsters. He also masterminded the “Massed Bands” concerts which saw many school wind bands and brass groups in the area combine with the Town Band to put on a spectacular annual concert for parents throughout the 1980 and 90s. Often chaotic and always a lot of fun, they gave participating children a first taste of what it was like to perform on a stage to a large audience and left a lasting impression on all who attended.
A personal favourite was the Saturday morning 10 piece group from Angley school which Nick ran for many years and gave the perfect step up prior to joining the Town Band. Nick used his influence to great effect and many of his pupils were introduced to the Town Band when they progressed far enough, and so as he retired and handed the baton over to Ian Lanceley in the mid 1980s, the band consisted of a very healthy youth contingent fresh from Nicks tutelage. After his retirement we didn’t see a lot of Nick, he preferred to let the new regime continue without his interference, but he would always stand outside the Cramp club and give us a wave as we marched by every Remembrance Day.
I will always remember my first music lesson with Nick, I am sure it was his infectious enthusiasm that kept me playing throughout my school years and I will always be grateful for the musical skills Nick taught me. I can’t begin to express how much I have enjoyed the last 40 years performing with the Cranbrook Town Band, something I would never have experienced without Nick’s patience and kindness.
Nick was known to many and in the area and will be remembered fondly by those of us who had the privilege of being taught or conducted by him.
Mark Hayman
