The Port of Spain Pathfinder Band
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| The Beginning
This Drum Corps, he thought, would serve different purposes in the Port-of-Spain Zone, namely: to create that foreseen needed positive alternative; to develop the musical talents of interested youths; and to provide appropriate music for parades, temperance marches and other programs; To quote the Corps first constitution, "This band would quench the need for the production of music that contains that distinctive Adventist flavour reflecting the philosophy of the church. This band would be a united influence with a huge motivating factor, be it resolved that the Port of Spain Drum Corps be established." On August 30th 1993, registration for the Port-of-Spain Drum Corp (POS Corps) commenced. The Corps was to serve the Port-of-Spain Zone but its members, leaders and supporters came from all over Trinidad and Tobago. Fundraising activities were developed and contributions were sought after; however these proved to be very unsuccessful. With no money and a group of eager to learn youth, Harris and the Corps administrative core were forced to begin practice sessions at the South East Port-of-Spain Seventh-day Adventist church without any of the needed instruments. Members brought there own pieces of Guava branches to be used as drum sticks and pounded on the tables of the children's department - their make believe drums. Despite the limited resources and dim future, members continued attending practice sessions and the membership of the Corps continued increasing. After a few months, practice sessions were organised with the help of the Sangre Grande Drum Corps. This alliance with the Sangre Grande Drum Corps proved to be of significant importance in the making of the POS Corps. It was through this alliance that members were finally taught the rudiments of playing the different instruments that made up the Corps; had the opportunity of playing on real instruments; got their fist set or drum stick - these were made by a skilled woodworker, a member of the Sangre Grande Corps. Later, the Port of Spain Drum Corps was granted the privilege of using the instruments of the Trinidad Fire Band. One fire officer in particular, Officer Hayden Arthur, played a very important role in the evolution of the style with which the band plays, and by which the band was eventually distinguished. Arthur became the principal tutor of the drummers. He dedicated time and effort to POS Corps as if he founded the organization. It is no wonder that he was later made an honorary member. After a lot of practice the band set the date of its first parade; September 25th 1994.
The First Disappointment On the 19th September 1994, Pastor Hugo Murray visited the Corps practice session to access its readiness for passing out. Less than ten days before the Corps first parade the disappointment came. The Corps was informed by Pastor Murray that it was not ready for passing out. Pastor Murray expressed the deftness and competence required of each member to afford the Corps the honor of passing out. He also informed the members that the Corps can play at parades without being passed out. The news came as a great disappointment to the members of the Corps. After all the practicing and sacrificing the goal was unattainable. Mixed emotions flowed through the Corps in clashing directions. But the show went on. The POS Corps played for its first Parade and it was, at least for the members, a great success. The bands second parade was later that same year in Piparo. Not long after those two, the Corps lost its privilege of practicing at the Fire Services Band Room.
The Second Disappointment On the 10th August 1995 our leader and coordinator, Brother Winston Harris, went to rest and awaits his Lord’s return. He was riding his infamous motorbike on his way from work when an oncoming 20-ton truck struck him. His funeral was on the 14th August 1995. The Fire Services allowed us to use their instruments one last time and we played for our first funeral. He was a great leader and motivational force, and he is indeed missed. From that juncture onwards the Port of Spain Drum Corps was on a downhill trend. The Corps returned to tabletop practice sessions and slowly the membership started to dwindle. By the end of 1995 the membership was down to a just about 15 members - and all were never seen at the same time. An attempt to hold and election and to restore the band to a fully functional state failed in December 1995. In July of 1996 some members of the corps accepted an invitation to play with the Cadet Band for the upcoming Independence Parade. This venture opened the doors for the POS Corps to practice at the Cadet’s Band Room. The Corps then developed a very special relationship with the Cadet Band. In 1996 the faithful members decided, once again, that it was time to organize their own elections in an effort to bring the band to order. After the elections it was decided that if the band was to be revived there new recruit were needed. They therefore campaigned, recruited new members, and with the help of the Cadet Band started practicing for the upcoming Masterguide Fair. Once again the Corps played at the Masterguide Fair that year, 1996, and showed the world that the Corps was still alive. With the help of the Cadet Band the Port of Spain Drum Corps was able to play at various sporting events, Temperance and Drug Marches and Masterguide and Pathfinder Fair up until November 1997.
Glory Days Perhaps, the greatest achievement and the most significant milestone of the corps was the purchasing of its own drums. In August 1998 the corps brought 7 snare drums, 2 tenor drums and a base drum from Japan. The entire purchase was carried out by a group of very young Adventist youth committed to being successful. Before the purchase was made, they had had a chain of very profitable fundraisers. With God in the midst eager committed youth, there was no stopping. They contacted instrument making companies over the internet from many different countries. They chose their company, cleared some tax obstacles, organised shipping, made their payments and brought their instruments home. That is was a joyous occasion, is an under statement. That God was victorious was seen by the use of the instrument over the years that followed. Spanning over a two years period from 1998 to 2000, with the Sangre Grande Corps non-functional and with the CUC Corps membership out flux, the POS Corps was having its best days ever. With local parades, national parades, sporting events, anti-drug marches, AY programmes, family days and more, the POS Corps was in high demand. That they were the only fully functional Corps for most of that period is a fact, but the quality of music that they began delivering would have set them way above the competition if they had competition. The Corps even played the American National Anthem at the Piarco Airport to welcome the US Attorney General into Trinidad and Tobago. The Corps became the best know Marching entity within the Adventist Church. Many times the Corps had to split in parts to fulfill engagements that were too important to pass up but too close to each other for the entire Corps to attend. Members were stretched. But they enjoyed it. Soon every young person wanted to join the Corps. By Mid 1999 the Corps was approximately 50 members strong and on the road it sounded like a 100 member contingent. To be continued...
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Send mail to TyronneWaldron@yahoo.co.uk
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The Port-of-Spain Corps,
now called The Port-of-Spain Pathfinder Band, was the brainchild of one man, Winston Harris.
Harris was the leader of the, then, Port-of-Spain Zone of the South Caribbean Conference of Seventh-day
Adventist during 1992-93. During his tenure as leader of the Port-of-Spain Zone Harris saw the need for a
positive alternative to the many ills which competed for the mind of the youth of Port-of-Spain.
His pursuit of this alternative led him to the wonderful idea of starting The Port of Spain Zonal Drum Corps.
