Madam, – What a pleasure to read Hugh Oram’s piece on Nell Kane, (An Irishman’s Diary, April 7th). As a member of her orchestra, I remember travelling to Newry to give a concert in the 1950s, getting off the bus and seeing B Specials wandering around with guns strapped to their waists and armoured cars in the background.
When we were settled on stage ready to start, it occurred to Nell Kane that we were in a different jurisdiction and the question of what national anthem to play arose. Direct as ever, she turned to the audience and asked, what anthem do you want? They replied with one voice, “Our own”, leaving her none the wiser. She made the right choice in playing the Irish national anthem, judging by the applause. It was just as well, because we didn’t have the parts for the British anthem.
I am sure that all the old members, still around, wish Nell Kane a very happy and long retirement. – Yours, etc,