Entertainer Robert dumbfounded at surprise party

Sarah Saunderson • Published 18 Feb 2010 10:29 0 Comments

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Robert Wilson with his musician colleagues from the Rythm Sparks and Starlight dance bands, who came to pay tribute to him on his 80th birthday.

For musician Robert Wilson, leaving his Five Points home last week with his accordion under his arm, the outing was simply to attend another voluntary weekly performance at the Old Mill Club at Larganess Centre near Florencecourt.

But Muriel Scott had other ideas. Muriel, who had been organising for months in advance, had put together a programme for a surprise 'This is Your Life' that would have rivalled anything screened on television.

As Robert made his way to the Club for senior citizens, little did he know that his daughter Melanie had been waiting in a lane near his home to collect her mother Muriel to bring her to the event; that musicians and friends who played with him down the years were hiding behind screens at the Larganess Centre awaiting his arrival and friends who couldn't be there had already recorded their goodwill messages for broadcast at the event.

A pseudo-military operation had swung into action that was so secret that Robert, described in one of the messages during the afternoon as "a wonderful gentleman and a magnificent ambassador for Fermanagh", was entirely dumbfounded when Master of Ceremonies David Wilson announced "Robert Wilson -- This is your Life!".

Robert recently turned 80 and Muriel Scott just could not let the landmark birthday pass without some event to honour a man who is so highly regarded in his local community and far beyond.

The event took the form of a powerpoint presentation featuring family photographs, shots of Robert as he played through the decades and messages of support and goodwill from the many friends he had made through the years.

A son of William and Nelly Wilson, Robert was born at Drumsroohil in 1929. "The year of the Wall Street crash -- the start of worldwide depression -- what has changed," asked MC David Wilson. He attended school at Florencecourt, Jones Memorial and the Model. Old school pal Hammy Ferris was one of Robert's friends who was there on the day. He shared his memories that it was through Robert he developed an interest in sport.

The evidence of his early musical talent was remembered with recollections of Robert playing the mouth organ as a young child.

His musical career began playing with Albert Gibson in local halls, as Albert's widow Vera testified on the day, recalling Robert's love of the practical joke. Robert also played with the Melody Makers and the band Red Sunbeam with musicians from Swanlinbar and Belturbet. He also played with the famous Starlight dance band, with John and Valerie McManus, who also were there on the day. The signature tune "Moonlight and Roses" was played.

It was in 1952 that he set up his own band, Robert Wilson and the Rhythm Sparks.

The name came about when he was planning to put a piece in The Impartial Reporter, having decided that Robert Wilson and the Rhythm Swingtet was to be the new group's identity. But Jim Magee had got in ahead of him calling his band the same name, so the Rhythm Sparks were born.

An early line-up included Johnny Johnston (drums), Frank Johnston (singer), Tommy Forde (trumpet), Tommy Moran (Hawaiian guitar). Ivan McBride (Tenor Saxophone) joined later in 1959 and Leo Tapster (Alto Saxophone) and Jim Magee (Alto Saxophone) also played for the band occasionally.

When Ivan McBride left, trumpeter Ken Saunderson took his place in 1962. Guitarist and singer Romey Walmsley, Kenny McVitty (singer) and Derek Noble (Guitar) also played with the band. Raymond Ferguson (Clarinet and Saxophone) also joined the line-up occasionally. Guitarist and singer Jim Brown and brother Reggie, who played the saxophone, Brian McGandy (Saxophone), Dessie McKeown (Guitarist and Singer) and Richie Benson also played with the band. Other musicians who joined the line-up were Andy Maguire, Joe Hoey, John Sheridan and Selina Burleigh.

Attending on the day to share their musical memories were Ken Saunderson, Richie Benson and Derek Howe.

Among the mementoes guests examined over the course of the afternoon was the receipt for Robert's accordion costing the princely sum of £126 back in 1956.

Music continued to be a part of Robert's life even after the days of the Rhythm Sparks. The year the band stopped playing, Robert joined other Fermanagh musicians on a European tour in 1991. As part of the European Year of Tourism, Fermanagh District Council decided to bring Fermanagh to continental Europe. The tour took them to France, Luxembourg , Belguim and Holland. Dancer Aileen Peake sent a message recalling their tour. She remembers the "antics such as boiling eggs by running them under the hot tap in Paris".

"I'll never forget our performance on the streets of Luxembourg when people started throwing change into a role of sellotape which happened to be in your accordion case. We didn't even make enough for a Big Mac!" she recalled.

Robert even played with Eurovision wiiner Dana when she stopped off in Fermanagh.

Family, of course, plays a big part in Robert's life. He married Muriel Vance in 1952 and the couple had a daughter Melanie, who spoke about her Dad at the event. Robert and Muriel's grandchildren Ashley and Natalie were also there.

Robert has played the organ at St. John's Parish Church since 1972. Outside music, he also enjoys bowls and watching soccer.

The mood music on the day was positively upbeat as people from far and wide paid tribute to their friend. David Irvine summed up the thoughts of many in his closing remarks: "Could I thank you for your contribution to the community, for the happiness you have brought to many lives, your humour, your hard work, your contribution is immeasurable".

This article appeared in Impartial Reporter 18 Feb 10

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