Ref the Old Hat Band, the tune paired with Lucy Farr s March is called ‹ I think I recall correctly (some toerag has absconded with my tape so I haven t got it here to check) ‹ the CENTENNIAL March. Are we talking the same tune as the Centenary?

If so, then the following may be of significance.

Old Hat s late box player, Mel Dean, was a neighbour of mine and he used to sit in with our band sometimes. It may be relevant that Mel would only play English music, in fact the OHB still only does English so far as I know. So, since the Centennial is doubled up with Lucy Farr s (which I know to be English) on their first album, I d guess we are talking English ‹ or maybe an anglo version (you know how tunes migrate, get modified and then get claimed!)

If anyone knows Katie Howson of the OHB (lives somewhere in Suffolk) well enough to ask her, then she might be able to shed some light on the matter.

Sadly I cannot ask Mel because he died tragically a couple of years back. But I still think of him fondly whenever we do Babes in the Wood, a tune he taught me, as well as Lucy Farr s and the Centennial. Mel was a brilliant player on both English and anglo concertinas, and an ace melodeoniste too. He was also a great bloke to have alongside at a gig; very funny and, ironically, always so cheerful. There s a lot of people miss Mel.

Anyway, I hope the above is of some help or interest in the search for the origins of the Centenary.

FreeReed