A Salute to Brother Bill Medland
FROM THE COUNTY ORANGE LODGE
A Salute to Brother Bill Medland
Today the County Orange Lodge of Toronto is pleased to pay tribute to Bill Medland. Bill was born in Toronto’s east-end in 1931 and marched in his very first Twelfth Parade in 1935. “My father, Syd, played snare-drum with Prince of Orange O.Y.B.291 Band; I very young and was carried by Bunky Swift when I tired. His early memories are of old-timer Stan Swift and his boys Bunky, Johnnie, Jimmy and Gordie and Drum Major Norm Taylor. Bill played flute with the “Dian”Juvenile Flute Band from 1941 to 1947 and remembers that the Dian Band had over thirty of their members in uniform. A fond memory of Bill’s is of the 1945 Orange Parade which went along Bloor-Danforth to Coxwell and then south ending up at Kew Gardens. The Exhibition in that year was full of military personnel, of the forty-three members of Dian Band; twenty-eight of them were in service uniform.
An athlete in his younger days, Bill played football at Danforth Tech and pitched fastball for various Toronto teams, necessitating many weekends being tied up with tournament play.
Brother Bill Medland first affiliated with the Orange Association as a member of Toronto’s Joshua L.O.L.154; years later he joined Tobermore 2391 and afterwards transferred his membership to Port Perry L.O.L.3272, in the town where he and his wife Donna now reside. Leaving the Dian Band in 1947 Bill joined as a player with Tobermore Flute Band and stayed with them until 1960, then took a few years off for family and vocational reasons. In 1966 Bill joined the Sons of Derry Flute Band (later changed to Derry Flute Band) and stayed with there until 1994, serving for many years as Bandmaster. Derry Flute Band under his direction went overseas on three occasions, parading in Limavady in 1982 and in Coleraine in 1987 and in 1990. Bill recalls that during the 1960’s, 70’s and 80’s members of Toronto flute bands joined the Queen’s York Rangers band and performed under their Bandmaster Harry Hibbard,(“the best I ever knew”).
In 1994 Bill started the Haliburton Silver Flutes. Many youth of that town have learned to play musical instuments and have been fortunate to be part of a marching unit due to Bill’s commitment. This dedication led him to receiving, in 2007, a Governor General’s Award for Caring Candians from Her Excellency, the Right Honourable Michaelle Jean. The award was presented as recognition of the positive role Bill had played in young people’s lives. We are again pleased to have the Haliburton Silver Flutes with us today.
Earlier this year Bill celebrated his 80th Birthday, we wish Bill, Donna and their five children the best in all future endeavours. The County Orange Lodge of Toronto pays tribute today to Bill Medland for his dedication and commitment to being part of this parade over the many years that have transpired since his first having taken part.
Submitted by John Wells – County secretary – June 23, 2011
Article appeared in 2011 Parade Programme
← back
