Monday, March 3, 2014

A Remembrance From Robin Hough ::

Passed on to me today from Buster:


Here's one thing I remember about our winning visit to New Orleans.  Apparently, every group had someone locally (in New Orleans) as a sponsor.  The gentleman who was our sponsor was very excited when we won the title of Greatest Band in Dixie.  He gave Mr. Basden a hundred dollar bill and told him to do something for us kids.  We had some free time, so he decided we could go see a movie.  The movie selected was "Charade" with Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn.  Here's where Mr. Basden's sense of humor comes into play.  Now, you have to remember that this was February, 1964, when a hundred dollars went a looong way!  As we approached the theater box office, Mr. Basden got all of us to hide around the corner just out of sight of the lady in the booth.  He walked up and announced he needed to purchase tickets to "Charade."  She, of course, replied "How many, sir?"  He said she almost fell off her stool when he answered "80, please."  I can see him laughing so hard right now!

Also, during the parade, we stopped in front of the mayor's reviewing stand for the trophy presentation.  I seem to remember that the mayor planted a wet one on Elizabeth Goodale, but you'll need to ask HER about that!

I guess most young people have someone they admire and look up to.  I certainly hope so.  I was lucky enough to have more than one adult like that, but Bill Basden was my hero.  He was more than my band director and tennis coach.  He was a mentor and life coach.  I played piano duets with his older daughter and played on the tennis team with his older son.  I was flattered when I was asked to play oboe at his daughter's wedding.  Decades later, when he was so ill, I played a solo recital in Houston, and I really was playing it with him in my heart.  Not too long after, I was back in Camden and went to see him in the hospital.  He looked up and said, "Well, Robin, I heard you were in town.  I was wondering when you were coming by."  I was able then to give him a recording of the recital.  His wife wrote me after his death to tell me how much he enjoyed listening to the recording many times and that he said how proud he was of me.  Boy, that got the tears flowing.  I was so glad I was able to have that last visit with him in the hospital and give him that recording.  I know I am only one of many whom he touched and influenced.  We were all lucky to have had him in our lives.

Robin


No comments: