Over the years, the Guelph Concert Band has had many different musicians in its ranks. However, there are certain people who have donated years of hard work and service to the band and without them the band would not be what it is today. For these dedicated individuals the Guelph Concert Band occasionally awards an "Honourable Lifetime Membership". The following individuals have received this prestigious honour in recognition for their many years of service.

Bob Randell

• awarded on March 18, 2001 at our concert "Rhapsody and Blues" at River Run Centre with a special plaque.
• Bob Randell played trombone in the Guelph Concert Band for over 50 years. He is fondly remembered for his fall Corn Roasts which he hosted on his farm just outside of Guelph. Bob retired from the band in 2000 on the advice of his doctor. Although he is longer able to play trombone, Bob continues to be a highly skilled guitar and banjo player. As Bob himself said, "I just played in the town band, and had a heck of a lot of fun doing it."

Ross Irwin

• awarded in November 1995 at the band's Annual General Meeting.
• Ross Irwin played euphonium in the band for many years. For many of those years he was also the Secretary for the Band Executive. As well as serving on the executive and as a dedicated volunteer with the operation of the band, he also did extensive work organizing and indexing the band's archives at the Guelph Public Library. He also wrote many essays about the history of the Guelph Concert Band, and wrote a book entitled Early Bands in Guelph while also President of the Guelph Historical Society. Ross first joined the band in 1963. Ross retired from the band in 1995 after playing in the band for 32 years.

Bill Quant

• awarded in November 1992 at the band's Annual General Meeting.
• the certificate read:

  Guelph Concert Band confers on William Quant Honourary Life Membership in recognition of his long and valued service to the band - Fred Webb, President

Dundas Heron

• awarded in November 1992 at the band's Annual General Meeting with a special citation/certificate by Ross Irwin.
• the certificate read:

  Guelph Concert Band confers on Dundas Heron Honourary Life Membership in recognition of his long and valued service to the band - Fred Webb, President

• the following citation was read:

  Dundas "Das" Heron was Bandmaster of the Guelph Salvation Army Band from 1925 to 1932. He went away for five years and returned to take up the same post. Das again took over the leadership of the Salvation Army Band until 1945. Das became Bandmaster of the Guelph Musical Society Band. His first performance was the large Victory in Europe Parade in May 1945, the day he became Bandmaster. Das was Bandmaster of the Guelph Musical Society Band for 20 years, and continued to play in teh band for a couple of year after he retired. The Guelph Concert Band wishes to recognize such long service and dedication to band music in Guelph this evening. I am going to ask our Bandmaster, Stephen Gayfer, to present Das with a certificate of Honourary Life Membership in the band. Das has been a life member for many years but the band has just now decided to present a piece of paper acknowledging this fact.

Joe Hall

• awarded in November 1992 at the band's Annual General Meeting with a special citation/certificate by Ross Irwin.
• the certificate read:

  Guelph Concert Band confers on Joe Hall Honourary Life Membership in recognition of his long and valued service to the band - Fred Webb, President

• the following citation was read:

  The Guelph Concert Band wishes to recognize Joe Hall in the audience. Joe played in the Hillsburg Village Band in the 1950s. When he moved to Guelph, he joined the Guelph Musical Society Band. Joe played bass [tuba] with Albert Robinson for over 20 years and retired about 1982. The evening the band presents Joe with a certificate as a Honourary Life Member of the band and we publicly thank him for his dedication to band music in Guelph.

Charles Merry

• awarded in November 1992 at the band's Annual General Meeting with a special citation/certificate by Ross Irwin.
• the certificate read:

  Guelph Concert Band confers on Charles Merry Honourary Life Membership in recognition of his long and valued service to the band - Fred Webb, President

• the following citation was read:

  The Guelph Concert Band is pleased to confer on Charlie Merry a Honorary Life Membership for his long and valued service to the band. Charlie joined the Guelph Musical Society Band in the 1940s and served in World War II as a member of the RC Sigs Band. Charlie was Bandmaster of the Concert Band from 1976 to 1978 and continued to be a dedicated member until her retired and decided to spend part of his life in Florida.

William Harvey

• awarded on November 19, 1973 at the band's Annual General Meeting.

W. Birch

• awarded on November 19, 1973 at the band's Annual General Meeting.

F. Merry

• awarded on November 19, 1973 at the band's Annual General Meeting.

Dundas Heron

• awarded on November 19, 1973 at the band's Annual General Meeting.