"Auntie Ann married Robert (Bob) Hull (circa late 1930s/40s)
Robert (Bob) and Ann Hull (nee Gibson) Wedding
Robert wearing the uniform of a Trooper in the Life Guards
"They had one child, a daughter; Sonia was born in 1945, she was 14 months older than me.!
Bob's mother 'Grandma Hull' lived with them. She was a wonderful dressmaker, and made all our coats, skirts and dresses, so it was inevitable Sonia and I were dressed the same."
Christine Moore's 10th Birthday 1950 - Top Back Sonia Hull
next row down centre, Christine Moore
"At the age of 11 Sonia passed the 11+ examination for the local Grammar School."
Wallbottle Campus - Grammar School and Secondary Schools
It was inevitable, with her father's great love of music, Sonia too would become involved. She trained as a teacher, (where she met her husband. They married in 1968 at Lemington Methodist Church. Sonia wore her mother's wedding veil. They had 3 children. In later life Ann and Rob went south to live with Sonia and the children; all were academically inclined. Grandma Hull (Ann Gibson) had a great influence on her grandchildren and often brought them North to visit family. Sonia and her husband now have 4 grandchildren."
The Musical Life of Bob Hull
The following informaton was obtained from Prudhoe Gleeman Website.
Kim
Bob Hull began his career in music before the war as a choirboy at Lemington Methodist Church, and by the age of eighteen he was their conductor.
Lemington Methodist Church
Rob belonged to a family with a strong musical background and was never short of encouragement and training. His studies for the examinations for the Royal Academy of Music were well advanced when war broke out in 1939, but they had to be put to one side when he became a Trooper in the Life Guards.
He was stationed at Bulford Camp, Carter Barracks, on Salisbury Plain, where he did his basic military training. Carter Barracks consisted of permanent hutted buildings constructed in 1939-40 and demolished in 1978.
Bulford Camp 1950
Early days, on parade, Bob fell for one of the army's oldest tricks, when the men were asked "Anyone here interested in music?" In no time at all Bob found himself in the *NAAFI, sent with another 'volunteer' to move the piano.
His companion, also a musician could not resist the temptation to play the instrument, and picking up the tune, Bob started to sing. As luck would have it he was heard by no less a person than the Regimental Bandmaster, who happened to be passing, and on the spot asked Bob to sing with the band.
[* The Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes (NAAFI) was, and still is, a company created by the British government on 9th December 1920 to run recreational establishments needed by the British Armed Forces, and to sell goods to servicemen and their families. It runs clubs, bars, shops, supermarkets, launderettes, restaurants, cafes and other facilities on most British military bases and also canteens on board Royal Naval Ships.]
"Bob's enthusiasm soon attracted the attention of fellow troopers, who began to raise their voices with his, just for the sheer joy of it, and in no time they formed themselves into a singing group, 'The Life Guards' Choir, giving concerts and helping voluntary fund-raising efforts outside the barracks. Their reputation reached the ears of the BBC, who approached the Colonel to arrange an audition, he agreed; the singers were assembled, still in their working overalls. Soon they found themselves regularly performing in a programme called Private Smith Entertains with well known stars such as George Formby".
BBC - Radio Times - 'Private Smith Entertains'
Army Variety show, from a garrison theatre in the Midlands
29th November 1943
They toured Southern Command singing for the troops.
With the end of hostilities Bob returned to his job with the Co-op in Lemington, and resumed his musical activities and became principal bass in the Newcastle Cathedral Choir.
St Nicholas Cathedral Newcastle upon Tyne
Part of interior of St Nicholas Cathedral Newcastle upon Tyne
He took over as conductor of Lemington Male Voice Choir and the Prudhoe Gleemen".
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