Baillies Mills band member Chris has honour of playing Kiwi anthem

Baillies Mills band member Chris has honour of playing Kiwi anthem

12 July 2023

BAILLIES Mills accordion band’s very own Kiwi member has been given the honour of playing his country’s national anthem at the end of this month at an event in Glenavy.

Chris Reid — who grew up in the Hutt Valley in the North Island — will play ‘God Defend New Zealand’ with his fellow band members at The Ballance House.

The building is an important landmark for New Zealanders, as it is the farm house of the country’s former Prime Minister, John Ballance, who was born in Northern Ireland.

The landmark is now the home of the Ulster New Zealand Trust.

Chris has very strong family links to Northern Ireland, with both his parents coming from Co Armagh and while he had no plans to leave his native country, Northern Ireland is now home.

“I had no plans to leave home other than to see some of the world for a few months or a year out,” he explained.

“The year I left school, my mum suggested we both head to Northern Ireland to see family, with the idea that it would give me a head start in my travels before settling back home in New Zealand.”

But what Chris did not realise was that his visit here would last a lot longer than he ever expected. 

While visiting his grandmother with his mum, Chris met Florence who subsequently became his wife.

Chris stayed in Northern Ireland and studied Psychology at Queen’s University before getting married and the couple now have two children, Amanda and Colin. He also taught aspiring IT teachers at Stranmillis University College for 25 years

Having established a life in Northern Ireland while still making visits to New Zealand, Chris said the province is now home and his birthplace is a holiday destination.

“I am a young retiree, our daughter is married and our son works for Bupa Health Care as its All Ireland IT field engineer,” 

Growing up in Northern Ireland, it was Chris’s then eight year-old son, who was captivated by the marching bands and he was eager to get involved.

Both Chris and Florence looked at a few bands in the local area, but naturally gravitated towards the Baillies Mills Accordion Band.

Shortly after, the couple were put in contact with the Baillies Mills musical director, Aubrey Campbell, who asked if Chris and Colin would like to join.

Both said “yes” and while Colin developed other interest away from the band, Chris would become a stalwart.

“Aside from the sheer joy of creating music, the comradeship of being in a successful band is just so important in life, even more so now that I am retired,” Chris said.

“We are not a competition band, but play at a huge range of events, from church halls to the Belfast Waterfront Hall and Lisburn Island Centre.”

Chris said that taking part in the City of London Lord Mayor’s parade, the Norwegian National Day parade through Oslo and playing at the Menin Gate in Ypres and in front of the Ulster Tower,] in Thiepval was a “huge honour.”

He continued: “Closer to home, we play at residential homes, charity fundraising events, church services, in town parks and National Trust gardens, at Remembrance Sunday parades and, of course, during those special days at The Ballance House. 

“It is always memorable with a very special atmosphere for those of us from New Zealand.”