Learning from Jack Webster

File: banksreg-oh-jackwebster_M.mp3

Speakers:

RB – Reg Banks

KP – Ken Perlman

RB: He used to drive the mail through here. Main road from Cardigan to Annadale. Annadale's 2 miles on the highway. And sometimes I'd take the violin out to the mailbox and meet Jack [Webster] and he'd play "Lord McDonald's Reel" for me. He'd take about five minutes of his time and play the tune. He'd drive from Cardigan 16 miles from here 17 miles Annadale.He'd be driving with horse and sleigh in the winter and horse and wagon in the summertime.

KP And he'd always have his fiddle?

RB No, no. I'd take the fiddle out of the the house and I'd watch for him coming when I was a young lad, I'd watch for Jack coming, and I'd meet him at the mailbox, and I'd just hand him the fiddle and stand back and he'd play the tune there.

KP And how old were you then?

RB Oh, I'd be probably thirteen, fourteen, fifteen, along like that.

KP And he was how old then?

RB Oh, he'd be thirty-five, forty years old.