Fr Michael Whittaker, John and Ted Greville and Fr Tim Mejida at the presentation night in the Hamlet Court Hotel.Below: Ted and John Greville with past members of the Gold and Silver band ; The band in action on stage in 2008.

Long-time band departs the stage

Two brothers who were among the founding members of one of Meath’s longest-running bands, Gold & Silver, were honoured at a tribute night in the Hamlet Court Hotel, Johnstownbridge, Enfield, recently.
Ted and John Greville, from Gilbertstown, Longwood, who are both in their 80s, played the local dance hall circuit with the band for more than 60 years.
On the night, local people gathered to pay tribute to the Ted and John and past members of the band over the years also attended for a great night of music and nostalgia. The organising committee released a CD that was re-mastered from a previous cassette tape recorded about 25 years ago.
Brothers Ted and John Greville were founding members of the band in 1948 along with Billy Melia, who sadly passed away in 2010. Following the death of Billy, they decided to call it a day after more than 60 years playing old-time dance music in halls and functions across the region.
Ted and John began playing music from a very young age, starting with the tin whistle and mouth organ, and have been playing music all their lives. They played in various bands before forming Gold & Silver in 1948.
Ted played the keyboard and John played the saxophone, while Billy was the drummer.
The band continued to play venues across Meath, Westmeath, Cavan, Kildare, Longford and Dublin, for some 60 years before the death of band member Billy Melia led to their retirement.
Ted said Billy’s death “upset the whole apple cart” and “it wouldn’t be the same without him”. Billy used to also do the driving and Ted said the journeys would be too much on them.
As well as playing with the band, Ted and John also worked on their farm at Gilbertstown and continue to farm there.
A large attendance in the Hamlet Court Hotel on the night was a tribute to the two men and to those who played with them in their bands over the years.
Sonny Knowles once described John as one of the best saxophone players he had ever come across.