Fred Budd

Fred Budd was born in Ottawa and moved to Kitchener at ten years of age. Taking clarinet lessons, he joined the Waterloo Band under Professor C.F. Thiele, eventually becoming solo clarinetist. After serving five years in the Canadian Army, he built his new home in Preston and joined the Preston Legion Band. Later, he conducted the Milverton Band for six years and returned to Preston to direct the Legion Band for twenty years, retiring at age sixty.

Budd directed the Preston Opera Orchestra for twelve years and also played in the Johnny Kostigan Dance Band at The Leisure Lodge Night Club for nine years. Since retirement he has led the Galt Kiltie Band and the Ayr-Paris Band, taking the latter on an overseas trip to Germany and France.

In his conducting years in Preston, his band won first place three times in Class Two at the Canadian National Exhibition and five years in a row at the Kitchener Kiwanis Music Festival. For forty years he has led a band, comprised mostly of employees, which played annually at the Mutual Life Insurance Company Christmas party.

Photograph by John Mitchell Photography.