Bob Plunkett is from an old Orillia family. His parents had 5 sons.
Merton, Fred ( Bob’s father) , Sid, Morley, Albert
Before WW1, the 5 brothers formed the Plunkett Quintet. Merton or his more common name Mert created The Dumbells in 1917. They entertained the troops in France and England during the war. The Dumbells are credited for their contribution to bolstering soldiers morale.
Acknowledgement by the Canadian War Museum, The Canadian Encyclopedia, Museum of Canadian Music and Canadian Expeditionary Force Research Group.
The Plunkett Suite commissioned posthumously by OCB
Dedicated to the memory of Robert Hartford Plunkett 1921 to 2002. Founding Music Director of the Orillia Concert Band, composed by Bruce “Suds” Sutherland in four movements in 2004
1- The Majesty of Canada
2-The Dance Hall
3-Hymm to Huron Waters
4-Coast to Coast
Composer of the Plunkett Suite, Suds Sutherland 1945 to 2024
Inside the Conductor’s score of The Plunkett Suite
The Plunkett Suite cover page
The Plunkett Suite Conductor’s score pages 2 and 3
By John Swartz
Orillia Sun Online March 18 2021 (Covid Pandemic)
Today would have been Bob Plunkett’s 100th birthday. In better times, maybe the Orillia Concert Band would have had a concert tonight to mark the occasion.
Bob was the first conductor of the OCB. After a career teaching music at Western Tech and Parkdale Collegiate in Toronto and as bandmaster of the HMCS York Navy Band he retired here and bought a house on Bass Lake.
At the 25th anniversary of Park Street Collegiate where Stan was the music teacher, former students were saying it was too bad there wasn’t a band they could play in. Bob thought he was going to retire, maybe fish or boat and Stan had people who wanted to form a band. Stan knew Bob and suggested Bob was the person to lead the band.
Of course Stan played clarinet in the band and helped with the administration of it. Former Packet & Times managing editor Jeff Day, who played in the band, probably ran many stories about the band forming and recruiting members. There were 55 people at the first rehearsal in 1986.
Almost year later in 1987 they hit the stage and that year The OCB started a new community institution, the Christmas Prelude. The concert was for many years the start of the season for all the other Christmas themed concerts. Having grown up with a family retail business I was not a fan of Christmas for most of my life, and it was at a Christmas Prelude I rediscovered I kind of liked it.
Thank you OCB audience and the Plunkett family for coming out during the heat wave and supporting us on Sunday June 22 2025!
Pictured here from left to right are, son Bob Plunkett Jr, daughter Pam, daughter Marion holding great-granddaughter Alara and granddaughter Monica of Bob and Gladys Plunkett.
Thanks also to all the businesses and organizations that support us!