Sir William (Bill) Hughes

Sir William (Bill) was born in Holywood, Northern Ireland, where he started playing flute in local bands at the age of 7. A student of Harry Eden and Geoffrey Gilbert, Bill was Principal flute and piccolo with the Band of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines. He performed on the Royal Yacht at many State banquets and Official Functions during that time. After settling in Canada, Bill joined the Burlington Teen Tour Band as the Music Director in 1998. One of Bill’s fondest memories with the band was the 60th anniversary of the D-Day invasion in Normandy, France, when the veterans came to the beach and interacted with band members. Other highlights from his BTTB career include multiple Rose Parade appearances, the most recent of which has been immortalized in a CBC documentary, “Band Geeks.” Over his 20-year period with the band, Bill successfully nurtured a tight-knit, world-class band and left a legacy of goodwill, humour, and a passion for building connections with members.