TRAVELLING THE WORLD
Dibben’s naval postings included Malta and Algiers, where – armed with his trumpet – he started playing in a local dance band. But while his time there was enjoyable, living conditions left a lot to be desired. “We had to place the four legs of my bunk bed in tins of paraffin to capture the bed bugs roaming about the floor.” His next instruction was to board a ship in Liverpool, which was headed for the Far East via Canada, as Dibben remembers. “We were stationed at a barracks while the ship was being completed and the skipper of the barracks had contacts in the local Quebec City dance band world. “I began playing with the local Al Bedard band two or three times a week, being paid more money than I’d ever seen.” Such was Dibben’s popularity in the band that he was prevented from boarding the ship until after the war had ended. Memories of this period of his life have been immortalised in a crackly, aged and atmospheric recording, which he sits down to listen to. “That’s me,” he says, pointing out the sound of a spine- tingling brass section. His eyes fill up. “It’s amazing how powerful music is – even after all these years the memories just flood back.” After the war Dibben returned to his apprenticeship at the Mid Southern Utility Company, earning just £1 per week. But the company was soon nationalised and Dibben – a man who speaks his mind – voiced his opinions about the inefficiency of the new system. “I was told in no uncertain terms to choose what I wanted to be and join the union.” He didn’t join the union. Instead he returned to Canada, even though the cost of the flight alone was the equivalent of 14 weeks’ wages. He started working as an electrician in Toronto and playing the trumpet again, rejoining his old band. It wasn’t long before he moved on again, however, this time to New York. “I saw a very young and up-and-coming Frank Sinatra singing with one of the Dorsey Brothers’ bands, complete with screaming teenage fans.” But even Sinatra couldn’t keep Dibben in one place. He soon returned to the UK and started working, once again, for the utility board while also playing trumpet professionally. “I was enjoying life,” said Dibben. But his enjoyment was not so much down to a steady job, the return to known friends or even the trumpet playing: he had discovered motorcycles. “I was riding the Southern Electricity Board Ariel motorcycles and owned my own BSA C11G 250cc, which was quickly worn out and replaced by a 350cc overhead valve MAC Velocette.” He even remembers the registration number of his Velocette: AMW 137.
“THERE’S NO DOUBT ABOUT IT, RIDING A SIDECAR INVOLVES AN AWFUL LOT OF SELF-DISCIPLINE.”