News Item: : Bethune, France
(Category: Band Shows)
Posted by Iain
Monday 07 September 2009 - 11:44:39
On Friday evening, the Band met at their HQ and boarded the coach for the journey to Bethune, to take part in their Annual WW2 Liberation Commemorations, and for a change, the Band travelled to France via the Channel Tunnel.
After a shorter journey via the Shuttle they arrived in Bethune around 1.15am, but spent around 15 minutes trying to find the hotel, then ended up telephoning their host and telling them what colour their coach was, and in the end the he tracked them down! The rooms were sorted and everyone bedded down for the night.
Saturday morning and the Band were up for the normal continental breakfast, not the favourite meal for some of them, and then onto the coach to travel to their first destination of the day, Beuvry. Here the Band formed up in the town square together with the convoy of military vehicles, and then marched to the Town Hall. Here they played a selection of marches which was followed by a ceremony where wreaths were laid by dignitaries and the Band’s Drum Major Sam Jepson. Sgt Osman Dervish and Sgt Joanne Claeys played the last post and reveille, which was followed by both the French & English National Anthems which concluded the ceremony. The Band then went for refreshments with other participants from the military convoy.
Next stop was the town of Neuve Chappelle, where the Band performed a small concert for the locals while they awaited for the convoy to reach the town. It was now time for lunch, the Band were provided with a four course meal, consisting of a tomato and egg starter, mixed platter with ham, potatoes, cous cous and flat beans for main, cheese followed by chocolate and coffee éclairs. Band Director Ian Yeoman thought he would sniff the cheese before he sampled it, but being a pure French cheese it was a bit whiffy which made him feel a bit sick, but he still managed a chocolate éclair! During lunch, there was bit of commotion and it turned out that Pvt Lauren Gordon was stuck in the toilet! luckily L/Cpl Emma New was on hand to calm her down, and with Emma’s help, Lauren managed to unlock the door.
After lunch, the Band travelled to their next town of the day, Verquigneul. Unfortunately this year, the Band had not been provided with a guide and managed to find the towns by either the sat nav or charades, and Verquigneul wasn’t the easiest town to find! The Band had quite a bit of spare time before their show so they had a look around the stalls and fair, before forming up and marching to the memorial. Again they played marches and another ceremony took place, where Band Director Ian Yeoman and Drum Major Sam Jepson laid a wreath as did the dignitaries attending the service. The Band then marched through the town to the local hall where refreshments were provided. The Band then made their way back to the coach and boarded the coach ready to go to dinner, unfortunately, the coach wouldn’t start, and they had to call on “Gregg” the band secretarys new found friend in the convoy to see if he knew anyone who could come and jump start the coach. Whilst waiting, some of the younger members of the band got to take advantage of the fair again, and the older ones went for a swift beer in the café. After about 45 minutes, the coach was fixed and everyone boarded the coach for dinner. Unfortunately, the driver went to pull away as the door was closing, and Officer Mark Ellis was near the door and nearly fell out!!
From here the Band went to the the town of Fourquieres. As before, no one was their to meet the Band, so Officer Brian Milbank took a walk down the road and found the hall where the evening’s concert was to take place. Brian then flagged the coach down and it parked up. The Band then walked to dinner nearby, which felt like they were on an adventure trail through a forest to a lovely house, by a lake. Expecting a lovely three course meal in the lovely house, the Band was greeted by a French stick filled with pate! With a Band of mostly youngsters, this did not go down to well. The hosts seemed to appreciate that they were not keen and supplied everyone with chips which went down a storm!
After dinner the Band performed in the hall for the people of the town. The programme included military marches for the first half and fun in the second half including “I will follow him” with a fancy dance by Band Director Ian Yeoman, Best of Bond featuring a solo by Pvt Eden Bishop-Jones, Lord of the Dance featuring a flute solo by L/Cpl Aylen Dervish. The Band then played Hey Baby which they managed to get the audience participating by dancing along. They then played Cant take my eyes off you, where the audience and drummers danced along. Next was Copacabana, where the drummers and horn section ventured into the crowds and got various members of the audience up to dance. Next the Drummers performed their drum piece, even though the Drummers were a lot less in numbers, Cpl Gavin Golding, L/Cpl Chris Hammond, L/Cpl Ben Mills and Josh Whybrow performed brilliantly. To finish the Band played Louie Louie, but the crowd wanted more and gave the Band a standing ovation. For an encore the Band played Copacabana and the Drummers and Horns this time got the Band Staff up to dance. After this the compere, who was also the translator for the Band Director requested a solo from Drum Major Sam Jepson on the drum kit, he duly obliged and they went wild.
After completing an excellent concert, the Band returned to the hotel, where the younger ones socialised in the hotel before going to bed and the older ones visited the town of Bethune, where Officer Mark Ellis celebrated his birthday.
Sunday morning came and after breakfast, the Band made their way to their first stop of the day, Cuinchy. Here the Band played a few marches before wreaths were laid at the memorial. This time, Band Director Ian Yeoman played the Last Post and after the ceremony the Band joined the Mayor of Cuinchy along with some residents and members of the convoy for refreshments. On leaving Cuinchy the faithful sat nav led the coach down a road that wasn’t suitable for a coach, luckily a kind local flagged the coach down before it had travelled to far down the road, and they had to reverse and turn around and head back to the main road. They then continued to Bethune for a march through the town with the convoy to the town square. Here they had to perform two pieces of music in front of the Mayor who was seated on a stage. Following this the Band made their way to lunch.
Lunch was the best meal of the weekend by far, on a table about 25ft long there was everything you could imagine to eat, chicken, pasta, beef, salmon, rice and loads more, and cheese and various cakes were for desert. As it was Officer Mark Ellis’ birthday today, he was presented with a birthday cake with many candles. In another Band, one of their members was celebrating his birthday too. So Mark cut him a piece of his cake with some candles which were relit and everyone sang happy birthday to him as well.
After lunch the Band returned to the town square to perform a concert. During the concert, Pvt. Tom Bryant performed a solo. During Cant take my eyes of you, the cymbalist decided to dance with each other on the stage, and then during the next tune, they got children from the audience onto the stage to dance. Once the concert was finished, the coach was loaded and the Band headed for the tunnel entertained by Mamma Mia, which everyone was singing along to.
On arrival at the tunnel, the Band had to go through passport control. While queuing, Pvt. Luke Endacott thought he would play a joke, when he was called, he said “Cashier Number Five Please”, but for his cheek he was sent to the back of the line, all in good humour though.
The Band arrived back in Romford around 9pm after another successful trip.
This news item is from The Royal British Legion Band & Corps Of Drums Romford
( http://www.royalbritishlegionbandromford.co.uk/news.php?extend.51 )
(Category: Band Shows)
Posted by Iain
Monday 07 September 2009 - 11:44:39
On Friday evening, the Band met at their HQ and boarded the coach for the journey to Bethune, to take part in their Annual WW2 Liberation Commemorations, and for a change, the Band travelled to France via the Channel Tunnel.
After a shorter journey via the Shuttle they arrived in Bethune around 1.15am, but spent around 15 minutes trying to find the hotel, then ended up telephoning their host and telling them what colour their coach was, and in the end the he tracked them down! The rooms were sorted and everyone bedded down for the night.
Saturday morning and the Band were up for the normal continental breakfast, not the favourite meal for some of them, and then onto the coach to travel to their first destination of the day, Beuvry. Here the Band formed up in the town square together with the convoy of military vehicles, and then marched to the Town Hall. Here they played a selection of marches which was followed by a ceremony where wreaths were laid by dignitaries and the Band’s Drum Major Sam Jepson. Sgt Osman Dervish and Sgt Joanne Claeys played the last post and reveille, which was followed by both the French & English National Anthems which concluded the ceremony. The Band then went for refreshments with other participants from the military convoy.
Next stop was the town of Neuve Chappelle, where the Band performed a small concert for the locals while they awaited for the convoy to reach the town. It was now time for lunch, the Band were provided with a four course meal, consisting of a tomato and egg starter, mixed platter with ham, potatoes, cous cous and flat beans for main, cheese followed by chocolate and coffee éclairs. Band Director Ian Yeoman thought he would sniff the cheese before he sampled it, but being a pure French cheese it was a bit whiffy which made him feel a bit sick, but he still managed a chocolate éclair! During lunch, there was bit of commotion and it turned out that Pvt Lauren Gordon was stuck in the toilet! luckily L/Cpl Emma New was on hand to calm her down, and with Emma’s help, Lauren managed to unlock the door.
After lunch, the Band travelled to their next town of the day, Verquigneul. Unfortunately this year, the Band had not been provided with a guide and managed to find the towns by either the sat nav or charades, and Verquigneul wasn’t the easiest town to find! The Band had quite a bit of spare time before their show so they had a look around the stalls and fair, before forming up and marching to the memorial. Again they played marches and another ceremony took place, where Band Director Ian Yeoman and Drum Major Sam Jepson laid a wreath as did the dignitaries attending the service. The Band then marched through the town to the local hall where refreshments were provided. The Band then made their way back to the coach and boarded the coach ready to go to dinner, unfortunately, the coach wouldn’t start, and they had to call on “Gregg” the band secretarys new found friend in the convoy to see if he knew anyone who could come and jump start the coach. Whilst waiting, some of the younger members of the band got to take advantage of the fair again, and the older ones went for a swift beer in the café. After about 45 minutes, the coach was fixed and everyone boarded the coach for dinner. Unfortunately, the driver went to pull away as the door was closing, and Officer Mark Ellis was near the door and nearly fell out!!
From here the Band went to the the town of Fourquieres. As before, no one was their to meet the Band, so Officer Brian Milbank took a walk down the road and found the hall where the evening’s concert was to take place. Brian then flagged the coach down and it parked up. The Band then walked to dinner nearby, which felt like they were on an adventure trail through a forest to a lovely house, by a lake. Expecting a lovely three course meal in the lovely house, the Band was greeted by a French stick filled with pate! With a Band of mostly youngsters, this did not go down to well. The hosts seemed to appreciate that they were not keen and supplied everyone with chips which went down a storm!
After dinner the Band performed in the hall for the people of the town. The programme included military marches for the first half and fun in the second half including “I will follow him” with a fancy dance by Band Director Ian Yeoman, Best of Bond featuring a solo by Pvt Eden Bishop-Jones, Lord of the Dance featuring a flute solo by L/Cpl Aylen Dervish. The Band then played Hey Baby which they managed to get the audience participating by dancing along. They then played Cant take my eyes off you, where the audience and drummers danced along. Next was Copacabana, where the drummers and horn section ventured into the crowds and got various members of the audience up to dance. Next the Drummers performed their drum piece, even though the Drummers were a lot less in numbers, Cpl Gavin Golding, L/Cpl Chris Hammond, L/Cpl Ben Mills and Josh Whybrow performed brilliantly. To finish the Band played Louie Louie, but the crowd wanted more and gave the Band a standing ovation. For an encore the Band played Copacabana and the Drummers and Horns this time got the Band Staff up to dance. After this the compere, who was also the translator for the Band Director requested a solo from Drum Major Sam Jepson on the drum kit, he duly obliged and they went wild.
After completing an excellent concert, the Band returned to the hotel, where the younger ones socialised in the hotel before going to bed and the older ones visited the town of Bethune, where Officer Mark Ellis celebrated his birthday.
Sunday morning came and after breakfast, the Band made their way to their first stop of the day, Cuinchy. Here the Band played a few marches before wreaths were laid at the memorial. This time, Band Director Ian Yeoman played the Last Post and after the ceremony the Band joined the Mayor of Cuinchy along with some residents and members of the convoy for refreshments. On leaving Cuinchy the faithful sat nav led the coach down a road that wasn’t suitable for a coach, luckily a kind local flagged the coach down before it had travelled to far down the road, and they had to reverse and turn around and head back to the main road. They then continued to Bethune for a march through the town with the convoy to the town square. Here they had to perform two pieces of music in front of the Mayor who was seated on a stage. Following this the Band made their way to lunch.
Lunch was the best meal of the weekend by far, on a table about 25ft long there was everything you could imagine to eat, chicken, pasta, beef, salmon, rice and loads more, and cheese and various cakes were for desert. As it was Officer Mark Ellis’ birthday today, he was presented with a birthday cake with many candles. In another Band, one of their members was celebrating his birthday too. So Mark cut him a piece of his cake with some candles which were relit and everyone sang happy birthday to him as well.
After lunch the Band returned to the town square to perform a concert. During the concert, Pvt. Tom Bryant performed a solo. During Cant take my eyes of you, the cymbalist decided to dance with each other on the stage, and then during the next tune, they got children from the audience onto the stage to dance. Once the concert was finished, the coach was loaded and the Band headed for the tunnel entertained by Mamma Mia, which everyone was singing along to.
On arrival at the tunnel, the Band had to go through passport control. While queuing, Pvt. Luke Endacott thought he would play a joke, when he was called, he said “Cashier Number Five Please”, but for his cheek he was sent to the back of the line, all in good humour though.
The Band arrived back in Romford around 9pm after another successful trip.
This news item is from The Royal British Legion Band & Corps Of Drums Romford
( http://www.royalbritishlegionbandromford.co.uk/news.php?extend.51 )