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Summer 2009
13 June
- Holbeach Primary School
27 June - Bourne
RBL
4 July - Spalding
Grammar School
5 July - Normandy
Veterans Rally
18 July - Fleet
Hargate fete
25 July - Open
Day
27 - 31 July
- Learn to Play in a Week
6 September
2009 - Hovenden House Gala
21 October 2009
- Holbeach Primary School
8 November 2009
- Remembrance Sunday
13 June - Holbeach Primary
School
 We
were invited, for the first time, to play at Holbeach
Primary School fete. It was a lovely day and we had a reasonable turnout
(for a Saturday). The fete was due to run from 12.00 to 3.00pm. We played
for half an hour from 12.00 and were due to play again at the end. The
start was OK but there were not many people around. We reassembled at
2.30 to find the arena events running late - they did not finish until
after 3.00, then the raffle draw took place and went on and on. At 3.20
they stopped the raffle so we could play one final piece. As we packed
away, the raffle continued.
27 June - Bourne RBL
 Bourne
Royal British Legion organised a day of events to commemorate Armed Forces
Day. We were booked to play for a march past of members of the British
Legion and contingents from the Armed Forces etc. This would be followed
by the Evening Hymn (3 verses), Sunset, Last Post and Reveille and National
Anthem
 Unfortunately
the organiser of the event was taken ill earlier in the day. Things did
not go as smoothly as was anticipated! When we set up they asked us to
play incidental music for 20-30 minutes but we only had music for the
march past. We had quite a long (quiet) delay before the march started.
After a short service we were just about to play the Evening Hymn when
they changed the order and we played Last Post and Reveille - they had
asked for a full 2 minutes silence, but then asked for Reveille in less
than a minute. They then reduced the number of verses in the hymn to two.
Finally we got the nod to play the National Anthem but had to stop the
drum roll while the vicar said closing prayers. But otherwise it went
smooth as clockwork!!
4 July - Spalding Grammar
School
 A
small group played at the Spalding
Grammar School annual fete. It was a lovely hot day and, fortunately
the organisers found a spot for us in the shade of the trees. We were
at the far end of the school field where we were not interrupted by the
arena events. We played marches and incidental music.
5 July - Normandy Veterans
Rally
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We were pleased to be invited back to the annual Normandy
Veterans Rally held at the Anglia
Motel, Fleet  Hargate.
It is an annual Vintage Rally and Military Vehicle Charity weekend
held on 4th and 5th July. It comprises Craft Stalls, Displays and
Vintage/Military Vehicles, Childrens Fairground, Bouncy Castle &
much more.
Three of our young players joined us - Ruby, Jimmy
and Jasmine. But generally we had a low turnout.
We're mot sure what is happning to the organisation
of events this year - we seem to be having more problems than usual.
We arrived to start palying at 1.00pm to be told that they have
changed the times and the proceedings would start at 12.30 - however
the British Legion contingent had not arrived, nor the padre, nor
us!!
We played on the back of a trailer which had clearly
just come out of a field and needed plenty of cleaning. It was unusual
to see a swallow flying in and out while we were playing to feed
its young in a nest in the roof directly above the euphoniums!
We played for a short march past of British Legion
standard and peronnel and air training corps into the arena. This
is followed by a short service (no hymns this year), Last Post and
Reveille (played by the legion's own bugler) and march out of the
arena. During the two-minute silence they fired a Howitzer gun which
was rather too close and left our ears ringing. They had organised
a drop of poppies during the silence but, although the light aircraft
arrived, poppies did not - it was probably too windy! |
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18 July - Fleet Hargate
fete
We had a very pleasant afternoon at the garden party arranged
by the local church. The garden party was in the private garden at Fleet
House, Fleet Road, Fleet Hargate to raise funds for Fleet Baptist Church..
We were provided with a marquee to play in - it was just big enough and
protected us from the sun and wind. There were a number of stalls but
we were the only 'entertainment' and we were received very well. The church
secretary said "It was one of the best fetes we have ever had."
25 July - Open Day
 We
opened the bandroom to visitors for Holbeach day of music. Admittedly,
we did not expect too many visitors as the
music day was based around a talent contest in the centre of town -
not too far away, but far enough!
We created a display of photographs, leaflets and programmes
and had a display of instruments. Many members of the band came along
to play throughout the day and it was pleasing to have a number of players
from the learner group join us. A copy of this website was also on display
on a laptop.
Visitors were given information about the Learn to Play
week and were encouraged to try out the instruments.
27 - 31 July - Learn to
Play in a Week
Our 8th annual Learn to Play Week
has been less successful than in recent times. We have only had three
new learners, and only one of them is continuing. However, the week
has been very successful in other ways. We invited our current learner
group to join us during the week and have had very useful training sessions
every day. Thanks to the band members who have helped during the week
and to the learner group for their hard work.
6 September 2009 - Hovenden
House Gala
  We
were pleased to be invited to play at the annual Hovenden House Gala.
We played at the start and againat the end of the gala. We set up before
the public arrived and played from 12.15pm to 1.00pm as the guests arrived.
We then had a long wait until the end of the afternoon and played again
at 4.45pm for 30 minutes. We had a good turnout although two of the
band were unable to return for the second performance.
21 October 2009 - Holbeach
Primary School
We had a very successful evening at Holbeach Primary School
with the Main Band and the Learner Group entertaining an audience of
pupils, parents and teachers.
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Learner Group
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Band with additional percussion
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New percussion section
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The Learner Group made their first public appearance and
started the evening by showing their progress. Most of them have now
been playing just over a year and have made good progress. They played
simple tunes in unison, then moved on to 4-part arrangements and finally
moved on to more complicated arrangements.
After half an hour, the Main Band arrived; while they
were setting up the learner group let the members of the audience try
out the instruments.
The main band opened with the Gordon Langford arrangement
of Men of Harlech. On four occasions during the concert the band invited
children from the audience to assist the percussion section on a range
of instruments such as maracas, tambourine, claves, cow bell, wood block
etc. They kept in time very well and followed the Muisical Director.
They accompanied the Theme from Rocky, Everybody Needs Somebody, the
Hornpipe from Fantasia on British Sea Songs and Is This The Way To Amarillo.
8 November 2009 - Remembrance
Sunday
We made our annual trip to Holbeach St Marks for their Remembrance
Service. The proceedings start at 3.00pm so the sun is already
quite low in the sky.
As usual we played incidental music at the war memorial before
the service. At the service a wreath was laid and Steven Butter
played Last Post and Reveille.
We then go into the adjacent Church where we play the hymns
for the Service of Remembrance. We sit in the choir stalls which
are quite narrow, and its not easy to fit in music stands!
At the end of the Service the Standard Bearer takes the Standard
to the rear of the church where another wreath is laid. Steven
again played Last Post and Reveille and the band played the
National Anthem.
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