2001:
BTB Year in Review Part IV - The Second Section Strikes Back
November-December:
- Whatlington Xmas CivilService Conquest
- November
started in noisy fashion, with the band providing the bulk of our joint effort
with Sussex Brass to march in the world-famous Lewes bonfire celebrations.
To say this is a heavy night is a serious bit of understatement. Six marches
spread over about six hours, and some steep old slopes to get up and down
as well...thirsty work to be sure. Regular and sizeable refreshment was required
in local hostelries, to the point where the final march of the evening remains
rather a hazy memory.
- Following
on from the excellent organistion of the Lewes celebrations, the Battle celebrations
in mid-November were always going to find us hard to please. The band played
well, despite being smaller in number than usual and freezing cold, and the
gathering herds of bonfire fans were surprisingly appreciative of our efforts.
Not so the sour-faced old trout who refused to let us get to our promised
free refreshments after coming in from the cold though! True enough, it was
an oversight by the organisers - which happens and isn't a problem. However
there are ways and means of dealing with people, and unfortunately this lovely
old lady was straight from the classic school of non-existent customer-"service"
for which this country is famous! Shame that this has to be our abiding memory
of what was otherwise a great evening.
- For
once, the Rememberance Day Parade was reasonably dry (i.e. it rained only
lightly). Hot chocolate and teacakes were consumed and, as far as I'm aware,
absolutely nothing of any interest whatsoever happened to any of us.
- Battle
Youth Brass travelled up to Maidstone to take part in a major National School
Bands Association festival with the Kenty County Music Service. As part of
the concert BYB gave the world-premiere of Maidstone Celebration, a
new piece by renowned composer Philip Sparke, and were thrilled to
have the composer come down for the day to conduct its first concert performance.
Performing under the baton of Peter Mitchell for the last time, the
band played exceptionally well throughout the workshop and the evening concert.
East Sussex Music Service's Jon Penton, who occasionally helps out
with our senior band, is to take over from Peter, thereby hopefully securing
the future of a youth brass band in Battle, at least for the time being.
- December
kicked off with an invitation to open the new bandstand at the De La Warr
Pavilion in Bexhill-On-Sea. Assorted VIPs and camera crews wandered around
in huge warm coats before nipping inside to quaff champagne. It was certainly
significant exposure for the band (in more ways than one - we nearly froze
to death!), luckily the band played very well (!), but unfortunately the radical
new design seemed to leave most bystanders cold. Admittedly the sound from
the back of the band is good (and that is quite a challenge, given our bass
section), but percussion can't fit on the bandstand without an additional
riser behind the structure, and as for the cornets and trombones...well, forget
it! True, it's interesting from an aesthetic standpoint (if you're into that
kind of thing, and like long words), but call me old-fashioned - shouldn't
the first priority of a bandstand be that it's big enough to accomodate and
shelter a band?
- The
Christmas programme (as usual) was fun for band and spectator alike, as well
as raising significant funds for both the band and for charity. First of all
was the Viking Lodge Christmas Dinner at the Masonic Hall - once again well-received
by a generous audience, and complete with enthusiastic jumping-up-and-down
during Schneewalzer.
- For
their next trick, the band then sat and slowly turned into blocks of ice in
Hastings town centre on behalf of the McMillan Nurses' Charity Day. Bringing
back rather unpleasant memories of troutfacewoman at Battle Bonfire (see above!),
the café that was due to provide us with thawing-out drinks after playing,
decided it couldn't be bothered to serve freebies all the time that they could
make a killing out of the lunchtime christmas shoppers enjoying the day of
free entertainment. We graciously declined their demand that we call again
later in the afternoon for our free cup of tea, and returned to the carpark,
whereupon Peter's car refused to start, meaning equipment couldn't be moved
for an hour and half a dozen people ended up cold, hungry and rather lacking
in Christmas spirit!
- Fortunately,
that very afternoon a select band of us headed into the wilds of Whatlington
for their annual nativity pageant. Carols and mud, farm animals and bonfires
(revives memories of that foot-and-mouth epidemic), warming soup, mulled wine
and kids dressed up as shepherds etc...All antipathy towards mankind generated
by that morning's fiasco in Hastings promptly forgotten. Nice.
- Naturally
the few days before Christmas were hectic; starting with our annual Christmas
concert, where everything happened much as before, only more so (?). The large,
enthusiastic audience crammed into Claverham School Hall (incidentally, their
table decorations this year were starting to get rather advanced. Forget the
now rather passé tinsel, or even flashing lights...one came complete
with its own miniature railway...) sang along in the carols and were treated
to the usual fancy-dress nonsense in the second half. This year's fancy dress
highlights included Peter as Elvis, complete with jumpsuit, and the
bass section as Afghan rebels (in particular two mysterious "beauties"
whose faces were, unfortunately, concealed by veils...)
- The
year was rounded off by the annual chaos of the Civil Service Club Christmas
Party. The band, as usual resplendent in formal evening dress, completely
failed to behave themselves, letting off a constant barrage of balloons and
party poppers, and getting through enough aerosols of silly string and fake
snow to destroy what's left of the ozone layer completely. John Groves
once again struggled manfully to control the nonsense, giving Peter his
traditional "concert off" on Euphonium. Following on from this,
the band again took to the wards of the Conquest Hospital on Christmas Eve
alongside a community choir, to play carols and
drive patients screaming
from their beds bring the joy of Christmas to all.
- And
so endeth another year. Prizes this year went to the British Legion's Fred
Barlow, who deservedly won the President's Cup for Services to the Band,
to Jo Pelling (the Keith Childs Shield for Most Improved Player) and
to Alex Hohenkerk, who (despite his antics during band social events!)
collected the Best/Most Helpful Young Player trophy. Russell (unsurprisingly)
retained the Commitment League title from Colin, who finished strongly
to pip Alex for second at the death. Gudrun and Shelley
shared fourth place. Well done chaps!
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