2000: BTB Year in Review Part III - A
New Beginning
April:
- April saw the band's first playing engagement of
the year, as part of the Kent & East Sussex Railway's Centenary celebrations.
It had better be the last 9.30 am start this year, or else. The TV crews,
photographers and steam anoraks worked themselves up into a frenzy as the
first train to pull into the restored Bodiam station for one hundred years
hove into sight. Meanwhile, we welcomed the VIPs with the cornets producing
an amazing canon effect (one "n", not two unfortunately) at the
beginning of Mack and Mabel...look, it was Sunday morning, alright?
We somehow managed to fit into the 'incredible shrinking band' marquee allocated
to us. Thanks to Steve Hollamby for stepping in to the Rep seat and copping
HMS Trinidad (serves you right for wearing a Sussex Brass sweatshirt
to the gig).
- The first "Band Social" of the year went
very well, with about a dozen people bravely turning up to Flavours of
India on April Fool's Day. Baby Jake enjoyed his first curry, whilst the
rest of us enjoyed watching a grown man (mentioning no names...Colin) playing
with his toys. Second childhood anyone? A group of us also went up to Chessington,
in a similar bid to deny our headlong rush towards middle-age (well, for some
of us!).
- As usual, St George's Day saw the band taking part
in Battle's annual St George's Day Parade. This year unfortunately the band
was without drum major Mike Sellens, who has led these parades for many years
now. We wish him well and hope he will still be able to come and watch us
march (if he can stand listening to us now that he no longer has to).
Thanks to Sarah Leeves for turning up and adding a bit of quality to the band
- despite the hangover. Apparently everything went smoothly (despite Kirsty
now effectively leading the marching!), although there was some consternation
that there was not enough time to have the traditional hot chocolate and teacakes...
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