pipe band away weekend - Bowels outdoor centre

The Pipe band had set aside two weekends this year to prepare positively for the competitions, and build up the band. After much looking around and not finding much suitable or affordable we settled on the Lodge at the Bowles outdoor centre ...  a common haunt of mine over 30 year ago

The week before it had snowed over the South East UK and the back roads were covered, but the main roads cleared by the weekend.. typified as Steve, in his car,  and I in the van, passed a car in the hedge where it had missed a 90 degree turn..

Slow start as we all arrived and settled in with a brew and much chat. I was sharing a room with Steve.. Followed by some sessions on the practice chanter and Billy's theory of musicality.

Lunch was a selection of sandwiches .. random from the order but still sorted.

then back to the practices and theory sessions.

Evening out was provided courtesy of David N ..  a visit to the pub then dinner round his house ..  lasagna and a multitude of puddings


Sunday started with an early walk around the grounds for me ..  followed by the complexities of breakfast where communication of requirements failed and we had a curtailed options.
However all being adults lead to a satisfactory end.

Then it was back to the practice  ... I started off in the headmasters study providing the tunes for the drummers ...  my favorite reel (not!) again and again- but it did help my confidence in it

then  back with the rest for pipes ... most of the morning tuning and setting drones/ chanters etc.

The afternoon was full band practice on the competition tunes but especially on the M.S.R.

3:30pm and time to pack up for home ... lungs fit to burst after stretching through the M.S.R. so many times.

Remembrance day parade, silvertown

 The band led the remembrance day parade in Silvertown, once more this year ...  a Longer march with the bridge being out over the railway, and an extremely bitter wind blowing.

After the service and before the tea and cakes  ...  posing with the mayor at the memorial

Copthorne Carnival

After the dash over from Crawley we all gathered in the hall for a cup of tea, and await for the best time to go down to the field.

A short tune up and more waiting in the school yard before we did out set in the parade ring.

Then back home

Armed Forces Day Parade

An early start  ...  but still time to get in a full English at Billy's on the road.

We gathered at the top of the North side of County Mall, then wandered down to tune up quickly. A good turn out from the band.

Then we lead the parade around the gardens ...  followed by a short tune at the end.

Off to the side to give the brass band a chance to shine, and also the luck was with us as we could shelter from the rain shower that came across at the time.

Then  another set in the circle as a finale for us.

A quick bite to eat in the Mall then drive over to Copthorne.

Colchester competition

With the Gatwick Caledonian pipe band .. at the RSPBA london branch competition at Colchester.

 A long two hour drive up there .. I went on the bike due to the hot weather, and the expected queues getting back.. lots of hanging around .. we had to be there at 9am for registration, tuning , etc ...
then lots more fiddling around with reeds and drones, then more tuning followed by some practice.

Finally on after 11pm, to do our 4 mins, then waiting for the massed bands at the end.
The massed bands was a real shambles, but not sure the public spotted it, which was followed by standing around in the field waiting for the speeches, raffle draw, and finally the results .. unfortunately we made too many errors to please the judges and came 6th out of  9. disappointing after last time out.

Horley Carnival

Playing in the Horley carnival with the Gatwick Caledonian Pipe band. It was exceedingly hot ...

we started in the main precinct

 Then in the parade

 And finally on the parade ground

Jim Maginn competition

First competition of the year for me ...  ..  Malborough school St albans.

set up in the music room ... very low ceiling and the chanters were a real mess to start with, but Jim sorted out.

Did our 4mins around noon then off for a picnic .

pleasant surprise afterwards when we came second behind Reading.