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Hornblower · Posted: Thu May 21, 2009 9:11 pm Post subject: Farewell to Dartmouth

Had a fantastic time over the past 2 days with good old muckers and the Raleigh Band who were utterly superb.

Photos and full report to follow, but my head still isn't right yet...

I'm sure anyone else who was there would like to add their thoughts?
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MrJpig · Posted: Fri May 22, 2009 7:02 am Post subject:

Bit of a report here chaps

http://www.dartmouth.tv/News/index.htm
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townsergeant · Posted: Fri May 22, 2009 9:46 am Post subject:

Lots of photos on Facebook, for those who are that way inclined!

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Hornblower · Posted: Sun May 24, 2009 7:16 pm Post subject:

Well, what can I say?

A lot actually...

I decided that I'd enter Dartmouth via the higher ferry as I wanted to see my old house above Sandquay from the Kingswear side. There wasn't much of a queue, but I had about 10 mins to take a few snaps using my wife's Fujifilm camera.

The first thing I noticed when I got on the ferry was the lack of 'clanking'. The chains that used to guide the ferry across had somehow become silent - I still don't know how. Whilst on the ferry, I got a text from Stu Bilverstone telling me he'd meet me in the Ship in Dock in about 45 mins, which gave me enough time to grab a shower before the merriment.

So, I got in the bar and the barmaid went through the bookings list twice before telling me that my name wasn't there! Nothing changes! RMB? Nobody told us you were coming!! After a fairly long phone call that didn't sound very hopeful from my end - I was given a room, but possibly only for 1 night. Well, I didn't care too much about tomorrow, I was in and needed a shower after getting up at crack, sparrow, fart to get there. As it turned out, I kept hearing the name Andrew Waugh and somehow my name had been translated to that... Easily done, I hear you say!

So - quick shower and down the bar to see Stu Bilverstone, Bob Gibbs and Phil Smith, (who I was meeting for the first time), already with pints in front of them. Very soon after, Les Sheppard came in and it was time to head off up to the college.

It was a beautiful evening and I really enjoyed the walk up to the college. (Of course, the MGS guard couldn't find my name - no change there either then). I was very excited about being back in the college, it had been absolute eons since my last visit (1981) but I was really pleased to see that nothing had changed in the slightest - except for Stu Bilverstone's girth and the hair (or lack of it) on Bob Gibbs head. Here's the proof...

Back later with the next instalment and some more pics...
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Hornblower · Posted: Mon May 25, 2009 5:30 pm Post subject:

I must admit to feeling some nostalgia for the old college, I can't remember any bad times, only good. It was really great to be back and walking across the parade ground to the steps I was taking pics left, right and centre...

It was a bright and warm evening with a bit of a breeze and sitting here now, I can remember it really used to blow up a hooligan standing in front of that mast. Colours one morning had to be abandoned by us because one by one the brass instuments froze solid - it started with a trombone and then the cornets - I was starting to feel left out, but thankfully mine seized as well! It was the only time it ever happened to me.

Anyway, back to the evening - we had to muster at 17.30 on the quarterdeck and the first people I recognised were my first bandmaster, Chris Sheppard and Henry Hall who I'd served with at Chatham previously. Neither of them recognised me at first and I had to introduce myself. Henry said later that he knew me as soon as he heard my voice, but it took dear old Chris a bit longer - he got there in the end though and remembered the dit I've already spun in here about 4 of us getting lemonade with ice & slice to make him think we'd disobeyed his direct order about no alcohol on gigs.

Two old friends turned up on the quarterdeck, Keith Boswell and Nobby Clark. I have to say that I now knew how the previous 2 had felt when I had to do a double take to realise it was Keith standing next to me. We had a good chat and moved outside. (Of course in the picture below that's Keith & Steve Savage, not Nobby).

Then a further 3 old muckers made an entrance, Steve Savage, Ted Hobden and Dee Lindars. All three were instantly engaged and thankfully this time, at least they knew who I was. (Later in the evening, even I wasn't sure of that). I was extremely pleased to see them and we slid straight back into the old banter - well, I did! Dee and I go back a long, long time and have had many a run ashore, both in Dartmouth Band and earlier at Chatham together. Steve was a very young musician who joined Dartmouth with Bob Gibbs shortly before I returned for another stint at Chatham.

The band then marched on and I was truly astonished at my reaction! They sounded superb and as the display went on, I got prouder and prouder of the fact that I used to do that on this very parade. The music and drumming was simply brilliant and I never knew that it could sound so good. I'm certain that the acoustic of the wrap-around parade helps enormously, but I can't imagine that it ever sounded so good in 'my' day.

I was mightily impressed and if any of the band ever get to read this, you have my absolute respect - you were brill - and I never thought I'd say that! Were we as good back then? I honestly don't know. There's no doubt at all that we LOOKED as good...

More to follow (with pics) soon, it was 2 days!
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2nd Clarinet · Posted: Tue May 26, 2009 6:47 am Post subject:

Well done Stu.

A great read and great photos.

You, on the other hand, don't look great.........All that hair colouring just doesn't suit you.

You can't be the only 55 yr old who aint got more grey than colour in their hair!

Seriously, me old mucker, a good thread......

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bunky the bugler · On Draft Joined: 27 Oct 2007 Posts: 138 Location: derby

I s'pose you never noticed Dave Parsons ex bugler drving the ferry did you !

Hornblower · Posted: Thu May 28, 2009 2:00 pm Post subject:

...Other people I met before the march-on were Steve Young (seen in my previous post with Dee Lindars) and Sid Davies. Sid can be seen below carrying the Freedom Scroll.

Steve I knew from Chatham/Northolt, he was just a youngster then and obviously looked up to me as some kind of benevolent influence who should be emulated as far as possible if he wanted to get on in the RMBS – well, that’s probably what I told him! However, he was almost certainly put right pretty quickly by someone who knew me better, but I wasn’t offended. I have to say that me and Neil Hamilton took him under our wing during his early days and Steve certainly remembers more about that than I do. One thing I do remember however was getting him to clean our brasses and boots in Gib and I even have a photo of him doing it!! (Staged, of course) – dignity at work policies didn’t exist in those days of course.

Sid seemed pleased to see me and (not for the first time) I was slightly bemused – he obviously knew me but I wasn’t so sure about him! We were undoubtedly on the same gig(s) somewhere or other, but because I had it in my mind that there’s only one person left in the RMBS that I actually know (Dave Bromley), I wasn’t exactly expecting anyone in uniform to know me! Anyway, I discovered that he’s a real gent and I believe we hit it off very well for a friendship that started sometime in the early ‘80’s and was put on ice until May 2009. It’s quite embarrassing (to me) to be confronted with someone that I feel I should know, but Sid was kind enough to let me off the hook. As we’ll see later, he wasn’t the only one either!

At the end of the display, when the DoM saluted the Commodore and asked permission to march off the parade for the last time, I kicked myself for not switching my camera to video mode and capturing it – it really was a quite poignant moment and the Commodore was very kind with his comments. It would have been brill to have posted that on You Tube for all ex-Dartmouth bandies to see, so I apologise that I wasn’t thinking too clearly at that moment, I was right there at the front too…

The DoM about-turned and instructed the Drum Major to march off the band and off they went. But, instead of marching past the curved slopes and disappearing, they marched up the slope and all the way round, past where we were standing and down the other ramp, predictably playing Heads of Oak (sorry, HEARTS), LOTOW and then at the end, Auld Lang Syne. There wasn’t a tear in my eye, but perhaps others may have been touched?

For me, the whole thing was excellently executed and extremely professional. I have nothing but praise for the band and will certainly wax lyrical about the following day’s display also…
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Hornblower · Posted: Sun Jun 07, 2009 4:25 pm Post subject:

Once the show was over we all moved back into the college and onto the Quarterdeck for canapes and cocktails - and of course, the speeches.

Everyone was once again very kind about the band over the past 53 years and the Commodore revealed that he had pleasant memories of the band when he was at the college as a midshpman in the early '70's.

Slowly, the food and drink disappeared and so did we! Back down to the Ship in Dock for something a little more 'substantial'. Bitter for me and a wave from Steve...

Jim the landlord presented us with more food in the shape of pizzas and the we moved into town. The serving band had by then joined us in civvies.

My evening started to blur once we'd left the Ship in Dock, but I do remember renewing old acquaintances and making some new ones too, but mainly I was drinking and chatting (incoherently I expect) with Dee.

We hit quite a few pubs, but I never was much good at holding my booze and quit at about 12.30 to return to my bed.

I'd had a great evening and was looking forward to the next day.
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Wee Mac · Posted: Sun Jun 07, 2009 5:57 pm Post subject:

I'm soooooooo glad you had an enjoyable time Stuey,.........really, I am!!
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townsergeant · Posted: Sun Jun 07, 2009 10:27 pm Post subject:

Hornblower · Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2009 7:22 am Post subject:

No Billy, Mac didn't go - how did you guess???

I've had a cyber-chat with Mac and explained how it all went down and there's been a bit of a buzz on Facebook about it too.

For those of you who are interested in how it was organised, let me do my best to explain here...

I got a 'tip-off' from Stu Bilverstone about the 2 days asking me if I'd been invited and if not why not? I wasn't aware at this point that it was a limited guest list and made enquiries to find out how I could wangle myself onto the guest list.

When I finally got in touch with Flash Gordon, the Drum Major and principle organiser, he informed me that there was a limit to how many could be invited but because I'd 'bothered my ar$e' I could attend. He asked which event I wanted to go to and I said both, not really knowing what was going on, but not wanting to miss out on anything either!!!

He informed me that the invitees were ex Bandmasters, ex Drum Majors and anyone who lived in the local area.

Staffordshire ain't local! But with other ex colleagues going, I really didn't want to miss out.

I agonised over whether I should put anything on here and I did come really close, but I didn't want to pi$$ anyone off, given the limits imposed.

Even so, I did drop a few hints expecting someone to ask me what was going on, in here and on Facebook.

I had a good look around to see if it was published anywhere and didn't find anything about it. So decided to keep me gob shut for a change.

And that's how I managed to get in on the action. I'm sorry to those who would have loved to have gone who didn't, it would have been great to see you there. Some who had indicated that they were going didn't turn up either... they missed a damn good show and run ashore.

Mac is truly pleased I had a good time because he knows that he would have had too! (He may have remembered a bit more about it too).

Thanks for the tip-off Stu!

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Wee Mac · Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2009 9:40 am Post subject:

I really would have liked to be a participant in what was a once in a lifetime event. I am really pleased for those who attended and were able to meet up with old friends etc.

Maybe it's a bit weird but HB's posts and photo's, have become a sort of substitute way of being there. Thanks Stuey!

Ps when I see Flash, me and him are going to have a little chat.
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Hornblower · Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2009 11:49 am Post subject:

Wee Mac · Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2009 12:52 pm Post subject: