2nd Clarinet
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Chatham Dogends - Remember BoltonAll you ex Chatham Dogends out there......can you remember the cry...."Remember Bolton"?
This gig, a CAT 1, went down in the annuls of Dogend History in the 70's.
Under the direction of Capt. PA Sumner, The Band of Her Majesty's Royal Marines, C-In-C Fleet, headed the freedom ceremony march of..............
Who can carry this Dit on with all its twists and turns?
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Hornblower
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Not me - I was in the band but not on that gig unfortunately.
I got all the first hand news as soon as the boys got back and was utterly astonished at what went on - I seem to remember that Taff Cox (very short, big head) was wearing Trev Bignalls (very tall, small head) cerries and vice versa.
I would have loved to have been there, even if only because the wets were free! 
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2nd Clarinet
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Stu,
I was there and good fun it was too...
But I'll let others contribute and see what appears on this thread.
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admin
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Before my time... I wasn't allowed out of Pembroke on gigs for ages. I had the baptism of Divisions till I lost the will to live
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jackbarker
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I remember the freedom of the cityof Bolton gig With BRNC. HMS Dido was the guard ship and were bussed up from Liverpol. At night therewas a massive PU in the Police club. Mayor of Bolton in attendance.
From where they came I know not but we all ended up with a pocket full of brigtly coloured clothes pegs which we proceeded to attach covertly to any dignitarv we could find. Oh what a sight the lord Mayor cut with his flowing robes and 50 or so pegs hanging from his official robes.
Think Guitar Andy will remember this one
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2nd Clarinet
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We did a Freedom ceremony for a RN Ship (can't remember name) which would include a Beating Retreat Ceremony alongside the ship in the docks.
Bloody hot summers day, and it WAS hot! And a LONG march!
After the Freedom march, everyone went to the Town Hall, and in place was big meal for dignitaries, the ships company and us, with lots, and I mean lots, of free booze.
Pete Sumner made it clear to the entire band that NO alcohol was to be consumed.
Well..........
The Gauntlet had been thrown down. The challenge made.
So in age old tradition, the diehard Dogends on this gig spat on that Guantlet and took up that challenge.
During the meal and speeches, lots of bandies suffered a ‘weak bladder’ and in order to relieve oneself, one had to pass the free bar in the atrium, (this was where the heads were situated). Some people were gone for rather long periods on numerous occasions (Must have been something they ate!).
Some of the band were seen to duck under the long trestle tables and crawl (unseen) the entire length of the room, only to be seen fleetingly as the dived through the door and into the atrium.
About two and a half hours later, the band (or most of it) was now well and truly oiled.
So, off we merrily went, to the docks, for the Beating Retreat…………!!!!!
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