Royal Tournament 1981

Jim Mason · Royal Tournament 1981

1981 was the turn of the Massed Bands of the Royal Marines for Earls Court, but as it was a historic occasion, the show was opened by the combined bands of the Royal Marines, Irish Guards, and the Central Band of the Royal Air Force. The Royal Marines were as always, housed in the infamous Warwick Hall (all in one room!) The Irish Guards travelled in daily from their HQ in London, and the Central Band of the Royal Air Force came in by coach daily from Uxbridge.

Prior to the afternoon show on the second Friday, we received a message that the Central Band of the Royal Air Force was held up in a major traffic problem and would not arrive in time for the show. We had to make last minute changes to the display, and the audience was informed that "Due to circumstances beyong out control, the Central Band of the Royal Air Force will not appear at the afternoon performance"

The bands entered that arena playing David Cole's arrangement of The Army, the Navy and the Air Force, but on this occasion, the lyrics would have read "The Army, The Navy and (2 bars rest)" This was repeated each time the phrase was played throughout the march. The audience appreciated the gesture, and even the very senior Royal Air Force officer taking the salute managed a wry smile!

Each band had its own administration office in Earls Court and when the Royal Air Force eventually arrived they found that the Royal Air Force crest on their office now read;

THE CENTRAL BAND OF THE ROYAL AIR FORCE

(CLOSED ON FRIDAY AFTERNOONS)

FFoglamp

Yes. I was on that RT. ....and I remember that friday afternoon. good dit.

I like good dits

PIE is better. mmmmmmmmm

townsergeant

It wasn't 1981 but we still haven't found the infamous milk-bosun, who thought you had to take the milk bag out of its box before putting it in the machine!

My money is still on Sid Davis, twin Bro' of the PDM.

RAB

FFoglamp

Rab, I clocked up a few, like most of us. Most of the years merge in to one now.

So, Colonel Jim, Billy, or Rab, which year was it then ?

townsergeant

Hornblower

I was in the Albert Hall (can't remember the year - but it was in the 70's) rehearsing for the Festival of Remembrance. The RAF decided not to turn up for that one, apparently setting a trend to be continued in the 80's!

Those of you that have done this gig, or watched on telly, will know that there's a popular little tune played whilst the BL flags are being paraded. The Guards massed bands did the inevitable - but very funny - thing with it...

(With apologies to all that don't know the tune)

...the Army, the Navy and the (silence silence)

Wolfy · Milky Bar Kid!

Well Billy,

I was working the Warwick Hall Coffee boat when the milk incident happened. (Trying to make money to pay for my wedding which was a waste of bloody time now I think about it)

I have to say that the more I try and recollect it, the more convinced I am that it was Sid Tanner.

Brian Short was working the coffee boat too (when he wasn't alone in the dark behind the curtain of our makeshift "Cinema?) so if we can get him on here he may be able to put this one to rest for you.

Crusty Driller (percussion type person) was also in the vicinity as I recall.

Sorry I cant be more precise but the net is closing.
I hope you are not going to rip the p***s out of whoever it was once he's identified???

sticky blue

as if - waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!

townsergeant · Re: Milky Bar Kid!

FFoglamp

Brian Short is already a member here. Goes under the name of "banging and crashing", but has become one of the many "one post wonders". Where do all these bods go? Have us regulars upset them, or do they pretend they have lives, and therefore no time to play on our favourite forum ?

Not sure if Dusty Miller (perc) is registered, but he definitely lurks, as he emailed me recently, and I know he got me from here.

As regards the famous milk monitor, can't remember either. Perhaps he's also the Aardvark ?

Anyway, no more question marks ?

Aaron Aardvark

????? moi???? wahh roflmao

FFoglamp

Thought it might be a lucky guess. Still, there is no pint in identifying Aa as the milk bosun, if we don't know who he is either?

1981 RT ? Was that the year I did the Royal Torment t-shirts. mmmmmmm nooooo, probably 1984 or 1987. Anyone recall ? :money:

Aaron Aardvark

87 i still have one wahhhhh

FFoglamp

A ha . So you were still around for that then ?

You must have been because that was also the "Fleet Band Aardvarks" t shirt time, sort of era !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

bootybandy

So, Double A was in FOSNI before Rab got there, and also in the 1987 RT. Well, that's his identity sussed??? I was always a little worried about him having a photo of Keith Boswell casually hanging around in a drawer. That's what has kept me thinking of the FOSNI / Fleet link. Curiouser and curiouser.

townsergeant

Best RT T-Shirt..the one with Bart Simpson on it!

Can't remember a lot about it......

Wolfy · Royal Torment

and those wonderful chinese christmas carols.. Ahhh What Larks eh?

sticky blue · Re: Royal Torment

MrJpig · Re: Royal Torment

Co-admin

Send it to me Tommo and I'll do it into a CD!
That was a brilliant tape... a real morale booster

FFoglamp

Max Bygrave has a copy of the Chinese Xmas Carols, and I have a "best of " (is that possible) on tape., so yes please deli man need a massed produced CD copy..........."Now thats what i call getting caught in Hong Kong just before Xmas"

sticky blue · Re: Royal Torment

sticky blue

Co-admin

I think Ffoglamp is going to send it to me... should be done by the time you get back

MrJpig

Thanks Guys

FFoglamp

CHINESE XMAS CAROLS

Mine is an old lo-fi copy on cassette.

Ask Max to remaster it on cd, and upload/download to Deli. Those two have the technology.

Then run off a few copies.

Or to cut out a middle man, ask Max to run off a few copies and send them in the post.

I use a CD firm in Florida. Only takes 3 days to get here !!!!

Pax80

Co-admin

Hopefully Tommo will send me his and I'll rip it down

bootybandy

Aaron Aardvark

sticky blue

Co-admin

Cheers ears. The photo will be on its way back to you shortly... it was DGP in front of the bands but we think we may have a lead on a photo.

sticky blue

sticky blue

found the said tape - will be on it's way tomorrow

nite nite

it's only 21:44 sad ba't'rd that I am

Co-admin

You are a star!

Many thanks dad

MrJpig

Cheers sticky.....I have a six pack...under here somewhere!!!!

sticky blue

I've got a six pack in the fridge

Co-admin

Job done. Please PM me your postal address and I'll send them in the morning. 16 tracks and it lasts just over 30 minutes!
Max, send your email if you are broadband and I'll email the tracks to you, one at a time of course.

K.S.J.LEVER

Are these 'Chinese Christmas Carols' going into full production and then onto CD............. Deli ????????????

Aaron Aardvark

Oh yes they are.........Hong Kong 'Chrismas' (sic) is superb.

Who was this Jesus Chris bloke anyway Deli???

Co-admin

Not full production... more a limited run for those who have asked for them.

K.S.J.LEVER

Would you please put me on your list Deli for these 'Chinese Christmas Carols'.

townsergeant

Wee Mac · 1977 Silver Jubilee Wembley Pageant

I'm new to the site and have just read dits on missing RAF Bands. It was the 1977 Wembley Pageant, for ER II's Silver Jubilee. The RM band entered from the players tunnel. The Guards from under the Royal box and the RAF were absent from the far end. It was the same gig, that an RM Band member was over heard by the DOM of the Guards, " I bet he wears Harmony hair spray", which was from an ad that was currently being shown on TV. Apparently, his Bearskin was well groomed.

Errol. It was Polly and Geordie who Built the Warwick Hall Turtle House!

Wee Mac · 1975 Edinburgh Tattoo

Yes, it was 1975 and because of the heavy rain, the RM motorcycles were cancelled and the Finale was next. Rolls one -two and on marched the massed bands, well some of them anyway. Have you ever seen a bugler run up hill in the pouring rain, wearing a cape and carrying his drum in both hands. Good effort Pedlar.
As already stated, Lt Sharp was on the dais that night, which meant the other RM Dom had that performance off. A young Oboe player, who shall be known as Baz, Walked up behind a soaked figure, who was waring a hooded anorak, gave him a good pat on the back and said, "F....ng good value that" Unfortunate for Baz, it was the other Dom, who shall be known as Wally. I'm not sure but I think Baz got away with It.

Anyway,.... for the rest of the Tattoo, we were confined to the building until needed.
( and we still did not get any oranges) That's another story for an older member)!

Wee Mac · CHINESE XMAS CAROLS

I had acopy when my kids were small. Used to really p..s them off at chrimbo.. Don't have it anymore ! I'll have a copy please Will pay p&p

Bomber

Nearly right about Pedlar, Mac if you remember he was doing tenor drum in the finale and marched on from the side swinging.

Wee Mac

If young Michael Edwin was on tenor drum, who ran past me carrying his drum??

Wee Mac

And what sort of scam was he on??

Wolfy

Bulger??? Scam????????? Don't usually see them words in the same sentence!!

RAB · Re: 1975 Edinburgh Tattoo

Wee Mac

You got it Rab! Although it was a bit before my time, the story was told to me by Bglr Brian Rose.

Royal Tournament 1981

Milky Bar Kid!

Re: Milky Bar Kid!

Royal Torment

Re: Royal Torment

Re: Royal Torment

Re: Royal Torment

1977 Silver Jubilee Wembley Pageant

1975 Edinburgh Tattoo

CHINESE XMAS CAROLS

Re: 1975 Edinburgh Tattoo