Jim R mason
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Vichy Festival of Military music 1960A gathering of bands from the German Navy, Dutch Marines, US Navy, Belgian Navy. Italian Navy, French Navy,and Royal Marines.
The Whale Island Band attended a very well organised event. Itinerary consisted of a parade through the city, a ceremonial event in the town square and concerts by individual bands over a period of three days.
We were accomodated in a hotel in the city and on the night of our concert we had to cross a bridge over the river to the concert hall.
Hospitality was fairly lavish.
After the concert, I was returning to the hotel over the bridge when I was called to witness something happening in the river. There, in full ceremonials, plus drum and bugle. was a bugler (who shall be nameless!)
up to the waist in the river - and feeding ducks with French bread.
He ignored my plea of "Come on Geordie, get out" and I eventually had to get in and drag him out (I was in Frock Coat etc.)
The local population was very impressed, and I believe that we made the press the following day.
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