Wembley 1971

Jim Mason · Wembley 1971

Recent coverage of the World Cup matches. has brought back memories of an incident in 1971. At the time, the Portsmouth Band was engaged to play at a number of International matches at Wembley and Twickenham, and alternating with the Guards at the Cup Final. In 1971 we were invited to play at a match between England and the Republic of East Germany. I obtained a copy of the East German national anthem, a charming melody called "We Rose From the Ruins" but a couple of weeks before the match, I received instructions from the Admiralty that I was not to play the East German anthem under any circumstances as East Germany was not at that time, recognised as a state by England. I argued that as we were playing them in an International match, they must be a recognised state. However, permission was refused. I contacted the Foreign Office and asked for guidance. they also were adamant. I must not play the anthem because East Germany was not recognised as a state.

Unfortunately, this decision was leaked to the National Press and this led to a prolonged discussion in the Press, the sports pages were full of it, and eventually the East German team stated that if we did not play their anthem, they would walk off the pitch and refuse to play, The Band Secretary (Rodney Williamson) and I were called repeatedly by the Press for a statement and the headlines for a few days were on the lines of "Will They or Won't They Play?". there was even a suggestion that the Royal Marines would play the British anthem and a Salvation Army Band would come on and play the East German one!

I could not get any support from higher levels and was virtually told "You took on the engagement, it is your problem!"

On the day of the match. we played the National Anthem as usual and Wembley went very, very quiet. We then played "We Rose From the Ruins" and Wembley erupted. World War Three did not start, the team did not walk off. but I was surrounded by the East Germans, all wanting to shake my hand. The Captain then hung a medal (about the size of a dustbin lid) around my neck. and we marched off. I am told that it all looked good on television,

I never heard another word from either the Admiralty, or the Foreign
Office!

RAB

Another case of stiff upper lips being loosened by RMB. Well done Col. Jim, but I bet you were wearing a bulletproof vest for the occasion..

Co-admin

Well, that is one for the book: The RM Band made Wembley quiet!
An amazing dit once again from Col Jim... thank you sir.

MrJpig

Brilliant dit. two phrases come to mind..
1."Listen to everyone...then make up your own mind!
2. "Nobody can make you feel inferior without your permission"

Well done Col Jim

bootybandy

If people only knew of the trials and tribulations of being a DoM were more than just waving a stick in front of a band!!! Excellent dit Col Jim.

bootybandy

I think that Col Jim has enough "inside" knowledge to write memoirs that would open the eyes of most people, let alone the members of todays RMB Service. How about it Col Jim?

greenfairy

Seeing as that happened 11 years before I was born, can I stand and applaud you now instead? Fantastic!

townsergeant

townsergeant

BTW.........Col Jim.....You have some great dits!

Please keep them coming!

greenfairy

Aaron Aardvark

WOW!! Balls or what??

sticky blue

lesbryan

Well the the last two posts seem like utter bo%%ocks to me

bootybandy

Would the last two posts be yours and Tommo's Les??

lesbryan

Could well be booty could well be ||||||||||

Hornblower

Anyone old enough to remember this?

1966 and all that... England have literally just found out that it's now all over...

Oh and who's the grumpy bugger on the right?

Well - I can tell you that it wasn't the illustrious author of the above dit.

However, he had a colonel nickname too, 'Colonel Pags'

A big chuck up for the first person to correctly identify why?

joe90

Oh dear, that's too easy - Peter Alfred George Sumner. though are you you sure it's him?

Mr Bass Trombone · 1966

As I have just said to my old mucker Hornblower(My Ickle Til)yes I am old enough to remember 1946,56 and even

66, I was well old enough

but I am inclined to agree with Joe 90 I dont think it is the late PAGS, I think it looks more like that great supporter of the Yiddos Paul Neviile.

Hornblower

Totally pos me ol' trombists!

There was a much better (and closer) picture that was very famous taken just after/before the one above. It didn't show so many of the bench - just a couple - Sir Alf and the (correctly moniker'd) Peter Sumner. It was very definitely him. He looked as if he'd just lost his favourite horn player and gained a section of trombones instead...

He was known to smile though, do either of you remember it?

(By the way, I was certainly not his favourite horn player, nor was I in the RMBS in 1966)

BTW - this is only gentle ribbing, he was the best boss I had at Chatham/Northwood - sorry to all the others!

Mr Bass Trombone

Yes my ickle TIL I can remember him smiling

, we were

at the Wheatley Hotel Doncaster, and we Dogends led by a certain clarinet player now a C/SGT to do Singing in the Rain(Hands in)full monty

etc you must have been on that gig surely

we did a concert with a girls choir, plus some frigging in the rigging

, well he certainly smiled that nite so did his good lady wife.

It was a topic he often raised after he retired and some of us used to visit him in Donnie.

Dan A

Hi Guys I am back from my travels.... Your all wrong the DofM next to Jimmy Greaves is Captain Tommy Lambert DofM of the Portsmouth Band in 1966.
Dan....
PS: What a great dit Jim....

Mr Bass Trombone

Wrong I am afraid Dan

, the Dom at Portsmouth for that gig which was his last prior to moving on

was in fact The late Peter Sumner, I have had this confirmed by one who was there non other than Maxie Beare. I to joined Eastney in 66 when Tom had taken over in late July.

I think this puts this one to bed. Adios Mi Amigos

Hasta Octubre.

Dan A

You may be right mick but I am sure I have a pic of what I thought was Tom... I will dig it out.
Dan

Hornblower

I'm keepin' outta this!

(Other than to say that I was right in the first place.)

bootybandy

Well kept out of Stu.......

Hornblower

I thought so!

bootybandy

Do you think anyone noticed????

Hornblower

Noticed what?

Nobody ever took any notice of me

and I don't ecpect them to start now!!!

(Why d'ya think I played so loud? It got me noticed. Didn't it?)

(Plus, I had to drown out the Alto saxamathingy's as a matter of pride and public interest...)

bootybandy

So....We got you worried about World Domination then had we? I mean a Cor Francais is not a sexy thing is it... You are hardly going to rule the world with the noise coming from behind you are you..???

General Melchett

Coming from a wood-licker....!

Aaron Aardvark

bootybandy

You must....You must...

townsergeant

2nd Clarinet