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Jim Mason · Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 6:04 pm Post subject: Boston 1976

In Dan's very accurate Dit about Halifax he implied that I should tell you how we saw so much of Boston. So here goes!

Boston was the port of call before Halifax on the Bicentennial Royal Tour of America in 1976. We arrived alongside at 0800 and the main event of the first day was a parade of the citizens of Boston before the Royal Family - The Queen, The Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward. There were some 60 units in the parade, including 4 Youth Bands (all about 120 strong) At about 0900 I was invited to lead the parade (the first I had heard of it) which started at 1000. - Well, who could refuse!!
My only stipulation was that, as I had not been ashore in Boston and knew nothing about the route of the parade, I should be given a police escort to keep me on the straight and narrow.

We arrived at the start and I met my escort - named "Chuck". We stepped off, and led the parade past the Royal Family on the Saluting Dias. The unit behind us was "The Honorable Artillery Company of Boston". A group of some 80 very elderly and in most cases, very corpulent gentlemen dressed in the same uniform as their parent organisation in London. We carried on down the road, with myself, Brian Peever and "Chuck" in the lead and after about 300 yards I said to "Chuck" "Are we alright?" to which he replied "Yeah, great" I repeated the same question after a few more minutes and got the same response. I then noticed that the crowds had noticeably thinned out and got a bit alarmed when a roadside notice indicated that we were heading for the Freeway to New York! I then said to "Chuck" "Are we on the correct road" to which he replied "Well where do you want to go, Mac?" He then explained that he had never been to Boston in his life, he was from a provincial police force and had been drafted in to help in organising the parade, and had no idea where we were!

When we stopped, I found that we were still being followed by the "Honorable Artillery Company of Boston" - everybody else has wheeled off some way back. We enlisted the help of one of the " Elderly and corpulent " gentlemen to guide us back through the back streets of Boston - still followed by the "Honorable Artillery Company of Boston" who insisted that it was the best day out that they had ever had!

We arrived back at the start, to find that everyone else had gone home.

To this day, I am still reminded about Boston by certain members of the Royal Family.

Dan A · Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 9:20 pm Post subject:

Great Dit Boss..... what a march... i recall during one set of the very many drum solos that John Sharp had spotted a helicopter overhead and shouted "its ok lads we are rescued"!!!!! As I recal we made it back to the Yacht with sore feet only to be taken straight up to the Royal Deck for a man ship.!!!!!! Great day out......not!!
Dan
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Another priceless dit from the Yacht box!
Many thanks for your continued input sir...
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townsergeant · Posted: Sun Apr 16, 2006 2:40 pm Post subject:

Plymouth Band did a 3 month tour of the USA in 1976 as part of the British Salute to the American Bicentennial. 67 shows in 70 days!
(Not the life of luxury that the Royal Yacht Band were having!)

We played at the Boston Gardens in Boston and coincidentally, another musical group were touring the USA at the same time and stayed in the same hotel as us and I've got the signed LP to prove it!

(Oh, by the way.....the group was Queen and the LP....A Night at the Opera!)

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bootybandy · Posted: Sun Apr 16, 2006 2:54 pm Post subject:

Did you not also stay in a hotel in Germany when Genesis were there as well Bill?
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Hornblower · Posted: Sun Apr 16, 2006 4:10 pm Post subject:

Dan A · Posted: Sun Apr 16, 2006 4:53 pm Post subject:

Ahhh the cushy old Yacht band!!! We also had a night at the Opera with THE Queen in the Sydney Opera House in Oz during the 1977 Siver Jubilee Tour. If my memory is correct it was Peter Grimes by Benjamin Brittain/ Unfortunately she did not sign any LP's so I cannot prove it as Billy can!!! LOL....
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bootybandy · Posted: Sun Apr 16, 2006 4:55 pm Post subject:

townsergeant · Posted: Sun Apr 16, 2006 5:33 pm Post subject:

townsergeant · Posted: Sun Apr 16, 2006 5:36 pm Post subject:

RAB · Posted: Sun Apr 16, 2006 11:17 pm Post subject: Re: Boston 1976

Hornblower · Posted: Mon Apr 17, 2006 3:20 pm Post subject:

Hornblower · Posted: Mon Apr 17, 2006 3:20 pm Post subject:

Or was I early? (Again...)

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bootybandy · Posted: Mon Apr 17, 2006 8:19 pm Post subject:

Premature even..

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Wine is meant to be drunk............I am drunk.............Therefore am I wine??

Hornblower · Posted: Mon Apr 17, 2006 9:10 pm Post subject:

S'normal...

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