The Cypriot adventurers relax at Watermania
Sgt Cornish with his Corps of Drums
In mid October a small group of students and instructors traveled to Cyprus
to help the resident British Services and expat community celebrate events surrounding
Trafalgar Day.
We started our Cypriot adventure on a coach going up to Brize Norton where we
were to stay overnight. On arrival we unloaded all the gear to go onto the plane
in the morning and then our next stop was the bar where we had a few sociable
drinks just to make sure that we slept OK. The following morning our wake-up
call was at 0430 and we were to fly at 0700. After a four hour flight we touched
down in RAF Akroitiri at 1300 local time. After we settled in we went for a
walk to check out the town. WO1 Martin and his wife Fiona went off to have dinner
with Lt Cdr 'Nobby' Hall who was our host for the week. We were informed by
Fiona, that a strip of bars and restaurants was a mere 200 yards from the gate,
so we thought that that wasn't too far to walk. However, what she had failed
to mention was that it was a three mile walk to get to the gate. So, we had
a lovely walk, roaming through the countryside in the pitch black, not knowing
where we were going, how far we were going, or indeed if we were even going
in the right direction. 45 minutes and a couple of blisters later we found some
food and had a well deserved feast of sour dough bread and pizza. The next day
was free until the evening, so we drove down to Curium beach (which had been
a favorite of ours the previous year), where we had lunch and a wee bit of tan
time in the blazing Cypriot sun, followed by a dip in the sea to cool off. That
evening we had our first gig, which was for the Royal Naval Association. The
gig consisted of a 10 minute Mess Beatings by the Corps of Drums followed by
background music from the Jazz Quintet, soon to become Jazz Quartet, but that
is another story! The gig went fine and we were rewarded with great hospitality
which was much appreciated. The following day after morning rehearsal, we decided
to check out 'WATERMANIA' the local water park, where I think everyone went
on just about everything, including the dreaded Kamikaze - well done Sgt Cornish
who is terrified of heights. That was a brilliant day and we managed to get
plenty of tan time in too! That evening, Friday, we had our second gig at the
same venue as before. It was also Cpl 'Sid' Andrew's birthday, so out came the
port and cigars ...
The Cypriot adventurers relax at Watermania
Sgt Cornish with his Corps of Drums
On Saturday we spent the best part of the day traveling to Aya Napa for our
gig that evening. The evening's activities started off well with a good Mess
Beatings and Sunset, a good couple of sets from the Jazz Band followed by a
disco. It was a good evening and everyone was in high spirits, however, I fear
it was destined to be a disaster. The next morning we discovered that Musn Ian
Ferguson (sax player) had spent the early hours of the morning in casualty with
Buglers Keeping and Lowe. He had stumbled on a storm drain on his way to bed
and somehow landed on his face - it was a genuine accident as well! After being
cleaned up at sick bay he was told to keep his stitches dry and that he would
be fine. However a couple of days later on closer inspection by a doctor, it
was discovered that he had broken his jaw and cheekbone in 4 places and would
have to stay on the island in hospital for surgery - DOH!
Anyway, back to our story. Sunday morning, after more rehearsals, we packed
up, piled onto the mini bus and drove to Nissi beach where we purchased some
bat's and balls that kept us amused for the rest of the trip. We drove back
to Akroitiri, and had the evening to ourselves so we went to Aphrodite's steak
house where we devoured 'beautiful' peppered fillet steaks, which Cpl Andrew
fell in love with, and still talks of now. Monday was another rehearsal, followed
by the beach to catch a few rays, then we had a gig that evening just around
the corner on a landing craft. We were finished by 2030 so we ventured down
to the local curry house, and then off to the NAAFI bar. Cpl Andrew and I had
a couple of friendly games of pool which resulted in him boasting about a 2-1
victory. Tuesday, from mid-day the Corps of Drums spent two hours on a landing
craft. We sailed around the island and landed on a beach where we played a fanfare
for some 'hash' runners when they boarded, then another fanfare when they left
to carry on running. We were then taken to the finish line, which was in the
middle of nowhere and we played a fanfare for the first runners to finish, then
another for the middle runners and then yet another fanfare for the last ones.
Our day's work was then completed with Mess Beatings in the middle of a field
on a mountain in a very isolated position.
The Corps of Drums perform at the 'deserted venue'
The 'Cypriot Adventurers'
That evening we discovered that our return flight was delayed by 24 hours, so
Wednesday we trundled down to the beach again and then just had to go back to
Aphrodite to have another 'beautiful' peppered steak. We then went next door
to the New Inn where Cpl Andrew and I continued with our pool competition. Despite
his best efforts he ended on the wrong side of a 5-3 defeat, what can I say?
We dragged ourselves out of bed early the next day to do a bit of desperate
last minute tanning at the beach before our flight. Despite flying home minus
a sax player, it was a brilliant trip. Musn Ferguson is now back and recovering
at home.
Bug Ford