For troop 2001 the week started with curiosity, not really knowing what to expect.
Rehearsals were held in the Guildhall Monday and Tuesday proving to be very
long days filled with run through after run through, endless sitting around
not doing much really. Luckily 'the great spoon of Whethers' was within a stone
throw so there was time for a few sociable beverages and time to make new aquaintances!
Monday and Tuesday
Both Monday and Tuesday were very much the same. In HMS Nelson the queues for
meals were out the door because there were that many Band Service personnel
packed into Nelson!
Wednesday
Wednesday we boarded 6 coaches, loaded with bag rats (mmm!) and started our
journey to the Royal Albert Hall. Most of the journey was spent seeing who could
shout the loudest and who could sing the worst, although a few people didn't
need to try for that one!
We arrived to find that the Albert Hall was crawling with policemen and barriers.
On getting off the coach our bags and luggage needed to be checked by sniffer
dogs before we could enter. The security was very high. After we had dropped
off our kit it was into the auditorium to set up the stage. The evening before
there had been some sort of grand prix show so there were racing cars hanging
from the ceiling but it didn't take too long with everyone mucking in and once
the stage was ready it was into the rehearsals.
Wednesday was a long day for the choir as we were singing just small bits here
and there but still had to sit through everything. It was good to see the Massed
Bands even though we all had very square bottoms by the end of the day.
Thursday
Thursday we had the morning off as we did not get back until very late the previous
evening. On arrival at the Albert Hall there were a few more sound checks to
do which didn't take long and then we were free until the concert started. We
signed out of the building and wandered the streets of London managing to sniff
out a rather nice little pub… which was to become a regular feature of
our Mountbatten Festival free time.
Thursday evening we were all ready a little early. For my troop it was the first
time we had worn our ceremonial uniform so we got changed and paraded up and
down corridors for a while… well I did anyway. The concert went smoothly
we sang like angels and smiled all the way through like good trainees.
Friday and Saturday
Friday and Saturday were very much the same. The concerts were a great success
every night and there were no hiccups.
The Mountbatten Festival of Music had been a real eye opener for us. Seeing
all the other musicians from the different bands, taking part in our first concert
and experiencing the display by the Massed Corps of Drums was fantastic to see.
I loved watching the audience and seeing how many people were made so happy
by the music. It was great to see them laughing, clapping, tapping their feet
and joining in with the music. It made me feel very proud to be a part of it,
albeit a small way but in a couple years we will all be playing a bigger part.
In the meantime it's back to the grindstone next week for some more musical
madness!