Musn Dawkins
Monday
To start the day off we had a period of PT with CSgt Curry. Everybody had to be in work for 0845 because the week was going to be hectic… we had 3 gigs to prepare for. After lunch I had a lesson with my clarinet professor during which we went through the pieces for my upcoming Grade 5 exam. As there was a gig on Tuesday morning, Monday evening rehearsals were spent going through the music for the gig.
Musn Dawkins
Tuesday
Tuesday began with rounds; our corridor, rooms and bedspaces were sparkling as we left for work. The gig we had spent the previous evening rehearsing for was in the Portsmouth Guildhall for the Lord Mayor. The performance went on till 1300 then we all had to be back at work for 1500. In the evening we had concert band where we spent the time going through CSgt Finnigan's composition befor recording it.
Wednesday
Today started with parade band on the grass at the back of the Wardroom as our gig on Friday was on grass so we needed to practice marching and playing on an uneven surface. I then had a violin lesson with Sgt Boland; this really helped me with my scales. In the afternoon 12 of us were selected to go and compete in Portsmouth Command Swimming Championships. It was a good afternoon the lads team came 2nd overall… behind the girls team who came 1st. The girls had won over 25 medals between them and special thanks go to Musicians Naylor, O'Mally and Hampson who won over 5 medals each.
The Portsmouth Command Swimming Championships
Musn Dawkins at the pool
Thursday
The morning started with a run down the seafront with Sgt Griffin, which he kindly broke up with few circuits en route. After a shower and change into uniform it was over to the School of Music for a normal day of work. In the afternoon we had a history lesson where musicians Shaw and King prepared a speech about binary and ternary forms of music. Tonight was concert band for a gig next week.
Friday
Today we had a parade band gig at Seaford College in Brighton for the Combined Cadet Force passing out parade, it was very windy so everybody was trying not to lose their music or pith helmets. We got back at 1430 and Drum Major gave us the rest of the day off.
Saturday
We had another parade band gig for divisions at HMS Excellent, the gig went really well and after w returned to HMS Nelson the rest of the day was off. I just went and did a bit of shopping. In the evening quite a few of us went for a drink… or three.
Sunday
This is my, and most of the others in Training Company, lie-in day. After I
got up I prepared my kit for the following week.