Waiting for the flight... the band tuck into their in flight snack
Monday
It was 0030, the very early hours of Monday morning when the Royal Marines School
of Music set off on what was to be no more than a day's journey to Iceland.
The trip is an annual deployment to US NAS Keflavik to support the USMC in their
Corps birthday celebrations. We arrived at RAF Mildenhall at 0530 after spending
an hour sat in a motorway service station, checked in at the terminal and boarded
the bus to the plane. When we reached the plane the pilot greeted us with the
news that the plane had broken down and the part to fix it was not available
for at least another day. This resulted in us checking into the very elaborate
and spacious Gateway Hotel and had the rest of the day to ourselves.
Waiting for the flight... the band tuck into their in flight snack
Tuesday
We promptly arrived at the terminal for 0700 only to find the plane was further
delayed until early afternoon. After further entertaining ourselves on base
it was at 1200 that myself, Bug (Polka Face) Mace, Musn's (Ali G) Gray, Dolby
(surround sound), Dawkins and Hall decided to partake in a little refreshment.
At 1300 we all met up, but were told to come back in an hour, so we returned
to our refreshments. At 1400 we met up again, but were told to come back in
an hour, so we returned to our refreshments. At 1500 we met up but were told
to come back in an hour, so we returned to our refreshments. By 1600 we learnt
we were staying another night, so we enjoyed the rest of our evening.
Wednesday
Another early start and this time we actually got our flight! Having already
had to cancel one engagement due to the delay, the Bandmaster was keen to get
us to Keflavik in time for the concert scheduled for tonight at the base camp
theatre. We touched down and stepped on to the very cold and windy tarmac at
1500 and were swiftly taken to the accommodation blocks to sign in. We caught
a brief glimpse of our luxury en-suite rooms before rushing off to rehearse.
The concert was put together in record time and at 1930 it kicked off to a small
but enthusiastic audience. There were a few hiccups (the drum display was immaculately
presented in the pitch black and the bouncing mute solo in the quietest part
of symphonic marches!) but generally it was a good start to the week. On completion
of the gig, we all made our first visit to the Marines Bar ('Mar Bar'). This
is run by the USMC and unfortunately all drinks were exchanged for a donation
of just one dollar!
The 'Mar Bar'
Whilst some prefered to relax with a game of pool... some didn't
Thursday
We were kindly rewarded with a recovery morning in bed and then a trip to the
Blue Lagoon in the afternoon. This is a geothermal lake in the volcanic rock,
which basically means it's very hot in the water, and very cold out of it! The
evening was spent watching videos in the accommodation.
The band relax at The 'Blue Lagoon'
Friday
Whilst everyone else slept, the parade band were up early for an 8 o'clock rehearsal
with the US Marines for the following day's ceremony. The highlight of the morning
was watching the Marines get used to our style of marching and tempo; which
they did admirably. On completion of this, we returned to the accommodation
to prepare our kit for a schools concert at the base High School that afternoon.
This started at 1400 and was quite enjoyable for all involved. The band was
joined by several students from the school and one student was even called up
to join in with the Corps of Drums in their drum static. Myself and the other
Buglers left early once we had finished our display and took a visit to the
base Naval Exchange. This is a hypermarket on base, selling just about everything
at discounted prices.
The evening was spent in the 'Mar Bar' again only this time there was live music from our very own jazz group consisting, at first, of the Bandmaster, Cpl Williams, Sgt Miller, Musn Trudgeon and Musn Richardson. However, further additions were made to the band as the night went on including a USMC guitar player, Musn Ollie Nelken on trombone, myself on kit and right at the end someone let Musn 'Foggy' Fothergill loose with a microphone! It was at this stage many people suddenly decided it was time to call it a night!
The US Marine demonstrates another method of playing the guitar
Saturday
This was the day we'd all been waiting for - The day of the USMC Birthday Ball.
Again, the day started with a rehearsal at 0800. It should be mentioned that
at this point Cpl Cornish, misplaced one of his drumsticks. He immediately blamed
myself and Bugler Mace and it was only after the threat of kit musters for a
month that it mysteriously turned up sticking out of the Drum Major's back pocket.
The afternoon was spent preparing kit and rehearsing the Dance Band. Musn Emily Naylor suddenly and unfortunately realised she hadn't brought her music with her. Thankfully, Sgt. Ridley, back in England, was on hand and spent three hours of his Saturday faxing through the parts, (he has been promised a drink or two).
The parade band during dinner and the Corps of Drums Beat Retreat
AT 1930 we stepped off and began our 15 min Beating Retreat which consisted of, Stars and Stripes Forever, World in Union and National Emblem split in two with the Drum Static Kyle of Lochalsh, we were then into the actual ceremony.
Straight after this we all changed into Red Sea rig for the dinner. Once we'd finished eating, the Dance Band played the night away led by Cpl Tripp.
The Dance Band entertain the guests at the ball
'Hands Across the Sea' as the hosts join in with the entertainment
Sunday
This morning the Buglers set off for Reykjavik at 0900. We arrived at the cemetery
and at 1100 we played Last Post. After a quick 10 min service we left the cold
and were invited back to the British Ambassador's house for mulled wine and
nibbles. Our thoughts went out at this point to Bugler Vyse who at this point
would be well into his third hour stood still at the cenotaph in London.
The rest of the day was free so we caught up on some sleep.
Monday
At 1000 we went to Reykjavik where we spent time looking around the very expensive
shops both in the old town and the more modern shopping mall.
Some people visited the "Hot Baths" whilst the rest of us went back. This evening a few of us went to play ten-pin bowling and had a few drinks in the bar. It wasn't to be a late night tonight because myself, Musn's Dawkins, Hall, Thompson, Trudgeon and Fenne all had either grade 5 or grade 6 theory exams at 0800 the next morning.
Tuesday
At 0800 the theory people settled down and cracked on with the exam. Everyone
else where preparing to move accommodation for the night due to our plane being
later than expected. After the move we were given yet again another free day.
Most people decided to go and do a spot of Christmas shopping and max out all
their credit cards.
This evening was our time to say good bye to our USMC friends and thank them for an enjoyable trip.
Wednesday
Today we flew back to the very warm but wet UK.