Aha! But this was all to change with four days in Mayport Florida just around the corner. There was just a drop of Procedure Alpha and a splash of Beating Retreat before we could be released on Mayport's gaping arms. The Procedure Alpha was short, hot and sweet which left ample time for Beating Retreat preparations. Drum Major Stuart Mason deployed the form lane and sent Musns Mark Upton and Scottie Burton up to the front with their post horns for their party piece. After the finale we marched back into position on the after lift and we were lowered back down to the hangar whilst playing 'A Life On The Ocean Wave'. Some people ventured into town, others stayed in the bar on base, however everyone was glad to be on dry land.
On Saturday Sgt Dave Prentice, Cpl Bug Brown, Musns Trev Naughton, Danny Duncum and myself (John Beckley) joined HMS Invincible's Rugby Team in a quest to vanquish the state champions, Jacksonville RFC. They looked a pretty mean opposition and the thought of them beating us at our own game spurred us on. This 'spurring' didn't actually occur until about the third quarter with Dave 'I/m seeing stars' Prentice running well over half the length of the pitch to score a majestic try. The stars appeared as he touched the ball down as it was a long way, and he ain't getting any younger. He won't want me to tell you about the other time he saw stars when the oppositions most substantive player laid a whopping great tackle on our David. We all gave good performances and we ended up winning by 32 points to 27. After the match we all went to work on our tans except for Buster Brown who went out celebrating with the team and had a mammoth adventure travelling all over Florida. All those sane members of the Band who did not play rugby were checking out the two long stretches of white sandy beaches and blue sea situated either in the Naval base or at Jax Beach, a ten minute taxi ride away. Needless to say we all made good use of our time and spent it in other environments with different people.
The US Navy Band Southeast who played onboard the aircraft carrier JFK as we arrived in Mayport invited the whole band to a BBQ on Sunday. Never ones to reject free food and beer we readily accepted their generous offer. We thought that they would use one of the many places available on the base but they had different ideas for the three mini busloads of hungry bands people. After an hour and a half travelling, I lost my enthusiasm wondering why we were stuck in a mini bus on such a beautiful day. We finally arrived at a house, which was a bit unexpected however I felt relieved more than anything. We were shown through to the garden where an amazing array of dishes containing salads, chillies, chips, rice concoctions and things I'd never tasted before. Then there was the BBQ itself ably manned by Senior Chief Charlie Propper, the Asst Director and trombone player with enough burgers, sausages and chicken pieces to placate the palate of even the most ravenous bandy. They had also supplied two kegs of beer that strangely did need replenishing later in the day. The whole thing was very well organised and the guys and girls from the Navy Band were really warm and welcoming. Many thanks to Bill and his wife Irma for their hospitality and allowing 29 strangers into their home. During the afternoon their was even a game of American Football in the garden which started off as a friendly two handed touch tackle and ominously rolled towards a full on grapple as Musn Trev Naughton and LCpl Bug Graham Stephenson locked horns.
Monday was our last day in Mayport and 'Catskan' the Ska band were booked into 'Castaways' the enlisted men's club. At the sound check, two hours before the gig, a man in the bar seemed to be taking a real interest in the band. We all spoke to him afterwards and it turned out that he was a welder working in the base on one of the ships. He had come in to the bar on hearing the band and because of the bad traffic and said that in the thirty years he had worked there he had never been into the bar. He was Jamaican and told us of the origins of Ska and how he had grown up with it. He probably had some explaining to do when he finally got home some five hours later than usual but we are glad he stayed, top man!
Procedure Bravo out of Mayport was a bit unusual with the Trad Jazz Band playing on the flight deck as we passed the JFK, a request from the Commander.
Well we've got only one more day at sea before we arrive in Norfolk, Virginia and we've already been busy with rehearsals for tomorrow nights cocktail party onboard HMS Ocean. We are carrying on with our daily physical jerks becoming leaner and meaner by the day.
I must bid a fond farewell as there is no rest for the wicked and more practice is required to make tomorrow a first class performance.
Logon next week to find out how it went.
John Beckley/Alaine Shakespeare
Somewhere off the east coast of America