"SILLY SEASON"

"If you volunteer for something Smudge, then you don’t fully understand the question!"

These were Major Chris Davis's words to me as I told him in the summer of 1999 that I was in the Kosovo Band. Funny how I remember those words as I am stood on the main gate here in Kosovo… it’s 0400hrs… it’s –15 degrees C...and it’s Christmas Day!! Christmas was met with mixed emotions by all ranks serving in Kosovo, but as always this is where the band once again proved its worth. Entertaining the troops at various locations and helping to keep morale high over the festive period. Christmas Day itself marked the end (almost) of our silly season of gigs. We were in great demand starting on the 17 Dec at Slivovo, a 40-minute drive from Harden Lines. The evening format was to continue throughout the run of gigs, starting with the Corps of Drums performing mess beatings, this was, as always, very well received. Then the Dance Band would entertain the audience before changing to the Blues Brothers set later in the evening.

19 Dec

We were up the road at the Gundolf Lines, home to the Royal Engineers and Ghurkas, and their Christmas party.

20 Dec

Today saw the Corps of Drums go to Gjilane for the British UNMIK (United Nations Mission in Kosovo) contingent party. This was attended by both Serbs and Albanians neither of whom had ever witnessed anything quite like this before!

21 Dec

The 21st saw the combinations go North for 1hr to the Waterloo Lines, the combined Barracks and home of the RHA (Royal Horse Artillery) and PWRR (Princess of Wales’ Royal Regiment).

22 Dec

The 22nd was a Christmas Concert in Pristina for all the local civilians, more on this later!

23 Dec

The 23rd again all combinations were up to Slim Lines in Pristina for CDO LOGS (Commando Logistics Regiment Royal Marines) Party.

24 Dec (Xmas eve)

Christmas Eve had the Brass Group and the Clarinet Choir performing at four separate locations for Watchnight Carol Services.

IMAGES OF CHRISTMAS IN KOSOVO

25 Dec

Christmas Day... bah HUMBUG!

I'm on the main gate along with Bug Charlie Williams, Musn Vicki Beaton, L/Cpl 'Shuggie' McGleish and L/Cpl Matt Harding ‘the feet from hell’. Other members of the band were on duty on the crash teams proving again how integrated the Band is in Med Sqn (Medical Squadron). The Christmas Lunch was served, as is traditional in the Corps, by the SNCO's & Officers. Well done to the two Troop Sergeants BdSgts ‘Taff’ Ingram and ‘Taff’ Davis and the Boss Capt Andy Thornhill, who now no longer have to wonder at any future employment after the Band Service, as there is always a need for waitress services!

26 Dec

Boxing Day, and the Brass Group were out again at the Slim lines for another Carol Service. The Bish (Chaplain) had the Clarinets previously and wasn’t impressed by the fact that the Brass drowned out the twenty or so carol singers. Well done to the lads for cuffing "Twelve Days of Christmas" Between Boxing Day and New Year we had only one gig, at Murphy Lines. The old phrase "Royal Ma…who?" was coming out, as we found out that the gig wasn't even published on daily orders. Well we’re here now so we gave them the Blues Brothers set, then got back to Harden Lines for an impromptu Rock Band set.

NEW YEAR

Hogmanay (that’s New Years Eve to everyone living in the south of England!) found the Rock Band in the Galley for most of the day learning more songs and re-rehearsing the old ones. The Rock Band, consisting of L/Cpl's ‘Shuggie’ Mcgleish & Matt ‘the feet from hell’ Harding, Musns Smudge Smith and Adi Breen, were to be playing through midnight at Med Sqn's Christmas Party. As the Band had been so busy it was decided that Harden Lines would celebrate Christmas and New Year at the same time and the Band would entertain. After rehearsing for most of the afternoon we suddenly remembered we had better learn Old Lang Syne, as no Hogmanay party would be complete without it! The evening’s festivities were a Fancy Dress ball to be opened by a Herald Trumpet Fanfare followed by a Mess Beatings and the Buglers marching off to Robbie Williams' Let Me Entertain You. This ensured we got the evening off to a flying start. The Band were also in fancy dress, which included ‘Musicianus Saximus’ Daff, Commander of the Roman Sax Sections, and Musn ‘Smudge’ Smiths twin sister on Bass! At the end of the second set one of the medics, MA Madigan, was invited to sing the Commitments numbers. A normal finale you may think. L/Cpl ‘Shuggie’ McGleish obviously thought so as he disappeared, forgetting that we should have finished with Tom Jones' You Can Leave Your Hat On. Into the limelight stepped ‘Musicianus Saximus’ Daff to do a fine performance. But what of ‘Shuggie’? Had the smell from ‘the Feet Of Doom’ finally caught him in his room? No he was just getting ready for the next set, complete with new mohican haircut and black and white make up. And so it was that the Rock Band, dressed as Monks, and L/Cpl ‘Shuggie’ McGleish, in some rather too well fitting S & M clothes, took the Med Sqn into the year 2001 with a bang.

PRISTNA CONCERT

As was mentioned earlier a concert was organised by BRITFOR (British Forces) for the local community. It was held in Pristina University Gym, a huge Stone Gym/warehouse type affair in downtown Pristina. 45 Commando RM had searched and secured the venue, and the engineers tried to heat it (the Gym having no power of its own). As the snow fell outside the temperature dropped inside, the gig going ahead in a temperature of -5. At the start of the evening some children from the local primary school took to the stage to wish the band and the troops of BRITFOR a merry Christmas, presenting us with a card they had all made. The gig was an outstanding success, showing the local community the ‘other’ side of the job. All they have seen since the war is soldiers and Marines in combat gear, patrolling the streets. What a difference for them to see the band performing in our No. 1 Ceremonial uniforms. The concert included numbers such as ‘The Midway March’, solo items were ‘Bobby Shafto’, expertly played by BdCpl ‘Egor’ Phillips, and ‘Through the Eyes of Love’, played by Musn ‘Fred’ Perry. Also brilliantly played by Musns Paul Daff and Ian Thomas was ‘Wind Beneath My Wings’. (A local civilian stopped Musns Daff and Thomas the next day on the camp. She was very impressed with their solo the night before, and always seeing an opportunity Musn Daff replied in his best Albanian "I want to be a tree"! Ah well.) The Blues Brothers set from the Dance Band started the second half, which had the audience dancing in the aisles. A quick change covered by the Corps of Drums performing a Mess beatings and the band were back to perform the PDMs march ‘Gibraltar’ before going into ‘Riverdance’. It appears ‘Riverdance’ has reached Pristina , judging by the number of encores we were required to play. The Boss, Capt. Andy Thornhill, also proved his versatility having to compere the evening through an interpreter, who always managed to get a better laugh at the bosses jokes than the he did! So that was Christmas in Kosovo. It must be said that amongst all the gigs the usual day to day duties had to be carried out with, on more than several occasions, band ranks returning from gigs to resume a duty on the gate or at their usual work stations. The band continues to be in demand and since the New Year the rock band has been out on their own, performing at SWEBAT in Gracanica. The band are playing at a parade on Saturday for the UN High Commissioner's change of command, and a final concert is planned for the 27th of January, our farewell concert for all the MNB(C) (Multi National Brigade (Central)) before the band leaves Kosovo. After that it is time for the gear to go and we start the hand over to our relief. All that’s left for me to do now is hope you all had a good Christmas, and wish you all the very very best for the year 2001. We would also like to thank everyone for all the emails we received. Your words and pictures have helped greatly to keep the band’s morale up during this festive period. Thank you all very much: from all the men and women of The Kosovo Band.

Author, Musn Smudge Smith