One of the most compulsively enjoyable aspects of military banding is recalling past escapades with old friends, preferably over a glass of the traditional band lubricant - beer. These tales usually improve with the telling sand 100% accuracy cannot always be guaranteed.
Some of the anecdotes was printed in the original Music In The Air, and others have been collected wherever. If you have a good one, please send it in toIan.Kendrick@musicintheair.org.uk for inclusion here, and it might get printed in the next book as well!
Do you remember………….?
March 2011
Do you remember the very senior Director who was being interviewed on live radio just before a major concert celebrating a very significant RAF Anniversary. The interviewer obviously expected the usual selection of gushing platitudes when he asked the question, “And what made you join the Royal Air Force Music Services.” The answer was short and succinct. “Conscription.”
February 2011
Do you remember the Army band that also performed a marching display on a waterlogged show jumping arena? They halted in front of the grandstand to perform a static piece of music conducted by their bandmaster. At the end, the bandmaster turned smartly around, saluted the audience and marched away through what he thought was a puddle. Unfortunately, it was jumping pit full to the brim with water. He fell in and disappeared below the surface leaving his hat floating on the surface. His embarrassment wasn’t finished because as he hauled himself out of the water, the show jumping commentator turned his microphone on and announced, “Eight faults - the bandmaster.”
January 2011
Do you remember the time a band played a concert by the Officer’s Mess pool in one of the RAFs hotter postings? It came at the end of a particularly gruelling week and when the musicians were having a beer afterwards one of the cornet players decided he’d had enough. He climbed the diving tower and stood on the top board in his ceremonial uniform. Despite a mixture of threats and pleadings from the Band Sergeant below he played Sunset and jumped in at ‘attention’.
He was outside the Director of Music’s office the next day on the inevitable charge. As he was marched in he picked up a waste-paper basket that was near the door, halted, turned smartly into line, put the waste-paper basket over his head and said, ‘Guilty but insane’.
Top that !
If you have a good anecdote, please send it in for inclusion here, and it might get printed in the next book as well! Send to:
IanKendrick@musicintheair.org.uk
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