The fame of The Spitfires Band of the 14th Eastleigh Scout and Guides has spread to the East Midlands, where one can say, man to man, “Ey up m’ (my) duck” and not be thought an odd-ball.
So we ventured to the sunny South for a delight of hearing and sight – the music of the band and the expertise of the Corp of Drums.
How wonderful to see youngsters so enthusiastic, well organised and well turned out. And what a stunning venue is the Methodist Church at Chandler’s Ford, ideal for a large audience and a large sound.
The band was superb and played with commitment and precision. The programme was good and varied – a pity (to me) that both of the marches were at Infantry marching rate, rather than the more sedate rate of other arms of the Forces! The concert was conducted by Greg Walker and Nick Kimber, and the pieces were introduced with humour. Part two of the concert was an enjoyable flag waving, full throat singing of the choruses at the Last Night of the Proms.
D-Day museum at Southsea
The following day we went to the D-Day Museum at Southsea. Others may have a different view of Portsmouth but the area facing the water was most pleasant on a sunny autumn afternoon.
As the museum has been open since 1982, I expect most readers have been there – perhaps several times, so I will not rehearse the stunning Overlord Embroidery, but I will mention one anecdote: one of the exhibits showed the effects of food rationing and the need to queue.
We experienced this when we went to a carvery in the evening – the Alma at Lower Upham. The place was humming but we managed to grab a table – then a twenty minute wait at the bar to be served and purchase our all-important meal vouchers. But worse was to come. We had a full 45 minute queue to get to the servery, overall an hour to get fed. Luckily the meal was very tasty. The queues reminded me of the wartime British Restaurants!
So ended our trip to Eastleigh – not quite – the sting was in the tail! The A34 had been closed by a serious accident and it took five hours to make a journey that should have been completed in half that time.
Related posts:
Review: The Spitfires: Last Night of the Proms 2016 – the 14th Eastleigh Scout and Guide Band
Review: The 14th Eastleigh Scout and Guide Band St. George’s Day Concert 2016
Review: The Spitfires in Concert – the 14th Eastleigh Scout and Guide Band
Memories of Chandler’s Ford St. George’s Day Parade: Lyn Darbyshire
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Related posts:
Review: The 14th Eastleigh Scout and Guide Band St. George’s Day Concert 2016
Review: The Spitfires: Last Night of the Proms 2016 – the 14th Eastleigh Scout and Guide Band
Review: The Spitfires in Concert – the 14th Eastleigh Scout and Guide Band
Spitfires in Concert – Last Night of the Proms – 5th November 2016
Review: Thornden Community Wind Band Concert
Your mention of the Britsh Restaurants jogged my memory. The way you held up your plate and someone dobbed on a lump of greyish mashed potato, then some pale greenish mushy peas, then some brown liquid and, if you were lucky, a sausage. There was spotted dick pudding with custard afterwards.
For a youngster there was as much as I could eat which was a rare treat, never mind the quality, it’s the quantity that counts. Choice? Their food or go hungry. Location? A hastily erected shed on a bomb site.