Co-admin
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Send the buglers on then...It has got to be one of the worst gigs ever; the County Show, in the rain!
Picture the scene: the ring (read muddy field with some tape round it) has had cattle, horses, pigs, goats and all manner of animals yomping round and through it. It has been raining like it can only rain at an agriculture show. The farmers wellies are caked up to the top, the band in a tent (leaking of course) can hear the rain bouncing off the tent. The prize bulls have just come off, caked in mud and the band are due to march on for a beat retreat and prize giving to the champion bull. 
The Bandmaster looks at the boss, the boss at the Drum Major, the Drum Major at the Bandmaster at the boss at himself at everyone. No one wants to go out so what do they do?
Put the Corps of Drums on a trailer towed by a tractor (as that was the only thing that would get through the mud!) and take them to the centre of the arena, drop them off and have a mess beatings... it happened you know!
Anyone want to raise me a beat retreat in the rain?
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RAB
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Muddy FieldsThe tractor/trailer incident I would have loved to have seen.
Keith Ag Show, DEEP in the Scottish Highlands, mid summer but pelting rain in the afternoon....We were scheduled to do the Finale Beat Retreat at 4pm. At about 3pm Drummy Buchanan and co. were frantically rushing round the showground gathering up the troops. The beer tent proved to be a good starting area and Geordie Rowell and myself were never far from the burger stalls. I believe GEORGE COAD(bless him) and a few others were rescued from the "hobby-horses" at the fairground.. We formed up just in time to hear the tannoy announcement. "OWING TO THE INCLEMENT WEATHER THE CHAMPIONS PARADE(cattle) HAS BEEN CANCELLED..INSTEAD THE BEAT RETREAT BY HM ROYAL MARINE BAND HAS BEEN BROUGHT FORWARD"....Boy did that make us feel really special and important..Every time I see a prize bull now I throw it a salute.
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pgrtips
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Playing in the rain!Way back in the'Dark Ages' about 1947. The ITC Band [as it was then known] augmented with the famous 'bods' from the 'School' were whisked off to Brewood for the usual 'soggy field show'. The Band just about took over the beer tent and the usual thing happened.
"The show jumping cannot take place due to the state of the ground and the next item in the arena will be the Royal Marines Band.
Staggering on it was discovered that some members of the band were well and truly 'under the weather' and one very well known musician 'Tiddler Lions' was staggering around with his helmet on 'Back to Front. Ernie Ough then detailed one of the seniors to stay at the end of the arena and as the band countermarched he would drag those 'worst for wear' out of the band.
We ended the display with very depleated numbers.
All this living 8 to a bell tent white blanco [not paint in those days] plus instruments and kit.
Life was fun in those days. pgrtips Tex Rickards
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