Dan A
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Steamin BootsPicture the scene,..... warm summers evening 1980 something,... Horse Guards parade in London. The massed bands some 240 strong, following several very hot rehearsals are stood down for a break. There is a 240 man chunter going on because there is a ban on smoking as the First sea Lord may be in his office or HM may have her Bino's out and be looking down the Mall at us. I digress, there has also been an order given that all ranks are to wear sea service boots instead of the much loved steaming boots all razzed off members of the RN.
Drum Major Not Very-Popular (Not his real name , but then you guessed that!!!) is prowling about looking for...Well whatever bored Drum Majors look, for you know what I mean!! His prowling takes him to the rear of the large 240 man sulk into the murky ranks of the Clarinets!!! (Where no self respecting Drum Major should venture into except when counter marching!!!!)
Lo and behold he spots a perpetrator of the all important boot rule
( remember Queenie's Bino's) The transgressor is none other than the wise cracking, pi$$ taking, ever so observant and keen on large scale jokes.... Dave Lambert!!!
The conversation went something like this... LLLLLLLaaaaammmmmbbeeerrrtt.........(ensuring he had attracted the attention of 240 very bored and pi$$ed off bandies)....... "Yes Drum Major" replied Dave in a tone that smacked of an ambush........ "why are you wearing those boots" he bawled pointing to the offending and highly illegal and dont know what the First Sea Lord would have said he had seen them boots.
An expectant hush fell amongst the watching Bandies..... " Because Drum Major if I don't the gravel on the parade makes holes in my socks!!!!!!
Priceless
Dan A
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admin
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Dan,
many thanks for that one...  This is just the sort of thing we are hoping to document here. A pleasure to have you on here and hope that others join us to swell the numbers and build on the community. Please keep the dits coming!
If only someone could explain the Lincoln Split as it is somewhat of a legend in the Band Service to this day
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Dan A
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The Lincoln SplitNot involved in that particular technical maneuvre, but was present for three other excellent spilts which i will deliver to you at various times in the future. The first of the three was in the Fosni Band at Culzean Castle circa 1973 the second was simply fantastic on divisions in HMS Cochrane both involving the same Drum Major and DofM!!!!!!! both of whom made it to the top of their respectives trees!!!!!! The third was a corker A Royal Yacht Band split with HM watching with opened mouthed amazement as we extricated ourselfs from the dilemma. Oh by the way same DofM!!! Do not have time to relate the dits at present but watch this space. As an added extra I may regale you with the DofMs missing balltop...another YOT dit......Libel suits permitting.
What a great site this is. Better than the Coffee boat
Dan
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admin
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Ohhhhhh you tease :D
It looks like the thin stripes are going to start rocking this little corner of cyberspace!
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