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Last updated: 21/10/2009
3rd/4th -
Weekend at Peterborough Salvation Army
My First Weekend Away with the Band by
Craig Dickie
After many
months of practising and preparing for the weekend the time had sprung
upon us. Most of the band started to turn up around 5:30 on the Friday
but being the Bandmasters son I was there from 4pm!
As more and
more people started to arrive the fellowship started early with a quick
game of football in the car park while eagerly anticipating the arrival
of the bus. When the bus arrived all the instruments and luggage were
sitting at the door all ready just to be packed away before we headed on
the first part of our journey.
We left the
hall at 6:45, and before the bus had even moved all the young folk had
claimed the back seats. The atmosphere was light hearted with lots of
laughter and also the laughs that were being had on “Facebook” between
people on and off the bus.
Just longer
than an hour into our journey we stopped at Southwaite for a bite to eat
and a toilet stop. It was here that a little mishap between Gemma and
the tills happened. Sorry Gemma couldn’t miss this out!
While
continuing our journey to the Darlington Travel Inn the noise on the bus
started to decrease as more and more people started to become tired. We
got to the hotel right on schedule and then went to our rooms with our
"billet buddy" for the weekend - My "billet buddy" was Bobby Weir who
was also away with the band for the first time.
After
falling asleep at 1:30am the alarm went of at 7am for breakfast at 8am.
The breakfast was delicious and exactly what I needed to wake me up. We
were all ready and back on the bus to leave for Peterborough at 9
o’clock. The bus was still quiet as I think most people still hadn’t
woken up from the early morning wake-up. On the road to Peterborough the
winds started to pick up and Jim did a marvellous job driving in the
hard conditions.
On arrival
at Peterborough, Eddie Fisk, a friend of my dad’s was waiting to welcome
us, along with the Bandmaster from Peterborough Corps. After we quickly
unload of the bus we headed to Peterborough Cathedral to play some hymns
and marches for an hour.
We then had
some free time and most of the band went for a guided tour of the
stunning Cathedral but a group of us went sweet and juice shopping to
last us for the remainder of the weekend.
When we
returned to the hall we had a short band practice to test the acoustics
of the hall and then it was dinner time. Dinner was amazing with lots of
it which made it even better. After dinner it was time to go and get
ready for the Saturday night Festival. The night as a whole was amazing.
The soloists played and sang brilliantly in front of a packed
Peterborough hall. Only bad thing about the night was that my mouth
wouldn’t stop bleeding but I still did my best and played my part.
After this
fantastic night it was time for Bobby and I to go to our billets. On
arrival we had a quick change and it was time for supper and of course
"Match of the Day"! Supper was exactly what I needed after a long and
busy day but even better was the good night's sleep that followed.
During the
Sunday morning meeting led by David Kendall the atmosphere was electric
and I could definitely feel God’s presence in the building and I wasn’t
the only one as a number of people came forward to the mercy seat.
It was then
back to our billets for what I can only describe as a feast for lunch.
We had good conversation while at lunch and it was clear that the people
at Peterborough are really looking forward for coming back to Bellshill
in November, as are we. As I was packing and getting ready to leave the
billets I couldn’t believe that the weekend was nearly over, the time
had flown in.
The Praise
and Salvation meeting was the last meeting of the weekend, with the
Salvation part of the meeting being led by Sam Ritchie. I personally
always enjoy Sam’s meetings so for me it was a good way to finish the
weekend. Again God was definitely making his presence felt throughout or
time of worship. At the conclusion of the Praise and Salvation meeting,
the
 band
wound up the weekend by playing a Scottish piece of music called "Skirl"
and the piece that was played at my enrolment as a senior soldier, “The
Mission” from Gabriel’s oboe.
Once the
meeting had finished and the bus was packed and ready to go home there
was a buffet for us to help us on our long journey back to Bellshill. On
the way back we stopped at Scotch Corner for a bite to eat. On the final
leg of our journey Jim found an old video of "My Best Friends Wedding"
and this helped most of the people on the bus fall asleep!
When we
finally arrived back in Bellshill, just after 1 in the morning, it hit
me that all the months preparation for the weekend and the weekend
itself, were over and sadly the next time I would be out with the band
would be that Thursday - Christmas Carolling in October! Yes it is way
too early.
As it was
my first weekend away with the band I had all different kinds of
thoughts going through my head from "will I enjoy the weekend" to "have
I definitely put my mouthpiece in my case", but I must say it was an
experience I will never forget and I look forward to the next time the
band are away.
by
Craig Dickie
The Newbie's Away Weekend by Ian
Jenkins
What can I say about my weekend at Peterborough Citadel – my very first
weekend away with Bellshill Band.
Being a fairly new member of the band it was great to see the way
everyone assisted in loading the bus on Friday, and what a load of
equipment there was – apart from instruments etc we all had our blue
uniform, festival tunic, coat, cap, uniform shirts, Bellshill fleece,
Bellshill polo shirt, tie for blues, tie for reds, case for Friday, case
for Saturday and a toothbrush (apart from those that don’t need one!).
On
arrival at Darlington, our overnight stop, we were quickly despatched to
our rooms and went through the pleasantries of sharing a room with
another bandsman – David Kendall kindly let me have the double bed but I
reckon that was because he
would be cosier in the single bed with his teddy bear! With David being
another ‘newbie’ we thought we would get down for breakfast before the
scheduled time – but were foiled by the restaurant manager sternly
informing us the restaurant does not open till 8.00am – which did give
us time to go back and put on our official breakfast uniform (Bellshill
polo shirts – ooops!). It was an impressive sight at breakfast with 25
bandsmen and 13 bandswomen in ‘uniform’ – a great witness.
After breakfast it was back on the bus for the final leg of our journey,
a very blustery drive down to Peterborough. It was on the outskirts that
we were met by a Peterborough bandsman to guide us in – a small gesture,
but one that shows how keen Peterborough were that everything would go
smoothly, and I’m sure greatly appreciated by our bus driver/bandsman
Jim Crombie.
The suite of buildings at Peterborough are excellent with a really good
worship hall and lost of ante rooms – they are really fortunate to have
such a building and it was good to see and hear of the way it is being
used by community groups and the involvement of corps members in the
various programmes which are held there. We had a quick cup of tea
before heading off to play at Peterborough Cathedral. A number of us
then had a guided tour of the Cathedral and thoroughly enjoyed the facts
and figures we were given – it’s a fabulous building and I would
recommend a visit –and of course to the Army! – if you are ever in the
area. Then it was back to the hall to finish setting-up, have a good
welcome tea and get ready for the festival.
The tension and the nerves started to show as we all tried to change
into uniform, but once we were seated in front of the near capacity
crowd, played our opening march and felt the warmth of the audience
things started to relax. It was a great night, the band played well (Ian
even managed a smile) and both instrumental and vocal soloists performed
their items excellently – we really are fortunate to have such a high
calibre of soloists in the band, and thanks again for all your extra
work.
Sunday commenced with the band playing ‘His Provision’ and this set the
scene for the rest of the day – the day had God’s hand in it from the
beginning and it was thrilling to see people respond to the message
given by David Kendall. As a bandsman, of course the festivals are
important, the playing of the band critical, the deportment essential,
but to be part of a group that was used the way our band was used that
morning far surpasses all of that. I’ve often played ‘The Light of the
World’, but not quite the way it was played and used that day and it is
one of the many facets of the weekend that will stay with me. Sunday
afternoon came around much too quickly, but again the performance of the
band was first class along with that of the various soloists. Sam
Ritchie led us into the Salvation meeting and again you could feel God’s
presence throughout this final gathering.
All too soon though we were packing up and saying ‘farewell’ and
‘thank-you’ to our friends at Peterborough – it was a great weekend of
fellowship, friendship, banding and worship – and one I feel privileged
to have been a part of, as a ‘newbie’ or whatever tag is used – just to
be a part of all that happened through Bellshill Band at Peterborough is
a blessing – can’t wait for the next one!!
I know I started by asking what could I say, but there is so much more
to say and hopefully come from being a Bandsman in Bellshill Salvation
Army Band - and yes to sum up – the weekend really did leave its mark on
me!! (see the following news item for details!)
by Ian Jenkins
It Could Only
Happen To Ian Jenkins!
During the latest Bellshill weekend
away to Peterborough (3rd/4th October), trombonist Ian Jenkins was
the brunt of jokes because of his attention to detail. Ian marked
his initials "IJ" inside the rim of his army cap with a blue
permanent marker, so he would know which cap was his. Then after the
band had completed playing outside Peterborough Cathedral, Ian took
off his cap to find that the blue marker had made a permanent mark
on his forehead! Evidence below...
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and a
close up...
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It took some time before Ian could
get "the mark" removed. Last Sunday (11th October) some of the band
reminded Ian of his mishap by sticking some blue dots on there
foreheads as a tribute to him. Please see the picture below:
by
Bandmaster Ian Dickie
4th - Presentation at Peterborough Salvation Army
Bandmaster Ian Dickie is seen below
presenting young William Blessett with his own personal copy of
their new CD "Diversity" at the Sunday Afternoon Festival at
Peterborough Citadel.
Reports from Mum and Dad state that
he took this CD everywhere with him, and the CD is played most days.
(sorry Vicky and Martin). I was supplied with the picture below
from the Blessett's to prove that he DID take it to bed. He
obviously has good taste!!!!!!!!!!
by
Bandmaster Ian Dickie
8th -
Carolling at Dobbie's Garden Centre,
Cumbernauld
An ensemble from Bellshill band turned up at Dobbie's Garden Centre in
Cumbernauld to provide some Christmas music during Dobbie's Christmas
event, only to find that Motherwell Salvation Army band were also there!
It seems there was a mix up with the booking, hence both bands turning
up.
Although there wasn't much space for the two bands, the two bands joined
together and provided Christmas music from 6.30 - 7pm. The bandmasters
of the two bands took turn about of leading the combined bands.
Although the night hadn't turned out as either band had expected, a good
evening of music and fellowship was enjoyed by all present.
by Webmaster Dorothy M Neil
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