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The day started with us all together on the coach for an overnight journey making our way from cheery Iowa to Chicago airport and then on to meet new friends in Washington. Snatches of sleep were taken on board the coach mainly in the seats except for the Bandmaster who decided to sleep in the middle aisle and woke to find an interesting discovery. (Tell us more Martyn!!) On arrival at the airport, instructions were given to change into uniform. 43 band personnel descending into the cloakrooms to get changed, must have been a mystifying sight for fellow passengers. The CSM who is currently compiling a user's guide to Restrooms of the USA has had to give a very low score to this establishment! Whilst waiting for all the luggage to be checked in, an impromptu game of Salvation Army Mornington Crescent broke out with a member of the bass section winning.
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The air trip to Washington was short and uneventful and we were met at Dulles Airport by Craig Buchan, Associate Music Director for the Washington area, our host for the next two to three days. A quick trip to our hotel to download our luggage and we set off to fulfil the engagement which the majority of the band has been looking forward to the most.
We were privileged to play at the Lincoln Memorial. A singular honour and one which we will never forget. Great names from American history: Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King plus various war memorials make this a very special place in the capital - the heart of the nation.
The weather just about held good, with some rain, but it didn't stop the enthusiastic crowd who had gathered to listen. This was another excellent opportunity for the band to make a witness. At one point a television cameraman rushed down in time to catch moments of Neil Blesset's tenor horn solo Green Hill. This is a beautiful arrangement of the tune My Love is Like a Red, Red Rose to which we associate the words There is a Green Hill Far Away. Neil featured this solo, in superb style, a number of times throughout the tour: perhaps we will never know whether this particular occasion was screened or not, but it clearly made an impact on the cameraman.
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On the way back to the hotel we stopped off to look at the White House, getting as close as we could in spite of the increased security measures.
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We were entertained royally later that evening at Logan's Steakhouse enjoying the Peanut Party menu. A feature of this particular steakhouse is a barrel of peanuts which everyone shares before and during their meal. After consuming the peanuts, the shells are simply scattered onto the floor where they are trodden down to give a sort of sawdust effect. We returned back to the hotel very, very tired but highly satisfied after a long but never-to-forget day.
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Words: Martyn Pearce and David McKee
Photos: Gordon McKee
