Torquay 2003

Back to Tours menu- Tour Diary 2003- Tour Band Members- Retrospective Views

Day 1 - Saturday 26th July 2003

Not many were awake enough to remember but yes, we were standing in Crewe at 6:00am waiting for Graham and the bus. Following the long journey down to Devon we were pleased to find the accommodation was quite a bit of a cut above previous experiences. We stayed in the language department of Torquay boys grammar school which was set in very picturesque grounds and everything we needed was easily accessible.

Time for the work to begin, after a short settling in break Nigel calls for a practice. This was not as painful as everyone had predicted, we rehearsed a few new pieces for the tour and jogged our memory on a couple of other items. That evening saw our first public performance in the Princess gardens, Torquay. A slight change in the bands line up had to be made as Sarah (usually principal cornet) and Steph (horn) were on there way having played at a wedding in the morning. This meant Ian stepping back into the principal seat for the first half until Sarah arrived. The concert went very well and we returned to base for the night all looking forward to the week ahead.

Day 2 - Sunday 27th July 2003

After a first night on the floor we got up to find the shower room was obviously intended for the junior school which was fine; for about 2 members of the band! Today's playing was to entertain the crowds at the Torre abbey rotary fete. The morning session went to plan, then came the break and a chance to perform the tour task, a treasure hunt. Vicky Gardener had agreed to return and help the band on the condition she could be 'head of entertainment'. We were put into teams with an older 'team leader', someone who had never been on tour before and a couple of others in the middle. The tasks involved taking 20 photo's of specified objects, bringing back 5 objects and a gift for a given member of the staff. All of this had to be achieved with just one camera, a pencil and £1. This certainly made for a lot of laughs along the way, in case anybody is interested Nicola Hughes' team won. The afternoons playing was interrupted by a heavy burst of rain which meant we had to move into a marquee. This turned out to be a great move as the entire fete also moved in and we played to one of the most appreciative audiences we've seen.

Torre Abbey fete

Andrew Cooper performs 'Danny Boy'

Sarah Raisbeck and Nicola Hughes perform 'Amigos Para Siempre'

Greg, John and Katie perform 'I will follow him'

Ian Raisbeck performs Post Horn Gallop (now inside following rainfall)

Day 3 - Monday 28th July

Today was one of the busiest days of the whole tour with 3 concerts to play in one day. The day was spent doing a morning and afternoon concert back in Torquay near to where we played on the first night. All of these outdoor concerts proved to be very popular with the audiences and a brilliant money spinner for the local Lions club. The day was also successful in more ways than one; Lions also performed a world premiere!!! Ian Raisbeck had written the piece 'Autumn' for Katie Smallwood as a Baritone solo with band. The piece was well received and was performed many more times during the week. Not only did Ian have his piece premiered, it was his 19th Birthday. On top of all of this the band took delivery of the first batch of CD's that had been recorded in April.

The first formal indoor evening concert took place in St Paul's church, Preston (not the Preston we all know in Lancashire!). This was a brilliant concert, the band performed an excellent concert in one of the best concerts many of the band have played in, and all of this after two concerts in the day.

Outside in Torquay with the local Lions president

Monday nights concert in Paignton

Day 4 - Tuesday 29th July

Once again the main bulk of the playing was two outdoor concerts in Torquay. Unfortunately rain struck and the afternoon concert had to be cancelled, there was no marquee to play in this time! This meant a relieved band managed a bit of free time in the town for the first time. We returned all set for a bit of rest to find Nigel had kindly arranged another rehearsal for us all. Once again we tried some new pieces out, most notably 'Bass in the Ballroom' which Andrew Felton played on Tuba. Andrews been with the Lions Youth Brass 11 years and this was the first time he had played a solo with the band.

We had been invited by the local Lions Club for an evening meal, it wasn't quite as simple as that though as we did have to play for our supper in a 45min spot while the food was prepared. This was a brilliant evening, the Lions club members thoroughly enjoyed the music and then the band enjoyed the hospitality of the club who provided an excellent evening including a free raffle where everyone in the room won a prize.

The band perform for their supper courtesy of the Torquay Lions club

Another post horn gallop

Trombones and Katie in 'I will follow him'

presentations made between the band and local lions club

Nice jugs Mr Cooper

Full spectrum; from one of the most experienced Lions tourer to some first timers

Brian and Ruth enjoy their meal

Day 5 - Wednesday 30th July

Today was not so stressful as some of the previous days. We had the morning free in Cockington where we were to play in the afternoon. This is a beautiful small village where no large vehicles are allowed. The weather turned for the better and we spent the day in the sun. Many of us took the time to sample some real Devon specialities from the local tea shop. In the afternoon we played at the Cockington fete which attracts hundreds of people. We played for an hour to a very good audience and even managed to catch a few sun rays!

The evening was our last night in Torquay and we finished our concerts with a full concert at st Mathias church Torquay. As with Monday this was a really good night and we also enjoyed the company of a very good barbers shop choir (not very often we play with a good choir!!). We said goodbye to Torquay with a bang and sold a tremendous amount of the new CD's.

We returned that night to revive a tradition that had been abandoned the last few years, the cabaret. Many members took part in original as well as adapted acts that entertained the rest of the band and the staff.

Day 6 - Thursday 31st July

Our last day and last early start. We arose especially early as we had to clear every room we had used before 9am and pack the bus. This was quite a challenge for some as the cabaret hadn't finished until around 1am. Having packed the bus we found some of the lions club members had turned up to say farewell. The journey home was quite a relaxed one as we were able to take long breaks due to the fact that we didn't want to arrive in Sanbach much before 5 for the meal. As it happened we arrived at 4:30, the last supper is always an enjoyable experience as it is the last time the tour band will be together socially until the next tour. Gifts were awarded to the committee members and conductor for their hard work and a special mention for Graham the bus driver who the band love having every year and really becomes a member of the band whenever he's away with us.

The last night concert; this evening has become infamous, nearly every band member has relatives and friends at the concert and it is a real chance for them to see what the band have achieved in the space of a week. The concert was one of the best last nights yet, mainly due to the fact that we had just completed one of the most successful tours yet. Full details on the last night concert will be available on the Concert reviews page soon.

Nigel, Jayne B and Graham opening their gifts from the band

The band shortly after the last meal

Last concert

Tour band members

Cornets: Sarah Raisbeck (Principal), Steven Stolworthy, Andrew Dobson*, Vicky Gardner*, Ian Raisbeck*, Steven Bebbington, Ben Woolley, Tom Hancock, Edward Miles, James Darlington, Charlotte Wilson

Horns: Phil Dobson, Hayley Scott, Nicola Burnham, Neil Raisbeck, Stephanie Hughes, Ruth Turner, Jessica Edge.

Euphoniums/Baritones: Nicola Hughes, Helen Morgan, Katie Smallwood, Louise Dobson.

Trombones: Greg Holsgrove, John Saxon

Basses: Andrew Cooper, Andrew Felton, Steven Felton, John Allcock, Andrew Farmer.

Percussion: Ben Croombs

*Indicates ex-member returning to help - our thanks to them all*

Group Photo

Committee: Nigel Birch (Musical Director), Brian Stubbs, Jane Stubbs (Chairperson), Jayne Burnham, Ruth Jenkins and Graham Alcock

Retrospective Views

Nigel Birch - Musical Director

I usually start preparing for a tour around three months in advance. This is when I know what players I have available and have an idea of what events we will be performing at. This year I was very fortunate to have all my key soloists available, and ex members Ian Raisbeck and Andrew Dobson were also available. With a full band at my disposal I was able to pick what music I wanted to play.

Another aspect which made life easier for me was to have so many soloists at my disposal: Ian Raisbeck, Sarah Raisbeck, Nicola Hughes, Andrew Cooper, Andrew Felton and Katie Smallwood all played consistently well all week, and we also had a trio featuring Greg Holsgrove, Jonathon Saxon, and Katie Smallwood, and a duet featuring Sarah Raisbeck and Nicola Hughes.

During a weeks tour you always find that certain players start to emerge from the shadow of the recognised stars of the band; Phil Dobson (flugel), Stephen Stolworthy (cornet) and Ben Croombs on percussion certainly made their mark on this tour. Although it is always a tiring schedule on tour, I always like to have a rehearsal on the first day of tour. I find this attunes the band to what we are on tour for. We are there for performing, not a holiday. The band played very well all week, but for a conductor this is an ideal situation. Two rehearsals, Ten concerts, and no outside distractions, something you never get in the normal course of a year. Obviously the indoor concerts are more appealing, and more conducive to better performances from the band, but on the Monday evening the band really excelled, with possibly the best concert the band has ever given under my guidance, including my first spell with the band.

We also had time to relax a little, if you call playing rounders and football relaxing! And I like to join when I can.

At the end of a tour we always give a concert back home and again the band was in fine form, despite the long journey and tiring week. These tours take a lot of putting together, and as usual Jane Stubbs had done a marvellous job. She was superbly assisted by husband Brian, Ruth Jenkins, Jane Burnham, and our entertainments guru, Vicky Gardener, who kept players occupied and entertained all week. A special thanks to Graham Allcock, our coach driver, who I usually share accommodation with, because we can go for our late evening walk together, and more because nobody else will put up with our excessive snoring.

Finally a big thanks to my players for performing really well all week. No matter who the conductor is, unless you have good players and hard working players you cannot achieve high standards. Many thanks to everyone for making this a very enjoyable week.

This was my eighth tour with the band, and by a long way for many different reasons the best. Thank you, I am proud of you all.

Nigel Birch
Musical Director
Lions Youth Brass

Andrew Cooper - Band Rep

Tour 2003 has got to be the best tour I have ever been on. The band played really well whilst we were away. Everybody worked really hard considering we played 10 concerts, and had 2 band practices all with in the 6 days we were away. Even though most of our time was spent playing and preparing to play, we did manage to have time for fun. And what fun we had. One evenings entertainment included all players getting into teams and dressing 1 of the team members up in bin bags. This resulted in Steven Bebbington, Steven Stolworthy, Ian Raisbeck, and Ben Croombs all dressing up as women. Katie Smallwood was also dressed up in a very fetching bunny outfit. However, the cherry on top of the cake was when our conductor, Nigel, appeared through the door dressed in a lovely Bill and Ben outfit. Other entertainment included a treasure hunt around Torquay, and a cabaret evening which consisted of lots of comedy, dancing, and singing. All the entertainment was produced by Vicky Gardener, who also helped out all week on cornet, and a big thank you goes to Vicky for all her help. The highlight of the week for me was playing in St. Paul's Church in Preston, Paignton. This was the first indoor concert of the week for the band. The size of the church produced some brilliant acoustics, and the playing was top class. As a soloist playing in a hall of that calibre, it gives you a real buzz, and I was just overwhelmed by it all. The concert in St. Paul's was the fantastic, and the band were on a high, especially when we were signing autographs on copies of the new CD. This years tour was a huge success and it is all down to some very special people. And they are our committee. A very big thank you to Jane Stubbs, Brian Stubbs, Jayne Burnham, and Ruth Jenkins. Without these people, the tour would not have been as good as it was. There is another person, and that is Graham, our coach driver. If it was not for his good driving, and navigational skills, we would never have gotten to Torquay. Graham is always there for the band, taking us to contests, and on tours. Graham really has become a member of the band and everyone has great respect and admiration for him. Last, but certainly no means least, I'd like to thank Nigel. Since Nigel has been with the band, the quality of music has gotten better and better. His knowledge of music and brass banding is a great credit and the band is a lot better off for it. And this years tour was no exception. Nigel is also a very good sport, hence him wearing make-up and a Bill and Ben outfit. Not only is Nigel a good conductor but is a good football player as we found out in one of our football matches on tour. Real Madrid have Beckham, but Lions Youth Brass have Birch!!! I'd like to say a big thank you to the band for being on there very best behaviour all week, and sticking to all the duties that were set for them, including washing up. A very, very good tour had by all.

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