Tour 2004

Tours

Czech Republic 2004

Back to Tours menu- Tour Diary 2004- Tour Band Members- Retrospective Views

Day 1 - Wednesday 30th June 2004

It was 9:30am, Sandbach boys school and months of planning were about to roll in to action. But first there was a slight delay, 3 members (Katie Smallwood, Greg Holsgrove and Louise Dobson) had an A-Level exam so we proceeded to South Cheshire College to await the end of the exam.

With everyone on board we set off for Dover towards Lions' first ever foreign tour. The coach journey was long and tedious for most yet not as bad as many had imagined. The ferry was a chance for a hot meal and some fresh air and for some, to recover from being frisked by customs!

The band enjoy some fresh sea air

The coach then continued through the night, an interesting experience for those who hadn't been on a foreign coach tour before.

Day 2 - Thursday 1st July 2004

After 23 hours on the coach we arrived in Cheb, Czech Republic at around 7:30am local time. Despite being rather tired the band were thrilled to be able to see the town of Cheb. With the coach parked up in the town square Nigel and Jane went to fill in some paper work while the rest of the band took in the sights of the festival town.

The festival town of Cheb

As soon as Nigel and Jane had completed the paper work we all got back on the coach and travelled the short distance to our accommodation. We were staying in a small holiday camp consisting of several small huts housing 6-7 people each. We were allocated huts and spent a couple of hours unpacking and chilling out, many of the band explored the volleyball court and nearby beach.

The band chill out after a very long journey

Our Czech tour guide and interpreters stayed with us throughout and called a meeting with us all to welcome us, get to know us and explain the timetable for the rest of the day. We soon found out we wouldn't have got very far without their help! An afternoon rehearsal in the main square was our first chance to dust the instruments off, after a very short individual concert up the road we arrived in the square to rehearse for the opening ceremony with all of the other bands taking part.

A short rehearsal/concert in Cheb

After a tiring walk across town for dinner many of the band were feeling the effects of having little or no sleep on the over night coach journey, food was a welcome sight even if it did not look or taste very English!

The opening ceremony consisted of all bands marching through the streets towards the square where we were officially welcomed by the organisers and played 2 pieces together with the other bands, quite a sight and sound! Each band then took their turn to march past the stage and back round the streets to the finishing point. For many members it was the first time they had played and marched but everyone took to it quickly thanks to the guidance of Derek Gardener (Cheshire police band).

After a very long day we returned to camp to get some much needed sleep in preparation for the rest of the tour

Day 3 - Friday 2nd July 2004

Friday morning began with breakfast in town again, sadly no fry up, cereal or toast that we are accustomed to but a more continental style bread roll and spicy meat and cheese. After breakfast we drove out of town towards a small village where we were to play an afternoon concert. On the way we stopped off at a famous local castle which is currently being restored. Legend has it the king build the walls around his princess so she couldn't escape!

We stop to look around a local castle

The castle

We continued on and arrived in a small village famous for making violins, as luck would have it the rain started and the wind increased as we started out outdoor concert! But we continued through it to a small group of appreciative locals. The pictures below are courtesy of a local man who took them while we played, ran home and put them on cd and printed some before we left. Our thanks for his generosity

The Afternoon concert

A group photo afterwards

The local mayor took us to a restaurant and provided food/drink for us all, he expressed his thanks and asked us back one day so he can show us round the famous local violin factory. We than returned back to camp to prepare for the evening disco

We travelled to a local ice hockey stadium (there was no ice down!) for an evening disco with other bands, it was a really good evening enjoyed by all as the pictures suggest!

the disco

Day 4 - Saturday 3rd July 2004

Day 4 began with our major contribution to the festival, a concert on the festival stage in the centre of Cheb. It was a long wait for our slot and once again rain didn't put off the crowd who thoroughly enjoyed our concert. Andy Cooper, Sarah Raisbeck and Greg Holsgrove all battled with the wind to perform solo's and we finished with the usual 'Can Can' but decked out in England hats.

The band await our slot on the stage

Our concert

Our grand finale

In the afternoon we travelled to a spa town famous for its springs. We visited a famous fountain that dances to music and then explored the local shops. It was a beautiful town and the sun even made an appearance giving everyone the chance to chill out for a bit.

The musical fountain

Nigel takes a shower after a gust of wind blows the fountain

After heading back and having dinner we headed to a local bowling alley, this was another great social night for the band members.

Bowling night

Day 5 - Sunday 4th July 2004

The final day of the festival began with some time to take in the sights and shops of Cheb, the festival host town. After a short time we continued on to a small tourist town famous for its statue that is said to have healing powers as well as improving the fertility of those who touch it.

The famous fertility statue

A group photo

The afternoon was spent with the other bands at a local stadium for a marching presentation. Each band took their turn to march around the field, while waiting to march there were plenty of opportunities to meet members of other bands.

The marching event

After returning to camp for a bit it was soon time to return to Cheb town centre for the closing ceremony. The closing ceremony involved marching through the streets to the square where all bands would play together and watch a firework display. While waiting for the event to begin we once again socialised with other bands, it seemed to be much more of a carnival atmosphere as bands took it in turn to play some pieces in the street while others danced around to them.

Before the closing ceremony

Closing ceremony

The closing ceremony itself was staged in pouring down rain but was a fantastic spectacle, the carnival atmosphere continued through the night and the firework display was well worth standing in the rain for.

Closing ceremony

A group photo

With the festival over we returned very wet, back to camp for our last night of the Tour. It had been an evening to remember for everyone, not least for those older members who have now left the band.

The journey home took us from Monday morning right through the day and night arriving back in Sandbach at around 5:30am Tuesday morning. Respect is due to those who went to school on tuesday, and the committee members who turned up to band as the junior bands still had rehearsal.

Tour band members

An official band photo

Cornets: Sarah Raisbeck (Principal), Will Earl, Tom Hancock, Andrew Dobson*, Hannah Senior, Ian Raisbeck*, Steven Bebbington, Aaron Aston, Danielle, Amy Ball, Edward Miles, James Darlington, Matthew Darlington, Charlotte Wilson

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

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

Trombones: Greg Holsgrove, Francesca Beverage

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

Percussion: Ben Croombs, Lee Burnham

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

Our travelling Committee 2004

Travelling Committee: Jane Stubbs (Chairman), Nigel Birch (Musical Director), Brian Stubbs, Ruth Jenkins, Jayne Burnham, Katie Stubbs.

Other group photo's

The journey over the channel

The committee taking a well deserved break

Closing ceremony night

Retrospective Views

Andrew Cooper - Band Rep

Well, I’m another year older, and have yet again, got another Lions tour under my belt. However, this year’s tour was quite special as it was the first time the band has ever been abroad. This year has been fantastic for the band, coming 2nd at Preston in February, coming 3rd at the nationals in April, winning Rhyl in June, and now to add to our memories, our trip to Cheb. Although the journey was very long (about 23hours), everybody managed to cope with it really well, especially all the young ones in the band, as we were all a bit concerned about how they would cope. However, we had two great drivers who knew what they were doing, and along with air conditioning and a load of videos, it all added to make an enjoyable journey (oh and I can’t forget to mention the lovely toilet which I got stuck with the smell of in front of me).

After such a long journey, it was nice to properly stretch our legs and to take a first look at the town of Cheb. The first thing I can remember thinking when I got of the coach was, “I need some breakfast”, and then I thought, “What a nice town this looks like.” It had a huge square, with a big stage at the bottom end next to a fountain (which I think Will broke whilst making a wish) and it had a big clock which played music every hour. Then we were joined by our tour guide and translator, who took us to our accommodation, which were in the form of wooden cabins. However, this year we were totally spoilt as we swapped the usual Lions tour tradition of sleeping on hard floors in sleeping bags, for proper beds with duvets and sheets. It was like 5 star treatment for us older ones who have been on many previous tours. Anyway, there is a description of everything we did on the diary page, so I won’t start to repeat that.

I have got so many good memories from this tour that will hopefully stay with me forever. The opening ceremony on the Thursday night was absolutely fantastic. There were around about 28 bands all playing as a massed band, Beethoven’s European Hymn (Ode to Joy). When the big tune came thumping in, in the middle of the piece, it gave you such a great feeling inside. I would have loved to have heard it from the stage, as it sounded good from where I was. The Friday night was really good at the disco, as I just had such a laugh with my friends. We were all dancing on the ice rink (with no ice on it), and can remember doing the good old British tradition of forming a conga line to any kind of music. I can also remember taking a load of random pictures, and dancing round with Ian on my back (like I was with Andrew Felton in one of the pictures). Also, my other big memory of tour was playing my solo (Wandrin Star) to a huge crowd of about 2000 – 3000 people in the main square in Cheb. This is the biggest audience I have played a solo in front of, and when you have got a microphone pointing straight at you to play down, the adrenalin certainly does start to pump. Anyway, I managed to contain my nerves, despite the wind taking my stand half way through the piece, and after taking my bow, a young lady came on stage to present me with a bunch of flowers, which you never get in England. Me being the perfect gentleman, gave them to Sacha, our tour guide.

On behave of the band I’d like to thank Jane, Brian, Jayne, Ruth, Derek, and Katie for all their help on tour. The committee always do us proud, and this year has been no exception. Especially Derek and Brian, as they drove the van of instruments all the way to Cheb. Also a big thanks to Nigel, as always, he brought the best out of the band, in some difficult playing situations (like in the village with the gale force winds blowing over music, and stands), and as always was a good sport, and got involved with all the players. I’d also like to say thanks to Shane and Tony, our coach drivers. They were exceptional. They really got involved with us, as a) they were sharing the same cabin as our group of older (rowdier) lads, and b) worked long days over there, and even on their time off driving, they still came to listen to us. They were a good laugh. I’d also like to say thank you to our interpreter over in Cheb. She was absolutely brilliant and really helpful, and also, to our guide who helped us out loads whilst we were over there with finding our way about town. I’d also like to thank Petr who helped direct us whilst we were marching. All three of them were really missed when we came away and I know for a fact that I made an impact on them, especially the 2 ladies, as they cried as we left. We were all sorry to leave them as we made really good friends with them.

I had a fantastic time away this year and I don’t think this tour could be beaten by any of the previous tours I’ve been on. The memories will stay with me forever.

Andrew Cooper

Ian Raisbeck - Composer in Residence, Webmaster, Returning ex-player

I am always delighted to be asked back to play on a Lions tour as I know that I will have a great time. This tour was not only a massive step for the committee, but also for many of the players who have never took part in such a trip. I was delighted to see that the tour still brings the band together and can even bring the quietest people out of their shells.

The personal highlights for me were getting my own compositions and arrangements performed. It is very hard sitting in my Birmingham student house in front of the computer composing for events that could not be further away, but it gives me a great feeling of satisfaction when they are performed a such a big festival. I also really enjoyed the social aspects of this tour, many more opportunities than normal due to the smaller amounts of playing this time. I saw two ends of the spectrum: the older ones who I rarely see anymore and were probably touring for the last time together with Lions, also the new batch of players who were touring for the first time and took everything in their stride with a tremendous amount of enthusiasm.

I would like to thank Nigel, Jane and all of the committee who did a tremendous amount of work to enable us take part in this trip. I hope this is not the last foreign tour Lions take part in and hope the enthusiasm remains to continue the success.

Ian Raisbeck

Old Timers: Ian Raisbeck, Andrew Cooper, Andrew Dobson, Andrew Felton

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