Aylesbury Tattoo

On 19th September Aylesbury Town Council organised a celebration of the 150th anniversary of the Army Cadet Force. In the morning there was a parade of the Combined Cadet Forces in Market Square, Aylesbury, which was attended by the Duchess of Gloucester, and in the evening Aylesbury Concert Band provided music for a tattoo in Kingsbury.

The tattoo was preceded by a rather chaotic rehearsal in the afternoon. The Band set up in a marquee at one end of Kingsbury, next to a marquee for the Civic guests, but it seemed almost every attempt to “top and tail” a piece was interrupted by a marching band rehearsing their display – again! However, despite the lack of organisation all was well in the end.

So at 6.30 the Band started playing to entertain the spectators as they arrived. Most of the music came from the Proms in the Park programme, and included Liberty Bell, Fiesta by Philip Sparke, Band of Brothers, and Pineapple Poll. Then at 7pm, compère Des Kay (from Stoke Mandeville Hospital Radio) opened the proceedings, and the Band played Fanfares and Flourishes by James Curnow. After this the Stedfast Association Bugle Band gave a marching display, and soprano Jill Neenan sang Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again by Andrew Lloyd Webber, followed by O Mio Babbino Caro by Puccini, both accompanied by Aylesbury Band. Then in the arena there was another marching display given by RAF Halton Pipes and Drums.

The finale began with Jill Neenan singing the evening hymn, The Day Thou Gavest followed by Sunset played by the Bugle Band. Then a lone piper played Killaloe on a mock battlement. Aylesbury Band played the National Anthem, and the other two bands marched off in turn.

This was the last engagement for Aylesbury Band in a busy summer. Now to start work on completely new programmes ready for the Christmas season, which will soon be upon us.