French Open 2009

The French Open

6 June 2009 - Amboise

On Thursday 4th June, the Bands big adventure to the French Open began at Popple Street. Loading the coach was the start of an almost 24 hour trip to take part in the 2009 French Open Contest, held in Amboise. Amboise is a small town just outside Tours, in the Loire Valley. Leaving Popple Street, we picked up at Hessle, and Doncaster Services, before motoring down to our overnight stop at a hotel in Folkestone.

Just a little light refreshment for the journey.

Probably the loudest t-shirt in the world!

Lager wasn't good enough for our posh totty!

Speaking of posh totty!

Judging by Andrea's face, Alison has been a little heavy handed with the tonic!

Cheers.

The excitement was just too much for some people.

Plenty of pictures in that magazine.

Top table?

What ever the joke was, it cleared Thomas by at least six feet.

Required viewing.

Pete got confused when told we were travelling by coach. He expected John Wayne to be driving.

It's just like a fridge Alison, when you open the door the light comes on.

Arriving at Folkestone just before midnight, we were, of course delighted to find out that our 'overnight' stop would be just a matter of hours, as we had to leave the hotel at 5:45am. This came as a surprise to many members of the Band who thought that there was only one quarter to six in a day, and that was in the middle of The Weakest Link. On this occasion the only weakest link was on Garry and Shaun's alarm clock. First stop was a greasy spoon in the Chunnel queue.

French breakfast in Folkestone.

Not many salad sandwiches were sold this morning.

Mind your fingers!

Having travelled through the Chunnel on the back of a train, we continued our journey to our breakfast stop.

Andy is a little concerned by the sediment at the bottom of his coffee.

And then he did some sort of impression!

Breakfast in France.

Do you know that if you type Garry into your phone whilst it is on predictive text, you come up with HAPPY.

Just one more step backwards please.

Get the bread, act casual, and breakfast will arrive.

Its not like this at Birchwood Services.

John's mega breakfast was smaller than he expected.

Kirsty & Emily.

Pete & Margot. I think Pete had a tongue infection!

Have you seen the coach?

After another three hours on the coach - what would we do without the Brassed Off DVD? - it was time for a lunch break.

So many Baguettes, so little time!

It was nice to have some fresh air, after been on the coach. It was also an opportunity for some of us to stretch our legs.

Ice-creams all round.

Yes, ice-reams all round.

That's it Rosie, look at the camera.

And then, it was back onto the coach for the next three hour drive to Amboise.

The books, and magazines were well thumbed by the end of the weekend.

It was just a little too much for some people though.

On arrival at Amboise, we went straight to the local Music College for a rehearsal.

The high visibility shirt may look a little bright, but it made life easier for our guide Emmanuelle to locate the Band!

Our accommodation was in a hostel located on an island in the middle of the Loire river.

Tony & Kathy's room - the photographer had to leave before Tony attempted to get onto the bottom mattress, just visible under the bed!

Also located on the island were several million midges, and La Shakers a very popular bar.

The view from the hostel was pretty impressive though. We are still wondering if indeed there is a gateaux in the chateaux.

The centre square of Amboise, the venue for the March Contest, and afternoon entertainment concerts.

For the best places to eat, Rosie was the one to follow.

And she chose a great meal too.

The camera sometimes lies - but not in this case, that is a bottle of water on the table!

Meanwhile, in the main square it was banquet time.

Very picturesque.

Pete with his continental pullover.

Following the food, we were invited to listen to the Friday night concert, This took the form of a Celtic celebration featuring a brass band and bagpipes. The concert took place in the same venue that the EYMS Band would be performing the following evening, so many of the Band walked the short distance to the venue. When I say short distance, I really mean about three miles up hill! Strangely enough, it was a lot quicker on the way back.

The interval - before the bagpipes started to wail.

Judging by Mark and Garry's faces, the wailing had now started.

On Saturday our first challenge was to take part in the March Contest. This would be the first time that the Band had marched since 1999, so a little last minute practice was required.

First we had quick stroll to the coach, so that Alison could work out left and right.

It fell to Mark to sort out the marching, with help from Rosie and her 'handy' guide to left and right. Confused! Well hold your hands up, fingers to the top and thumbs pointing inside. The hand that makes an 'L' the right way round is the left. Easy!

Before we could start, we had to change the spark plugs on one of the Euphoniums.

Two of our guest players, Craig Richardson, and Phillip Pearson. Can you tell that they are really looking forward to the march.

The Band eagerly waited for the practice to start, Rosie & Alistair discuss tactics for leading the parade, whilst Andrea shows Simon the benefits of using Harmony!

Here Shaun, you have this gold plated one, it matches your permatan!!

Why on earth do you need a lyre with a windscreen?

Two of the Band Costermongers.

Le Contre-torpilleurs!

Lend us your hair brush Andrea.

Lucky message from A French Seagull.

The percussionists of Brass Band Rijnmond had an unusual walking music stand.

Is this a) The ancient entrance to Amboise. b) Part of the Chateau. c) The Public Toilet.

I thought the trombones went at the front.

How far?

On your marks,

get set,

go.

And all still in step.

For some the march was Death & Glory!

For others like coach driver Nick Houlden, it was just the glory of playing the cymbals with the Band.

The contest performance of Ravenswood - top half only.

The contest performance of Ravenswood - bottom half.

The contest performance of Ravenswood - the edge.

Give us a lift mister.

Snow White and four of his little friends.

Following the March Contest, and lunch, we went off for a rehearsal in preparation for the afternoon French Open Contest. After that rehearsal we had a little free time to enjoy a coffee and listen to the bands entertainment concerts in the main square before we returned to the theatre for the contest.

Blimey, Mark's almost slim enough to hide behind the pillar!

Blackley Band on the Bandstand.

After that performance, we went of to the concert venue for a rehearsal with the guest soloist - Leslie Howie.

Leslie and the Band at rehearsal - we'd only played a few notes and the audience doubled in size!

It's Salsa time. Kathy, Neil, Alison, Mark, Andy, and Rosie all feature in Philip Harper's Salsa Tres' Prado.

A quick bite to eat and it was time for the Gala Concert. The noise that greeted the Band on its return to the venue was something more akin to a football match. The audience of over 2000 was certainly looking forward to the evenings entertainment. The programme - chosen by conductor Stan Lippeatt - had music to please the audience. From Death or Glory, to the Irish Blessing, from the Pines of Rome, to Procession To The Minster, and from Mack The Knife, to Salsa Tres Prado. As well as the Horn playing of Leslie Howie, the audience were treated to several of the Band's soloists. Neil Day & Tony Newiss starred in Ein Schnapps, complete with costume, Neil Johnson & Andy Kennedy shone in Me & My Shadow, and The Joker returned in the form of Mark Unsworth.

The Band entertain the capacity audience.

The calm before the storm. The band play The Irish Blessing, with offstage quartet.

Not sure which of Lindsey and Emily is the most awake.

It's the Salsa again - this time with realistic heat!!

This concert finished after midnight, and with the venue being so warm, the musicians had to head off to La Shakers to re-hydrate.

Thomas, careful how you move, this beer is mighty expensive. (Think London and double it).

On the river bank before the rain - and most of the beer - arrived. Was it a coincidence that they came together? Kirsty, Andrea, Alison, Kathy, Tony, Stan, Some Dutch Girl, Stewart, Emmanuelle (our guide), and Rosie.

And in the blue corner, Alistair, Garry, Simon, and Karl.

We had to wait a while for the beer to arrive.

Nice cocktail, and that's just the mixture of musicians.

Alison and Andrea, in the loft bar. It rained so we had to come inside off the river bank.

Not sure why Phillip is dressed as a vicar?

In the Contest we came 3rd, we won the March Contest, and here Andrea tries for a prize in the gurning.

Stanley and Melanie discuss the merits of the sweeper system.

Nice trousers Stewart. Are they new?

The long and short of it is, Kathy and Garry.

This is actually a rare shot of Mark not smiling tonight. Believe it or not he is balancing on a three inch ledge, and spent most of the night bopping from side to side.