The document below was submitted by one of our members - Eleanor Witter - remembering 21 years since her first CCCB Rally.

Twenty one years, one hundred CCCB Rallies and counting

 

That’s a summary of my CCCB activities taken from my caravan diary . Many things have changed in that time.

 

What is my first recollection of the Band? At the first music rally at Guilsborough in April; 1995 when the Music Makers really started under the baton of Brian Smith, meeting Ian and Denise Clowes (Philip, Christopher and Helen) and talking about bees and bee diseases! Amongst other current players present were the Goughs (Chris, Sally, Adam and Emma), the Heaths (Rob, Barbara, Emma and Becky) the Blacks (Bob, Jeanette, and Linda) and the Parkers (Michael and Mavis). Music included a march, beguine, and some light pop (Lloyd Webber). Many families went to the National at Knebworth later that year. We waited until the second Guilsborough rally (Dam Busters, Judy Garland, Stars and Stripes, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Hootenanny etc.) to agree to try a National at Holkham Hall, the first of 18 for us. In honour of that John fitted a cassette Porta Potti to replace the free standing one – caravans were more basic then, though we were beyond using a floor foot-operated water pump and we no longer had a gas mantle. In the autumn of that year, 1996, we made the first of an incredible 9 trips to play at Earls Court, mostly staying on the Club Sites around London and travelling in by coach.

 

How many times do we meet per year? My record is 7 times in 2007 and again in 2009, currently we average 5.

 

Where have I played? At rehearsals (44) Nationals in England (18) Wales (2) and Scotland (1), FICC (Lincoln and Ireland), Earls Court (9) NEC (1), making two CDs, Regional, Centre and Holiday rallies over much of England from Somerset to North Yorkshire and Essex to Cumbria. I missed two International Rallies (Belgium and Italy) and all Lincoln Christmas Markets as well as a very few rehearsals and other meets. So, the Band total is well over the 100 rallies that I’ve attended in 21 years of playing with almost 200 players. We’ve clocked up almost 24 000 miles, considerably less than players from the far north or southwest.

 

Do we look different as a band? Numbers gradually increased from about 40 to over 70.  For uniform, first came navy orlon sweaters with the Club logo, then smart royal blue woollen ones with the CCCB lyre logo. A few years later a set of blue jackets were passed on from a male voice choir (tight armholes) followed by our first (and the nicest) made-to-measure royal blue jackets worn with red striped Club ties, and finally the current ones with the gold epaulettes. The Caravan Club has provided funds for our uniform and music throughout though we did pay a bit for the nice wool sweaters. There have always been quite a few both young and fairly elderly players which is partly what makes this Band special.

 

Has the music changed? Of course styles have changed with different conductors and some of the music we play now wasn’t written when the Band was formed. The Dam Busters March endures! Brian Newland gradually took over from Brian Smith for Opening and Closing Ceremonies and introduced more film music into main concerts. Occasional and Assistant conductors have included Bob Black, Kathleen Hammerton, Jackie Wright, Ron Ketley, Ian Clowes and now Chris Cobon supporting our current conductor, Chris Moore who has continued to challenge us with a huge, wide-ranging repertoire. We play more pieces in a concert now, with less chat between.

 

So, on to 2016, more miles, more rehearsals, more nights in the caravan and more time socialising with Band members.

 

What fantastic friends. What a fantastic Band. Happy 21^st Birthday CCCB

 

Eleanor Witter