Bookings 2009

The remaining gigs this year are:

Civic Week: 2nd-8th August 2009

Massed Bands: Floors Castle: 30th August

Remembrance Day: 8th November

Practice nights continue!

Kelso Civic Week (2)

It rained a bit!

Kelsae civic week

We played for the annual finale of Kelso's week; the fancy dress parade.

Here we are tuning-up at the Tait Hall.

Kelso Civic Week

Message from Ian:

The band will be playing on Saturday evening at Kelso.

Please note this is the 18th not the 17th.

We will be leaving Coldstrream at 5:30 pm from the Eildon. If anyone is going straight to Kelso please be there for 6 pm.

You will find us at the Tait Hall or the Wagon.

Can everyone please let me know if you are coming or not.

Could you also let me know if you are going straight to Kelso. We don't want to be hanging around waiting on someone who isn't coming.

Kelso Civic Week

Next engagement is 18th July for the evening fancy dress parade in Kelso.

Camera, lights, action

Parading with the Normandy Highlanders: filmed by Elspeth 'DeMille' Bell;

Bennecourt 2009: a report from the Drummie

The band gathered at the Besom on the evening of Friday the 26th June, for Coldstream Twinning Association’s trip to Bennecourt in France. There was an air of excitement as we loaded the Glen Valley Tour’s bus, and had a last pint before heading south.

After a long night we arrived at Dover, sailing on a Sea France ferry. One thing - the French canny cook an English breakfast! On the other side we had one stop and arrived at Bennecourt at 1.30pm.

After meeting all our friends again and back to our hosts for a quick shower, the band gathered to play in Mantes la Jolie Celtic Festival, which was a late, but financially rewarding, engagement.

Some of the band travelled by host’s car while others were in the community mini bus. We arrived at a square in Mantes, which is a sprawling urban town. There was another pipe band and a Breton pipe band there from Normandy, tuning up. As usual it was organised chaos, but we eventually played our set in front of an appreciative crowd.

The parade started with the Normandy Highlanders Pipe Band following two Police on horses. Coldstream followed, Ged proudly carrying the 1513 club flag, with the Breton band bringing up the rear. We found that we were marching a short distance then stopping with the Normandy Band starting as we were still playing. Not very good at all so, at the next pit stop, James asked the Normandy PM if he would like both our bands to play together. After a quick chat with Rob about which tunes we could all play together, we set off as a mini massed band. After about three times round the same streets, and a chance meeting with the little Italian from International Show Parade, we eventually arrived at the festival site. After a couple of beers, we bid farewell to our new friends from NH pipe band and back to Bennecourt for the welcome meal.

On Sunday we played on the banks of the Seine at a picnic and boy was it hot. The band really appreciated our new polo shirts.

Our next engagement was to play at an outdoor concert on Tuesday evening. Again the band performed well in the somewhat cooler conditions. That was the last official engagement, though the pipes could be heard in Bennecourt every night, sometimes very late.

On Thursday evening a short service was held for former pipe band member Stuart Tait who died on the day we left Coldstream. Peter played last post and reveille, while James lowered the 1513 club saltire, then Rob played Over the Sea to Skye, which was one of Stuart’s favourite tunes.

All in all it was another good trip for the band and we are expected back next year around the second week in July, for Bastille Day.

Meat is Murder!

But no-one has told the French!

Bennecourt 7

Paris

Cockburn's and Moffat's invade Paris, no arrests reported!

Bennecourt 6

Evening jamming-sessions are a big part of the touring experience:

Bennecourt 5

The heat has a certain effect on Drummers:

Drummers getting ready:

Drummers are ready:

Bennecourt 4

Smartly up the street during the Bennecourt Tour:

Joint bands ootside the bakers:

Lance Armstrong beware!

Lance Armstrong not the only former champion making a return to the Tour de France!

Bennecourt (3)

Bennecourt (2)

Trip to Bennecourt

Gig in Coldstream: 11th July

Saturday 11th July:
The antidote to hot summer nights is here! One seriously chilled night of music is coming to Coldstream Community Centre!
Folky blues, duets and foot-tapping soul will get you in the mood for the weekend, and ranging from Neil Young to Ella Fitzgerald there will be tunes to suit all manner of tastes, not forgetting the fabulous line-up, including Tamsin Hughes Davidson, Anna Emmins and Lizzie Bell with the full band (including Rachel Cross on fiddle), plus Bobby Hanlon ready to join the gals in roof-raising song.
The bar will be open and the lights will be low so shake yourselves up to come to Coldstream Saturday July 11th.
Doors open 7:30
£5 Entry
Look out for details in local press.
Tickets can be bought in advance by calling 01890 882211 or emailing bellelspeth@yahoo.co.uk.

Stuart Tait

It is with great regret that the Band marks the passing of Stuart Tait, who died on Friday 26th June.
Stuart was a stalwart of the Boys Brigade band in the 1960's and a founder member of the re-constituted band in the 1970's.
Stuart will be greatly missed by his many friends. Our thoughts are with his family.

La belle France

On Friday (26th) the Band sets off on a trip to Coldstream's twin town, Bennecourt, France. Situated on the border between Normandy and Ille de France, on the banks of the River Seine, it is a lovely place.

Compared to some twin town arrangements, this one is spot on; both towns are agricultural, relatively close to big cities and close enough to less prosperous towns to remind the residents how lucky they are - Bennecourt has Bonniere-sur-Seine and we have Duns. (before Huttonian takes grave offence, that gag works both ways).

Close by Bennecourt is Giverny, home to Claud Monet and his famous garden. http://giverny.org/monet/welcome.htm

And if you fall in the river at Bennecourt you really are in-seine! Ha ha! (copyright Spike Milligan).

Here are some memories from past trips to Bennecourt.