16th October 1999 - National Finals

Adjudicators: William Relton, David Read, Goff Richards
Test Piece: Concerto for Band No1 opus 44, Derek Borgeois
Venue: Royal Albert Hall, London

We were really looking forward to playing at the Royal Albert Hall and, due to the early start, this dedication was put to the test with breakfast at 7.30am on contest day. There was then a practice at 8.30am, and after a brief warm up, a wait to hear the draw.

The entire band were stood on the steps just outside the hotel, when we learned we had drawn seventeenth. We also heard that Yorkshire Building Society had drawn first – a position that had never been won from.

Back in the practice room, the band were all given shields to commemorate the visit to the finals. This is a tradition that has been observed at each of the finals that the band has been to. David, the conductor, was also given a gift to thank him for his hard work over the years in getting us all to this contest.

A quick coach trip later and all the team were sat in their seats right at the top of the Albert Hall, waiting for the first band to play. Frightening heights aside, it was a worthwhile experience, as some of the players had never even been to the hall before, let alone played there.

After listening to the first band, Yorkshire Building Society, who played the piece very fast, the members all went their separate ways to listen to more bands, or to get something to eat. With a draw of 17th, arrangements were made to meet back at the hotel at 3.00pm.

Meeting later, there was a quick practice and then another trip back to the hall. We then went down into the dressing rooms to set up the percussion equipment, and to get changed into our uniforms. There was then the long walk down through the bowels of the hall in order to register, and then wait to get on stage. This was the most nerve-racking time so far, as there was a lot of sitting around, waiting for other bands to finish playing. After registering, we all waited behind the stage, listening to the band before us. After they had finished playing we stepped out onto the famous stage to organise the percussion equipment.

I didn’t really have time for first impressions, being so busy organising the percussion equipment. The feeling at this time was much the same as for any other contest. It was only later, once we had started playing that the enormity of the place was felt. I remember thinking during the first movement that it was like playing in an aircraft hanger, because the place was so large.

Concentration had to be at a premium from the outset, as the piece was complex, so there wasn’t any time to look around the hall, until the end. The band played extremely well, with even Kenny “One-Pah” Argyle managing to fit in his percussion parts perfectly. At the end of the piece, there was an almighty cheer from the audience – I don’t think any of us expected it to be so loud! All too soon, it was over, and there was time to look around and savour the atmosphere. We were warned about this before, but it really did feel like we spent about five minutes on the stage, when in reality it must have been about twenty.

Then it was back to the hotel with the instruments, and then back to the hall to hear the results. After a brief dash around the hall (to a bar, another bar, back to the first bar, on to a box, on to the right box, back up to where the rest of the band were) it was time for the results.

After the interminable speeches, came the reading out of the results, in the traditional sixth to first order. In sixth place, with 192 points, was the band that played 17th – Us! Quite an achievement for a band that, only five years ago, had still been in the fourth section.

The results were as follows:

1. Fodens (Cortois)
2. Brighouse and Rastrick
3. Tredegar
4. NSK RHP Ransome
5. Williams Fairey
6. Rothwell Temperance

7. Marple
8. Yorkshire Building Society
9. Whitburn
10. JJB Sports Leyland
11. Kirkintilloch
12. First City Brass
13. Aveley & Newham
14. Flowers
15. EYMS
16. Bodmin
17. Carlton Main Frickley
18. Point of Ayr
19. Ever Ready
20. Glossop Old

From then it was back to the hotel and time for some celebrations. Anyone watching Calendar on YTV on the Monday following the contest will have seen the band singing “Vindaloo” in the hotel bar. I am reliably informed that some members didn’t manage to get to bed until 6.00am. (You know who you are…)

All in all, a good weekend was had by all and to come away with a sixth place was a fantastic achievement.

Classic quotes: “Kenny, it’s One-Pah” (David Roberts to one of our percussionists)

Tim Sawyer
Percussion
31st October, 1999