A Fairytale in Torquay

Trophies,Timps and the Torquay Ten!

Saturday 15th November

08.30ish: (Or 07.00 for our 2 intrepid baritone players who have wives with serious shopping habits to feed, chomping at the retail bit!) Twenty five eager (?) brass players and a few die-hard supporters leave Hampshire and hit the road to the English Riviera, Devon.
11.30: It’s coffee and biscuits at the Frognell Hall Hotel – our hosts for a pre-contest rehearsal – there’s time to relax as the ballroom has already been transformed, seating re-arranged and stands set up by those retail-widowed baritones – bless ‘em!
12.00: Melvin White taps the baton on his stand, excited chatter stops and, like gun dogs on a morning shoot, players snap into work mode [then the trombones wake up a bit too!] and rehearsal begins. MW works everybody hard – barks his displeasure at lapses in concentration and dares our Super-Sop to eat any more energy-giving bananas as she is plenty strong enough already!
13.05: Drawn number 2! Another quick blow at Laudate Dominum and a warm-down hymn tune and it’s pack up, and away to the Riviera Centre. Time for a bite of lunch too.
14.30:  The troops assemble, uniforms are donned [why are brass players so keen on dropping their trousers in public?] and instruments warmed up. – a waste of time really as players realise things are running late and the long, long wait begins. It’s past 4 by the time they finally get called through to registration – tough on the band but no picnic for nervous supporters either. Three trips to the loo in 30 minutes are needed for one very jittery supporter! 

THE PERFORMANCE!

MW demands that the first 20 bars are nailed to grab the adjudicator’s attention and they do just that! For us supporters it is an amazing performance – one of those rare times when you can just get lost in the music and forget to worry, it is so musical and confident. There’s a buzz in the hall as the performance ends – the applause has started before the last notes are played – they like it – no. they LOVE it! Everyone seems happy as they come off stage – MW is certainly smiling and has a spring in his step – must be a good sign?

18.00: The baritones have loaded bulging shopping bags and wives into the car and most players have begum the long ride home. Ten intrepid MSBs stay behind to fly the flag when the results are announced but there’s just time for a pub dinner before then.

20.45: Riviera International Centre – the Torquay Ten gather to listen to next year’s competition taking in the last two performances of the First/Championship Section – who the *%$* are this Portishead mob anyway?

21.15: The adjudicator is out – our esteemed Chairman has taken to the stage to represent MSB for the presentation ceremony and the speeches are over at last. The cup for the Best Instrumentalist in the second Section goes to the timps player in the band that played number two – THAT’S HENRY! WOOOOHOOOO!
Fourth, third, second – it’s all or nothing now:
With 187 points [2 points clear] the winner of the Second Section is the band that played ……………..NUMBER TWO – MICHELMERSH SILVER!!!!!

Well at least that’s what I think he said because by now we are all leaping up and down, hugging one another, laughing and crying and can’t hear a thing! We have to calm down and wait while the last results are announced before the cameras and phones can come out and the word spread to the folks back home. Chairman Smith joins us with two big silver pots held aloft and a grin as wide as Torquay Bay as we hit the bar for a celebratory drink – just the one because they shut the bar as we are ordering! Our triumphant rep player Claire misses out on even one drink as excitement got the better of her and she was forced to stop off at ‘the little girl’s room’ on her way to the bar – she declines the offer of sharing a pint of Guinness with trombone Matt for some reason.

22.00: On the stroke of ten the Torquay Ten say their goodbyes with hugs, kisses and slaps on the back, and wend their weary but VERY happy ways home, plans for a celebratory drink in the Bear on Monday evening already made and broadcast to all.

IT’S BEEN A VERY GOOD DAY!