Just completed an excellent weekend with our special guests the Chicago Staff Band. For many it was an opportunity to meet up with old friends as Boscombe Band and Norridge Band had exchanged visits not too long ago. For others it was a feast of good music - both brass and vocal. For the Chicago Staff Band it was the start of a strenuous tour culminating next weekend on the mall. For ALL it was a blessed and God inspired time that spoke to the heart.

The weekend started on Friday evening with a get together for the members of the two bands - the guys from Chicago really appreciated the fish suppers provided! Saturday morning found the band in Pinewalk Bandstand in Bournemouth Gardens - unfortunately we had the usual British bank holiday weather of "cloudy with a threat of rain" so the crowds were much smaller than we might expect on a sunny day. However, those who were there heard an excellent mixture of music and the band had a real taste of British summer!!

Following a mystery tour that included lunch on a rather blowy Boscombe Pier our visitors had the opportunity to visit Christchurch Priory - where our own band will be once again giving a summer concert - on Thursday June 30th with a special guest - Les Neish (tuba). As the band walked towards the Priory Church the bells started pealing and a bridal party emerged from the front doors - to be met by a large number of Americans - all in matching jackets - who were intent on getting a good photo of the bride.

The evening concert featured music of many different styles and genres - including some excellent vocal pieces. It is, of course, a standing joke amongst Salvation Army bandsmen that they often get told that the best part of the programme was the singing - in this case it was no joke! The playing was also of a high standard and included music from three composers present at the concert - Bandmaster Bill Himes, of course, plus our own Bandmaster - who conducted the band in Chassidic Dance - and Bandmaster Kenneth Downie, whose music was represented by Purcell Variations.

A great weekend concluded with an inspiring holiness meeting led by the band and their executive officer Lt. Col. Richard Vanderveele. The band were ably supported by our young people's sections and by our songsters - and I know that many in the band were particularly impressed and blessed by our songster's benediction May it Be.

With many friendships renewed and many more created we waved goodbye as the band headed for Reading and the rest of their tour. This was a super contribution to our 125th anniversary celebrations and we wish "Bandmaster Bill" and his band every blessing on the rest of their tour and in the future.