author: Kevin Whittingham

After breakfast at our billets (which consisted of cold meats, Cheese, Bagels, Orange Juice & Tea), we arrived fresh and slightly less travel weary to the Army hall for morning worship. Before the meeting the Band had the honour of walking a short way to Vesterbro’s Torv for a march of witness. The Copenhagen Bandmaster Jens Schou Hansen led the Band in the march Hadleigh Camp with the final chord ringing around the fantastic acoustic of the tall buildings in the City Square.

Boscombe Band on the march is something I’ve grown up with since being a little Junior Soldier with memories of Geoff Otter leading the Band back from Sea Road to the strains of the The Redcliffe March or The Wellingtonian. The opportunity for S.A. Bands to march these days is few and far between, so it made the hairs on the back of the neck stand up marching through the Danish capital today! I’m especially lucky in the Band formation to stand in front of David Wilkinson and his awesome Bass Trombone sound. Upon arriving back at the Temple we were applauded warmly by the soldiers and bystanders which was an unexpected response and very moving.

The morning worship was led by the Band (with Gilbert Ellis preaching) and was preceded by a tidy rendition of Agape by Dorothy Gates. The meeting was split into various sections entitled A Time To Praise, A Time to Think, A Time to Reflect & A Time to Conclude. There was the opportunity for bandsmen to give testimonies on what the Spirit is doing in their lives, and a number of spontaneous talks were given by Wayne Nock, David Phillips, Brian Wright & Stephen Main. Its always interesting and challenging to hear the thoughts of fellow Bandsmen - and anybody who sits near Smain in practice would agree wholeheartedly when you hear him admit to being grumpier the older he gets !!

Craig encouraged people to give in the Offering with a smooth rendition of Quiet Time & before the sermon was provided the Band also played My All is on the Altar. Thanks were given to the Corps for hosting us before we were asked to play two final numbers (Dance Before the Lord & I’ll Walk With God) to end our musical ministry in Denmark.

With the van packed and our coach arriving for the trip to Gothenburg (or Gotham City depending who you ask!), we were treated to another cracking spread of food by the corps. It’s amazing sometimes that you can travel the world with the Salvation Army but be made to feel totally at home. For that we thank all our billets and the people at Copenhagen Temple, making our short stay in Denmark so memorable and starting the tour in a great manner!

And so to Sweden…..