Part of the job of getting the band to competitions is raising the cash to get there, and paying for accommodations and ground transportation while there. Without a full-on sponsor, the band relies a lot on event fundraising, member inputs, and performances. Our Maxville/Montreal trek involves five nights of hotels, a bus from the airport to Cornwall, buses to the Games, and transport from Maxville to Montreal. Not cheap.
This past weekend, we took a parade job in Moosomin and it was a great day. Up at six a.m. for the 2+ hour drive, arriving in time to meet other band members from Estevan, Brandon and [surprise!] Winnipeg, tune for about 20 minutes, and then go on the parade. Not the most fun kind of piping, but greatly appreciated in the town. For many Saskatchewan pipers, this is the main activity.
When we got back to the starting point after the parade, one of the organizers was there with a cooler full of ice cold beer and pop. Now THAT was a treat! We later played for about 30 minutes for a group of people assembled to hear us in the town memorial park, dedicated to the memory of local veterans.
Once re-tuned, the band started with a couple of 3/4 marches, the first being Major Gavin Stoddart's brilliant tune On the Road to Passchendaele. When we were all done, and having lunch provided for us by the local sandwich shop, one of the local guys came to point out that next to the spot we played was the grave of Passchendaele veteran and hero George Harry Mullin VC MM (August 15, 1892 - April 5, 1963). Altogether a fitting way to start, and well noted by the locals, who are very proud of his memory.
It's not easy putting together the money for a trip to Maxville, and sending a mini band to Moosomin is one way to make ends meet. At the end of the day, it turned out to be a day that was worth the effort. We had laughs as a band, got some practice in, had some fun playing old marching tunes in the parade, entertained quite a few people, made some cash for the Maxville trip, and learned something about a Victoria Cross winner of long ago.
Not a bad day out for any band.
2 comments:
George Mullin was one of only 94 Canadians to ever receive the Victory Cross, and I believe his was one of the eight medals award for the Passchendaele battle. My memory may be wrong but I also think this was the most decorate battle, in terms of Victoria Crosses, that Canada was ever involved in.
On a side note, did you catch the Edmonton connection in your history lesson? George Mullin was awarded the Victoria Cross while serving with the PPCLI, a regiment based out of Edmonton :) George Mullin is one of three members of the regiment to be awarded a Victoria Cross.
On Canada day I was out at the barracks and reading up on some history. So no I don't have this memorized, it was just coincidence.
Thanks for the note Ross. The PPCLI history page has some interesting information. The regiment was originally raised in five cities across Canada [including Edmonton] and was brought together in Ottawa. It says this about the event:
"The Edmonton City Pipe band traveled to Ottawa under the leadership of Pipe-Major C. Colville, a veteran who reported for duty in Hunting Stewart Tartan and announced to the Commanding Officer that "We came (Sir) to pipe you to France and back again"."
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