| First Holland Tour |
| In April 1975 the Sharpness & District Silver Band did there first tour of Holland. This article appeared in the local newspaper just before the band left. |
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| Below is the diary written by the band's Secretary of the time Mike Chandler. This also appeared in the local paper after the trip. |
| Two coach loads left the Sharpness Union Church and the Berkeley Arms Hotel at midnight on Friday April 26 and travelled to Dover in time for the 9.00am ferry to Zebrugge in Belgium.
A comparatively calm crossing of the Channel was made on the “Free Enterprise“ and the party were met by Julian De Koning who acted as tour organiser while in Holland. Visiting Gent and Antwerp in Belgium and crossing the border into Holland passed through Breda, Gorinchem, Utrecht and finally into Zeist where the band was based for the first part of the stay. They were welcomed at the “Woudschoten“ Conferentiecentrum by Mr Nieuwenhuitzen, Chief organiser − and sat down to a hot evening meal at 8.30pm after a long tiring trip. Drivers on the first lap of the journey to Dover were Messrs, Maurice Cole and Whyndham Owens who were relieved at Zebrugge by the Tour Drivers Barry Stump and Bob Sherman. After breakfast on Day 1 (Sunday) the party left the “Woudschoten“ at 9.30am and travelled through acres of flat land bounded by canals and large areas of land reclaimation via Zeist and Utrecht to The Keukenhof Flower Park. En route was the evidence of the previous days flower festival with a host of flower decorated vehicles, cycles, and garden images all still in splendid colour. The Keukenhof is Europe's most famous spring flower exhibition with tens upon tens of thousands of tulips and other flowers in full colourful bloom. In the 62 acre park, narcissi, hyacinths, and other types of plants are in beds besides lakes, ponds and ornamental streams. Tulips of all sizes, shapes and colours are depicted in the giant greenhouses and this whole display brings people from all parts of the world to Holland. Central in the Park is the impressive Bandstand and the children of the Sharpness and District Silver Band had the pleasure of their largest audience yet in that an estimated 36,000 people were in the Park during their musical programme. |
DAY 2
The loyal group of supporters who had taken the trip accompanied the Band to the shopping precinct Slottlaan in Zeist for the morning Concert and were all received by an appreciative street audience. Following lunch, the Band was directed to the Bejaardencentrum “Mirtehof“ an old People's Home which was a large modern Home with 240 persons in residence, some 200 of whom attended the Concert given by the Band. The programme was compered by Bandmaster Mr. Reg Ridler ably assisted by one of the Dutch ladies from the Home and between them the scene was set for the rest of the Tour with audience participation that excels in Holland. During the concert the matron and staff, including the kitchen staff were soon dancing in the aisles and the thunderous clapping to the Band's Marches were soon to echo around each hall in which the Band played. Favourite with all the crowds was the descriptive piece Fox and Hounds and accompanying Huntsmans Chorus in which the members of the band supporters voiced to the full. The Directuer Mr. Heer Van Voorden then gave a warming vote of thanks to the band and bandmaster and all were presented with a silver spoon with the Mirtehof House badge on. In reply band secretary Mike Chandler handed a souvenir plaque to the Directuer. Refreshments were provided and an offer to play again during the week if possible. Later in the afternoon, the Band took up position in front of the Zeister Slot − the City House of Zeist, and the red carpet was laid up the steps of this fine building, for Mike Chandler to meet the Burgomaster of Zeist and obtain permission to play. The Band then played the Dutch and British National Anthems and a March before the rain came down. Following the invitation into the Castle (Slot) the Burgomaster gave a speech of welcome to the people of Sharpness and gave a most interesting history of the City of Zeist. Souvenir Booklets were then presented to the children. Mike Chandler thanked the Burgomaster for his kind and encouraging words and also offered congratulation in that the Burgomaster had received a high decoration in the morning and had been made an “Officer in the Order of Orange“. Mike also said that this was the first visit to Holland for most of the party and indeed first time abroad for some and from the welcome and hospitality of the Dutch people it was evident that a lot had been missed in not coming before. Drinks and a buffet snack followed and the Burgomaster met members of the Band and Committee including Mr. David Hollister who is Town Mayor of Wotton-under-Edge, and before departure Mr. And Mrs. Ridler the Bandmaster and his Wife. Souvenir plaques were presented to the Burgomaster, his Aldermen, Secretary of the Council and the Master of Ceremonies. |
THE BIRTHDAY
Before leaving the “Woudschoten“ Conferenticecentrum on Tuesday the ceremony of Queen Juliana's birthday was enacted around the Flagpole with the assistance Mr. Ian West. Again the two National Anthems were played followed by a March and a raising and lowering of the flag. On behalf of the Parents and Supporters a gratuity was presented to Mr. Juta and also a register illuminated by Mr. Mike Heaven. Bandsmen Duncan Abbots and Andrew Stones then presented the Band's Souvenir Plaque. The party then proceeded to the gardens of the Zeist Castle to Honout the Queen's Birthday with an outdoor Concert. An estimated 300 people were present and an apology was received from the Consulate in that the British Ambassador could not join the audience. However an unscheduled appearance was put in by the Burgomaster who intended to stay for ten minutes and extended his visit to three quarters of an hour, during which he and his wife were introduced to the Bandmaster and the twin brother and sister Karl and Tracy Trotman 11 year olds playing trombones. Following lunch a farewell was given to the Bands Concert Arranger Mr. Niewenhuizen who was presented with a Souvenir Plaque and who was also responsible for the sponsorship to the Band in Zeist with £300.00 from the City of Zeist, £80 from the Shopkeepers Confederation and £30 from the Mirtehof Old Peoples Home. At 4.30pm a Concert was given in the Town of Austerlitz in a newly built hall before some 300 people whilst outdoor a local Drum Band were entertaining a large crowd at the carnival on the Queen's birthday. The Band returned to “Woudschoten“ for a drink with the Zeister Federatie van Musiekverenigingen − The Music Federation and at 6.15pm had to miss a planned visit to the Grand Firework Display to travel to Purmerend where a request had been made for the Band to play on the Queen's birthday. Undaunted the party remained tireless and made the journey from Zeist via Ultrecht and Amsterdam to Purmerend where they were met by Mr. Wouda, Directurer of a musical establishment and who obviously well advertised the bands visit. The Tourist Information Office had numerous telephone calls to find out where the Young Band would be playing next and in fact a large number of the audiences from Zeist had accompanied the Band to Purmerend. The evening concert was given in the beautiful “Buurthuis“ Community Centre and when the curtains were drawn the Band were faced with a 400 strong audience seated in club atmosphere and a fine programme of music was received. At the conclusion of the concert the Bandmaster was presented with a Dutch National Flag and all the children with a long playing record of Brass Band Music. In thanks the Bandmaster presented the Buurthuis President with a souvenir plaque. During the evening the people of Sharpness met the people of Purmerend in a social evening and a rather sad and tearful part of the tour followed in the parting [...] with the Dutch families. However there were no real problems and after much patience and understanding the situation was sorted out and all children departed to the homes of their foster parents for the night. Remaining supporters were accomodated in hotels in Purmerend. |
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| © Copyright S. Anne Anderson |