Chris Bowman in the UK

The second half

After arriving back home in Adelaide, Chris Bowman reflects on his fantastic banding holiday in the UK, where he was a guest of the PolySteel Band.

Well the pre-summer weather in blighty just got better and better; rain, rain and more rain.

Alexandra and I spent a week based in Winchester - about 1 hour by train from London. During the week, we took a day trip into London. I knew from my trip last year that there's nothing quite as expensive as a day in London! We spent £ Sterling at the same rate as $ Australian, eg a couple of sandwiches for lunch was £10.00, which equates to around $25.00!

While we were in London, we visited several Monopoly sites: Leicester Square, Pall Mall, Whitehall, a couple of stations, etc. Unfortunately we didn't collect $200 (easily spent $200 though).

Later in the day, we visited the Royal Observatory at Greenwich. The fascinating thing for us was the original Harrison Clocks. These clocks were developed by John Harrison during the 18th Century. The significance for a couple of brass band enthusiasts, however, is that neither of us knew about the clocks or the longitude "problem" until we heard Peter Graham's composition Harrison's Dream. This prompted our interest in the subject and subsequent reading of Dava Sobel's book Longitude. If you haven't read it, make sure you do: it's terrific.

Other day trips included Portsmouth and a ferry ride around Portsmouth harbour, Bournemouth, and Marwell Zoological Park (there was a very big Giraffe named Chris).

We tried to tour Winchester Cathedral (you know, from the 1967 hit song) but couldn't get in because Working Title Films was filming Golden Age: the sequel to Elizabeth starring Cate Blanchett, Clive Owen and Geoffrey Rush.

Alexandra has made some wonderful friends at PolySteel Band. Several members have allowed her to stay at their homes and she has definitely been part of the PolySteel family.

Alexandra and Michelle Hockings

The Bowman family (except me) have all recently taken up Swing Dancing (as if we didn't already have enough on our plates). Whilst Alexandra is in England, she has been attending classes at a local Community Centre. I went along on Thursday evening (the only night that PolySteel rehearsal wasn't on) and watched the lesson. The fire alarm went off a couple of times and the dancers resorted to practising outside. It was amazing that it was still light at 9.30pm.

Swing dancing practice - it's 9.30pm!

A trip to Gloucester is not complete without the obligatory tour of Gloucester Cathedral. This cathedral featured in Harry Potter and the "something, something". Because of the building's age (constructed early last millenium), the doorways are extremely low, as the average height of English men was less than five feet when the cathedral was built.

Anyway, after much sightseeing - and Alexandra putting up with me cramping her style - we headed off to Cambridge for "The All England Masters International Band Championship & Gala Concert". Is this the longest band contest name in history? Cambridge is an absolutely beautiful place. Not that Blackpool wasn't without its character (ahem...), but Cambridge is a city steeped in history and the architecture and lifestyle unique. Cambridge is situated on the stunning River Cam, and the major colleges of University of Cambridge back onto the river - the area known as The Backs (apparently one needs to have attended the University to come up with clever names like The Backs!)

The River Cam - idyllic.

A quiet (and cold!) Guiness or two rounded out the band's preparation for the big day. Several players had quiet moments of contemplation. Chris Howley, Principal Cornet of PolySteel, is an avid ghost hunter, and I caught him trying to conjure up a spirit over a ciggy and a beer.

Chris Howley summoning a departed soul!

The big day arrived, and we headed to the Corn Exchange. The streets were extremely narrow, and I marvelled at the way the coach drivers were able to navigate their huge vehicles around seemingly unnavigable corners.

The Corn Exchange

I was fortunate to spend the entire day with Iwan Fox and Anthony Banwell of 4BR in the box above the stage. We literally sat above the trombone sections. What a perspective! I had a bird's eye view of every band and their conductors. 21 performances in total of Paganini Variations. It was indeed a treat to watch some of the big boys in action: Nicholas Childs, Russell Gray, Garry Cutt, Philip Harper, Ray Farr and a particular thrill was witnessing Brass Band Willebroek (Frans Violet) and Brass Band 13 Etoiles (GeoPierre Moren) at such close proximity. Our own talent of Howard Taylor and Jason Katsikaris were as large as life and in esteemed company.

It was a real privelege to witness Brisbane Excelsior on stage at the Masters. The band were fantastic ambassadors for Australia and demonstrated the growth in Australian banding talent. Had XLCR pulled out their Adelaide 2005 Paganini performance, the upper placings result could well have seen Brisbane in the money.

The results. PolySteel Band were runners-up. Their best result at this contest, and a reflection of their true stature in the UK band scene. Philip Harper was awesome in front of the band. As Iwan Fox said, he looked almost sinister in his all black. He was absolutely masterful in front of the band and the only conductor on the day to not use a score!

The atmosphere outside the Corn Exchange is unique. The streets are narrow, and the venue is surrounded by some four pubs. Players, supporters and anyone else filled the streets celebrating.

PolySteel celebrating their runner-up prize.

Eventually we boarded the coach for the long trip home to Gloucester. I had always wondered why the Poms complained so much about travelling in England - after all, the entire British Isles would fit into Victoria. The slight matter of 60 million people was a factor in the traffic. Upon our arrival in Gloucester, we did what everyone does in England (so I'm told): we went to an Indian restaurant for a curry! Baburchi in Gloucester is authentic and expensive, but then I expected as much.

My final day in Blighty was to be memorable for an amazingly different reason. We went to the famous Cheese Rolling at Cooper's Hill at Brockworth, between Cheltenham and Gloucester, on the edge of The Cotswolds. One has to see this event to believe it. Ostensibly, grown men and women throw themselves down a 45 degree hill chasing a rolling lump of cheese. Nothing unusual there, except that this year there were 25 injuries, and at least one requiring an Ambulance trip. The only word to describe this idiotic event is...idiotic!

The emergency team at the ready.

The event has grown in stature to the point that local dignitaries are now invited to perfom the ceremonial rolling, including local teachers, head of a church, postman, etc. First prize is a cheese, second £10.00 and third £5.00.

Cheese Rolling participants - some were airborne - ouch!

The crowd was immense - my rough estimate would be 10,000 people - which presented an interesting problem after the rolling was finished. It rained intermittently throughout the day, and virtually every car was parked in a series of large paddocks next to Cooper's Hill. The rain made some of the exits unpassable, so every car had to exit via one route. What a nightmare: drivers tooting, anger brewing - perfect scenario for paddock rage (or should that be cheese rage?).

All good things must come to an end, and Alexandra and Sid drove me to the station at Gloucester, where I boarded a train and bus to Heathrow. Another few flights later and I was back home in Adelaide. The next day, we had a party to farewell our eldest son, Nicholas, who has joined the Army as a musician, based initially at the Defence Force School of Music in Melbourne (assuming he survives his basic training). It was a great night, although a bit tough with jet lag.

Proud mum, Veronica, with our little boy.

I want to pass on a huge thank you to Philip Harper, the players and supporters of the PolySteel Band, and of course my gorgeous daughter Alexandra, for giving me a truly memorable banding holiday. I thoroughly enjoyed the trip and hope to meet everyone again very soon.

Chris Bowman