13th July 2007, Scarva day.

July 13th 2007. And it’s another early rise as the band gets ready to set of to Bambridge to parade with R.B.P. 435 In there District Blacks parade through Bambridge town before heading of to Scarva to join up with rest of the R.B.P. Districts. But before we do there is matter of packing our bags, instruments etc, on to the coach as we wont be coming back to the hotel till next year. As we say our goodbyes to staff in the Park Avenue. The weather is fine, just the right weather for marching, but the forecast isn’t too good as it’s supposed to rain for most of the day.

We arrive in Banbridge in time for the start of the district parade and set off up the town at a nice pace, weather still nice, this part of the days marching takes approx 30.min, just enough to waken the band up before we then board our bus and set of to the main parade in Scarva.

As we arrive our friends out of Pride of Ballinran are there to greet us before both bands join together to march into the field, this is a custom both bands have been doing for a few years now, the massed band strikes up and off they go, its only a short walk and the joint bands only get to play two selections, but everyone seems to enjoy it none the less.

Everyone in the field is keeping there fingers crossed that the weather holds out, it’s a bit over cast and very mild, but no rain.

Its 11.45 am and the parade is marshalling up to leave the field on the approx 40.min route. The many different styles of bands, i.e. brass, silver, pipe, 1st,flute, melody flute, & armature flute bands start to leave the field and as luck would have it the rain starts to come on, very light to begin with, so there is still hope.

As we march up the road to Scarva field the crowds are as strong as ever, on average 100,000 people + attend this event. I am not sure of the figure this year but the crowds were there in there tens of thousands. As we made our way up to the field the rain got heavier as predicted by the weatherman, so much so when reach the field we had to take our rest and shelter under a couple of trees compared to our usual spot, where we usually bath in the sun as our N.I. P.R. man, the one and only BIG Brian. Has the B.Q. going, but not this time, we had to do with a couple off trees, a roll of black bags, some cases of beer and some well received home made biscuits by Elian young, wife of the bands conductor big Willie.

As we took shelter under the trees the rain become more heavier, some of the guys in the band put there boy scouts training into practice and made ponchos out of the black bags, to try and keep them self’s dry and some like Mr, Drennan, decided to push his needle work skills to the limit minus the needles, and make a very fetching three piece garment including matching hat, some of the other members were quite content with a poncho with matching exserories.

As most of the band gathered round the tree they started to sing some camp fire songs less the camp fire’ as there was nothing they could but have a good laugh about the situation, some one tried to lay a plastic sheet down to stop them self’s from getting wet, as they did so, the band sang a chourus of hit song “blanket on the ground” which could be heard in adjoining fields and everyone round about roaring with laughter.

Its time to get our self ready for the return route we pull on our wet suites and March across the fields to the sound of “we are up to our knees in scava mud” as all around us cars were stuck in the mud filled fields.

The crowds had dwindled a bit, but many still lined the return route to cheer the districts and bands on there way home, the rain may have damped the day but the band played on and I have to say they excelled them self’s on scarva day, everyone gave 100% . No more any less.

The end is here; we play the national anthem and board the bus. As we head back to Bambridge and make our way into the church hall, we are greeted by members of R.B.P 435 and their wife’s as well as some of the ladies from the church who have given there time up to make some of the finest home cooking and baking you could imagine, and plenty of it. So on behalf of everyone associated with the band I would like to thank all the ladies who gave there time to prepare such a fantastic afternoon meal.

Just as the day before, the time had come for the perceptory and band to thank each other for another great day in Scarva. Its time to leave, and as we wave our goodbyes to our friends from Bambridge we look forward to coming back next year minus the rain.

We are heading back up the M1 to Belfast to catch our sailing home, but there is just one more ritual the band has to do, stop at the Union Jack shop and give all our spare cash to our good friend, the one, the only, (rob the prods guru China) this wee ritual has been arranged between my self and john for a few years now, it lets the members of the band get any wee bits and bobs to take home, mind you I am still waiting for my commission.?

Well its that time again, we drag the last of the boozers out of the Con club, round up the young crew out china’s shop carrying band poles, flags, t-shirts, etc, and say our goodbyes to everyone who knows us, some till next year, some till next month when we are back over for the A.B.O.D Parade. So till then, its time to hop on the bus to the ferry terminal to catch our sailing and make our way home and have a well deserved break from band practice and marching, that is until we get ready to do it all over again on our Londonderry tour.

So once again I have to thank everyone involved with making this trip an over whelming success, and hope to see you all next year at the same time, same place, So till then, KEEP THE FAITH, and remember ITS MORE THAN JUST A BAND,