Canada

The Band recently returned from a trip to Canada.  We flew in to Calgary airport and on arrival were ushered up to British Army Training Unit Suffield (BATUS), where we were to spend the next two weeks in support of British Forces Canada. The fortnight consisted of mainly local jobs at BATUS and at the local city, Medicine Hat. Sadly the main event for the fortnight, a beating retreat at BATUS, was cancelled due to inclement weather.

The Band then made their way back to Calgary where they had been engaged to perform at Spruce Meadows for the International Showjumping Championships. Having located the relevant trouser presses and whirlpools within the hotel the Band soon became accustomed to the change from the rural isolation of BATUS to the more urbane cityscape of Calgary.

The engagement itself consisted of static performances around the showground, a number of arena displays and the performance of the national anthems for the winning nations, with the highlight of the week being an evening performance of Sibelius's Finlandia to a live firework display followed by a British reception.

Having concluded their musical duties for the tour the Band moved up to Trails End Camp on the edge of the Rockies National Park for a week of adventurous training. Amidst the beautiful scenery of the Rockies members of the Band were given the opportunity to participate in mountain climbing, canoeing, white water rafting and mountain biking, whilst those with injuries were given a minibus for the week in order to pursue their own tourist agendas. Suffice to say we seem to have taken the Catterick weather with us and over the duration of the tour we saw temperatures as diverse as 36 degrees Celsius down to around the zero mark. Many readers will take great cheer from the knowledge that as the temperature plummeted and four inches of snow fell, a good number of the Band were sleeping under canvass in the Rockies!  

Musicians looking for work?

The Band is looking for musicians who would like a career as a performer.  The Corps of Army Music is an excellent way to become a professional musician and anyone interested should contact the Bandmaster to discuss it further.

Bandmaster
The Heavy Cavalry and Cambrai Band
Catterick Garrison
North Yorkshire DL9 3JS

Telephone: 01748 872275

Fax: 01748 872282