The band love Cromer. It’s a chance to bond and get to know each other

After loading up the coach and minibus we arrived at Comer Junior School on monday afternoon. While the dinner ladies (Kelly, Heidi and Steve) cooked up the first meal of the week, everyone had to blow up their airbeds and unpack. Then the games and (controlled) chaos begun! The band were set up into 4 teams where they compete for points in various games – They also have duties of washing up and tidying the hall, which is of course the favourite.

On tuesday morning, we had a somewhat relaxed rehearsal for the concert we were due to perform that evening in the Church. In between shows, we were set various tasks such as the “match box challenge” and had some free time in the town while our lovely welfare staff made us lunch. While in town we had a run through some of the musical pieces at the beautiful Church that the concert was in. The concert went very well and afterwards it was back to the school for more fun and games, including seeing how fast you can eat a doughnut with no hands!

Wednesday was carnival day and we had an area performance to do. We marched the carnival Queen up to the carnival field then around the arena. We played various marches and “crowd pleasers” to boost the excitement and we were given a great reception. When doing arena performances to the public, we always select a march where the children in the crowd can come into the arena and march behind the band, which is great fun for everyone and makes a counter march tricky. One lucky person from the audience even got selected to take over the Drum Major position, and wear one of our hats! Wednesday evening was when we had the main carnival around the town. Thousands of people flocked to the streets of Cromer from all over the country to watch the carnival. It’s exciting for us to watch all of the different floats up at the carnival field before we set off.

On thursday we had the torchlight parade in the evening – So a whole day for team activities. We had the task of making our own hats for the parade as we don’t wear our full uniform for that parade. People also made good use of glow sticks on their instruments and hats which is one of the favourite parts of the carnival. All lit up with the three best floats of the carnival following us, we marched around the town for one last time before reaching the carnival field for the annual firework display which ends the carnival week. People are invited to walk behind the floats with their flashing accessories and glow sticks.

After an amazing fireworks display, it’s back to the Junior School for more games and challenged followed by bed time in preparation for packing and going home on Friday morning

Author: Claire Roseberry, Cornet Section.