| MAJOR F.H. CRAWFORD MEMORIAL F.B. BALLYMENA. 18.7.04. FLUTERS: 12. DRUMMERS: 6. BASS DRUMMERS: 2. CYMBALS: 0. COLOUR PARTY: 4. DRUM MAJORS: 0. TROPHIES: This was a non contest parade. |
| This started off to being a very strange night indeed. The band met at 7:30pm at our usual meeting place only to be welcomed by the news of the bus company has messed up the bookings so straight away it left us in the lurch as most of the members who could drive had been drinking so there fore couldn't drive. We then set about getting lifts up to Ballymena even from people who wern't members of the band which we would like to thank, we even approached a driver of the Salvation Army bus and offered him a very good tip but to no avail i thnk he was maybe thinking of what it would look like with the Grenadiers hanging out of his bus windows {lol}. |
| But anyway once we had got to Ballymena we formed up straight away as the parade organisers wanted to keep all the bands together in a steady flow and they where all standing waiting on us and Downshire Guiding Star who had made the journey from Banbridge for the parade who at the end of the parade when i seen them were playing quite well. It took the band nearly half way around the route to get into the form of playing the band seemed very low on volume but i think this was down to the performance of the band on the Twelfth day in Larne. We paraded with six drums but didn't sound like six inside the band but outside it was louder. The flute corp were again outstanding with good strong blowing. It was a very clammy night so i think the bass drummers had their work cut out for them as i was sweating my gonnads off. |
| Once again the Colour Party were superb and had this been a competition parade they may have been in with a shout even though they complained about the beat of the band the whole way around the route but we forgive them for that as it is not that often they do complain they are usually more disciplined than this {ha ha}. There seemed to be lack of people out to watch the parade which i found unusual for Ballymena and the host band got a good turn out of bands from various parts of Ulster from us in Carrickfergus, DGS from Banbridge and Newtownards Volunteer Flute all in all it was a good parade which Major F H Crawford got a well deserved aplause at the end of the parade from visiting bands and followers alike. |
| Although the parade was not a competition parade there was one trophie and this was for Best Bass Drummer. The trophie was awarded in memory of the FHCM FB late Bass drummer Vol. Davy Rogers who tragically lost his live a few years back and was a prominent member of the band. The band who won the trophie was Newtownards Volunteer Flute which i am sure will give the trophie pride of place amongst the trophies they have won previously. I would like to take this opportunity to thank M F H Crawford Memorial f.b. for hosting a well run parade and hope it was a great success and look forward to seeing them in Carrickfergus in September at our own parade in which the Sons of Ulster F.B. from Glasgow will be leading for us. |
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