Like a band out of Hull! For Tour 2003, the band headed North once more, this time to the hallowed streets of Hull.

Thursday 13th

  10am, Coach leaves Cambridge from outside Queens College.
  Afternoon concert at St Charles' Primary School

Friday 14th

  Free time in Doncaster
  Joint concert with Hayfield School Swing Band

Saturday 15th

  Football match
  Free time in Hull
  Charity concert in Marist Church Parish Hall, Hull

Sunday 16th

  Joint concert with Rossington male voice choir
  Return to Cambridge, Curry, Sleep. 

You can imagine the waves of enthusiasm that gripped the band when it was announced that this year's tour would be to Hull and Doncaster. So it was in an atmosphere of fevered excitement that we assembled on Queen's street on the morning of 15th March and waited for the bus. The excitement was too much for some of our current members, so in order to fill out our trombone and tuba sections, we were delighted to welcome back some ex-cubb members (Tom Price, Bobby Richards, and Tim Mosedale).

On the bus we piled and off we drove, hurrying up north to be in time for our first playing engagement, which was at St Charles primary school in Hull. Dressed in our red tour T-shirts (with the rather apt slogan “Like a band out of Hull”), the band looked and played as though on fire. Unfortunately, our playing of 'Meet the Flintstones' couldn't match the quality of playing we achieved when we played it at the school in Willingham, but then nothing's perfect. But nevertheless, our playing was received enthusiastically by staff and students alike.

After this, many of the band members indulged in the traditional band activity of going to LaserQuest, where according to according to a rather biased source (I couldn't possibly comment - Ed.), Mr. Ben Russell was the master marksman. Unfortunately, I was unable to join them, as I was off on a recce with Miss Katie Digger, to find Raywell Park activity centre, where we were supposed to be staying (which according to Bob, our loyal bus driver, didn't exist), and also to buy sausages. So it fell into our hands to guide Bob to the activity centre, and so we led the way in Miss Digger's speedy white car, and Bob followed. Naturally, it was difficult for Bob to keep up with the ferocious pace set (or so we thought), so on approaching a roundabout, we thought we'd go round twice to give Bob a chance to catch up. So twice round the roundabout we merrily went, and one and-half times round the roundabout Bob merrily followed us. But I digress. Eventually, we all arrived safely at Raywell Park, and Miss Digger made up for our earlier foolhardiness by cooking rather splendid spaghetti bolognaise for supper.

The evening was spent in a traditional tour haze of alcoholic overindulgence, although some of the drinking games being played were hardly to be considered typical, but more of that later.

Out of our spawn sacks we were dragged on Friday morning to make sure we had eaten our breakfast in time for our early morning rehearsal. And after eating some curry for lunch, we set off for Doncaster where we were performing a joint concert with The Hayfield School swing band in the evening. We spent the afternoon at Doncaster Leisure Dome, where we partook of a variety of activities ranging from bowling and playing pool, to wandering around in the nuclear wasteland near the park.

On we went to the concert in the evening at Hayfield. In the first half we were entertained by the Hayfield School swing band, who played a variety of toe-tapping melodies. And in second half, we treated them to our usual variety of Goff Richards and … Goff Richards. The hearty response of the enthusiastic crowd indicated that the concert had been enjoyed by the audience as much as it had by us. We then returned to the activity centre where we found ourselves curiously short of beer (but strangely not short of Strongbow Super - Ed.), but didn't hesitate in drinking up what we had available.

On the morning of Saturday 16th March, the band football match took place. Always a solemn occasion this year, the non-cornet players won, thanks largely to the shear inspiration of Mr. Ramsey Faragher, and Mr Tim Mosedale. In the afternoon, we took to exploring the delights of Hull. Many went to explore The Deep, “The World's only Submarium,” otherwise known as an aquarium. A fairly big one mind. Those who didn't go and look at fish decided to imitate fish in Hull's notorious hostelries.

In the evening we played a charity concert in the Marist Church Parish Hall in Hull, in aid of the local hospice, and the cyclone-swept Solomon Islands. The open bar and informal setting led to a highly enjoyable, and very successful evening, where we succeeded in raising substantial sums of money for the charities (as well for CUBB!). To cap it off, CUBB legend Stuart Warriner came to watch and brought us a bottle of sophisticated malt whisky. I would like to take this opportunity to thank him, since I've rather criminally neglected to do so already, so Mr Warriner if you're reading this, thanks, it was heartily enjoyed.

After the concert it was time for the infamous tour quiz, highlights of which were the music round, and the drinking round. In the music round, our participants (Mr K Hollingsworth and Miss K Nicholls) were encouraged to sing a verse of the Floral Dance which we were due to be playing as accompaniment the next day with Rossington male voice choir. Truly spectacular renditions of a spectacular arrangement. The drinking round pitted Miss Blogg against Mr Richards. But on finding out the rules of the game (the participant had to drink a glass of water placed on his/her forehead without using his/her hands) Mr Richards took fright, but fortunately, Mr Price bravely and gamely stepped into the breach. Miss Blogg then found (like others before her) that it is a mistake to challenge Tom at ANY drinking game, although she gave Mr Price reason to regret his superiority as most of her water ended up on Tom's head.

The following morning was time to pack up and prepare for our sad departure. Were there ever a shorter three days? We set off for a 2:30 concert with Rossington male voice choir, and although they decided to cancel the 'Floral Dance', and I didn't win any raffle prizes, it was another very enjoyable and successful concert. And apart from a quick stop in the pub on the way back to Cambridge, that as they say was that. Tour 2003.

Some of the quotes from tour 2003 were:

“At least you can cuddle a hamster. Look what happened to Catherine the Great when she tried to cuddle a pony” - Katie Digger

“It doesn't say anywhere that it contains alcohol” (while looking at a can of John Smiths) - Paul Bushby

“I'm sitting at a table surrounded by very, very common people, you see” - Alice Blogg

“You Heffer” - Aidan to Alice

“Kieren, sit down and be quiet” - Head Teacher of St Charles' School