Grindleford 20th June 2009

The coach left Plumtre Way en-route for Chesterfield picking up Julie off junction 29a and then Mark and family at the ‘Hollingwood’ before arriving in the thick of the roadworks on Lockoford Lane for the rest of our party and then heading west up Chatsworth road towards our destination at Grindleford Carnival for our second visit.
After a short journey we arrived at the carnival site and our coach was soon guided into position in the small car park, whereby within minutes the thirsty element were backtracking on foot up the hill back to the only pub in the village which happened to be at the opposite end up the hill for a swift ‘half’ or so they said. Meanwhile the rest of the members took the time to make a quick circuit of the stall area with Natalie heading a number of members to the pavilion were she knew the cream cakes and buns were lined up waiting to be sampled along with a cup of tea before the time came to change into uniforms. Thirst quenched and cream cakes devoured the band prepared to head the parade of fancy dress participants the short walk up the road to the garage and back to the carnival field led by the carnival queen and her retinue.
Whilst the rest of the parade contingency made their way back onto the field the band headed for the arena entrance in preparation for the display, although the arena shape wasn’t exactly as we would have liked for the programme it was the best the organisers could do. Following the official announcement of the bands history and honours the band took to the field with their 16 minute programme of entertainment which the gathering villagers around the cordoned area were quite taken up with, giving an enthusiastic round of applause at the conclusion.
Not only were the crowd pleased with the programme the band members themselves were justifiably proud of their presentation and the photographs taken during the programme endorse this fact with good lines and spacing very evident. After receiving the grateful praise from the organiser the band headed off towards home intent on enjoying the rest of the afternoon socialising at the ‘Hollingwood’ with a buffet supplied by our genial host and drum major until the time for our Eastwood party to get back on the coach and head back up the M1 for home.

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