My brass band, the Liss Band, is planning to go to the “Bandamonium” festival, based in Hatherleigh, Devon, in late July of the year we have just begun. It’s our 50th anniversary this year. And though I wasn’t quite a “founder member,” I did join the band in its first calendar year, 1974. And I’ve written a book to celebrate the band’s 50th. More on that (much) later.
The event is described as “the Whit Friday marches, but
without the marching.” So, each band is transported by coach around various
pubs, at each of which they play a brief programme. After playing, they have a
drink and move on to the next. At the end of the day, everyone meets in
Hatherleigh, and plays together. We might have as many as 20 bands.
I had a list of the six pubs from last year. I thought it might be a decent use of the New Year break to go and survey them. So, here they are. New Year’s Day was probably the worst day I could possibly have chosen, because not only was it a bank holiday, but a Monday too, on which most rural pubs these days would be closed anyway. So, all were closed except one. And the weather was… inclement would be a kind word.
The King’s Arms, South Zeal
The Green Dragon, Northlew
The New Inn, Sampford Courtenay
The Tally Ho, Hatherleigh
The George, Hatherleigh
The Half Moon, Sheepwash
This is hilly country, and not easy to navigate around. The
roads are narrow, complicated and confusing. It took me almost six hours,
starting from Exeter, to find all these pubs and then to get back to Exeter.
The coach drivers will surely earn their wages on Bandamonium Day!
Accommodation in the area is, to say the least, limited. And
as late July is peak season, it won’t be cheap either. Those who don’t want to
have to drive on the day will have either to book super early, or stay in the
same place as their “designated driver.”
The event will reach its climax in the evening in “The Square” in Hatherleigh. I confess I’m confused as to where it is. I found this place:
which is called the Market, and is neither square nor beautiful. And this one:
which is right next to the George. There is a public space
here. But fitting 20 bands, with more than 500 bandsmen, in here would be
impossible, at least to this former mathematician. Although this does look to
be where last year’s celebrations were held.
To add to the confusion, there is a new “Market Quarter” of
housing currently being built, which includes a new Market Square. This was
scheduled to be completed last year, but I couldn’t find evidence as to whether
or not it has actually happened.
Ah well, I’m sure Tim the organizer – who used to play with
us 40 years ago – will inform us all in due course.
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