On The Road 2008 Rolls Into Teignmouth

After some free time and rehearsals, BYBA’s South Coast Tour was "on the road" and rolled into Teignmouth to perform at the Den, a grassy area on the sea front, adjacent to the River Teign estuary.

At 4pm on Wednesday 30th July, Bob and June Girvan set about marking out an arena, whilst Paul and Christine Cartwright set up the BYBA stall and started to handed out flyers to passing locals and holidaymakers. By 6pm, all three units had arrived, were unloaded and warming up. Meanwhile MC Mark had background music from "The Cadets" playing from the PA system.

At 6:30pm, Poynton Commodores led the parade down the esplanade and into the Den, followed by the Northern Star Group, and Warwick Girls.

Warwick Girls entertained the growing crowd with their Mika production, first of all, which went down a treat. Great musicianship and crisp drill got tonight’s programme off to a good start, with the members smartly dressed in red tunics and black pants.

Next up, Northern Star Group’s "High School Musical" basketball routine, followed by the guard’s british weather theme dressed in tourquoise and white. Their program was extended since it’s first outing by adding Mr. Blue Skies as an encore to the medley of weather tunes. Tourquoise and varying blue silks, plus rainbow umbrella’s provided for a fast-paced crowd pleasing show.

NSG’s Big Band performed Mission Impossible complete with electric keyboard and accoustic guitar. Another crowd pleaser.

With eager anticipation and the crowd building, Poynton Commodores warmed up off the back of the arena under the command of Greg Hampson, playing to the people in the properties at the back of the Den if they were watching Coronation Street!!

Poynton gave a slick marching and music show in full uniform of green, white and black, and the Tapistry of Life just gets better and better!!

NSG’s Samba Band proved to be very entertaining with a number of features in concert, with an on-form Stevo who danced in and out of the audience, much to the delete of the young kids in the audience (perhaps his groupies).

Rob Andrews, Bandmaster 1st Ibstock Scout and Guide Band, who is on holiday in the area, said "this was great night for the kids and BYBA".

The Finale saw an extra touch being added to the Tour program, with a combined ensemble performance of Bjork’s Dancer in the Dark. Conducted by Poynton Commodores, we heard a building percussive intro leading to some great wind voices from all three units playing as ONE. That’s what BYBA’s all about!!

Next stop, Newquay in Cornwall on Friday.