Following their 5th place at the National Championships in 1973, the band was invited to take part in the 1974 Brass Championship of the World Music Contest in Kerkrade, Holland.
Unfortunately euphonium player Neil Peters was taken ill and was in such a state that he could not take part in the marching contest. Courtney Berryman took his place and remembered the judges walking beside the Band and taking account of any little imperfections in either the marching or the playing.
He said, “It took place in a Dutch football stadium and we played The Standard of St George. We were placed second behind a German band which we thought was a good result.”
He said, “It took place in a Dutch football stadium and we played The Standard of St George. We were placed second behind a German band which we thought was a good result.”
Neil recovered for the test piece contest when each band had to play two pieces. The set test piece was played by all the bands but two other pieces had to be brought to the contest and it wasn’t until the players were on stage and ready to start that they knew which piece they would have to play.
Camborne’s two pieces were Triumphant Rhapsody and Le Roi d’Ys and with Neil Peters still feeling a bit unwell the players were relieved to hear it was the former. Competing against a number of good bands, including William Davies Construction under John Berryman, Camborne came out on top and were crowned champions.
Mike Hocking recalled the final stages of the journey home with car drivers acknowledging the win from Indian Queens all the way back to Camborne. After a brief stop at the Crossroads Motel to change into their uniforms the players assembled at the top end of the town. Band Queen Margaret Ellis led the march down through Trelowarren Street to The Cossack – what else?
Mike said, “It was evening time and the reception laid on in Commercial Square was something really special”. One particular banner in the jubilant crowd seemed to sum up the feelings of the town, it simply said, “We are proud”.
It seems that the players were lucky to make it back to Camborne. The return trip took them to Le Havre to catch the ferry. They were already late when the driver followed a direction sign off the main route on to a narrow country road. The dust was flying but in the distance they could see the port. Approaching a narrow bridge he ploughed on and the coach bounced across the surface of what seemed like sleepers. It was only when the passengers looked back that they realised that it was only supported by poles and was intended for bicycles and pedestrians.
by Tony Mansell, June 2013