Christmas Fayre 2017

The 17th Pals’ were proud to once again be invited to participate in the Highams Park Christmas Fayre. The band was asked to initially form up in the station car park and to commence playing as the assembled group of cyclists made their way from the Library to Signal Walk – the pedestrian area outside Tesco, via the railway level crossing. However, just as the band struck up the weather, which was forecast to be poor that afternoon, took a turn for the worst as a steady downpour began to fall.

Following the parade of cyclists, the band turned to the right and marched through the car park to the junction with the level crossing. Upon reaching the crossing the gates came down leaving the band standing at the halt in the rain for the train that was due to arrive. Never did four or five minutes seem so long as the rain did its best to saturate the 17th Pals’, fortunately the band were wearing the new jerseys that had been recently purchased for use in inclement weather which helped in preventing the shirts worn underneath being saturated.

Courtessy of Malcolm Shykles

As soon as the gates lifted, the band marched across to Signal Walk and then fell out and took shelter in the entrance to Tesco awaiting the call to perform.

Despite the awful weather a decent sized crowd had assembled so it was important not to let them down, so upon the command the band formed up and marched to the designated area to perform an excellent repertoire in the pouring rain. It has to be said there was a sense of achievement felt by everyone in the band having completed the performance, particularly considering the conditions.

After falling-out, the band made its way to the home of Bass Drummer Sandeep Christian, who once again made his home available for a well-earned social gathering for the band and friends, during which the piano was given a good outing, playing many seasonal tunes and carols, along with songs from the time of the Great War.