SHOW REPORT
QUEEN'S BIRTHDAY SALUTE NORTH EAST AIRCRAFT MUSEUM, SUNDERLAND
20 - 22 APRIL 2012
DAY 1:
Steve and the clan, set off at warp speed (new turbo, don't you know!), for the far north, in the M type & Arrows trailer, arriving just
after 10:00hrs. The crew consisted of Steve, Shaz, Big J, Sean and Joe.
The trailer was promptly unloaded, and just as all the kit was on the ground....the heavens opened -that's what I call timing!
Not to worry, several basha's sorted it, and we proceded to unroll the acres of cam net ("The Tatty Field"). With an ever growing list of
members on "Biff Chits", we were seriously under-manned, so a record set up was not on the cards.
The nets slowly went up and canvas quickly followed, the disco was next.
Music on... it was time for some scoff and a brew.
Hutch and some of the museum staff came for a chat, and after a quick catch up, we got stuck into the rest of the canvas setup.
without too much hassle, everything went up according to the "Masterplan". Shaz got into the "Field Aid Station" display, while
everyone else got their homes sorted.
By 16.00hrs, all the displays were setup, and we sat back with brews to wait for Rob and Ian's Landy's to arrive.
Paul arrived with the Mobat and the Gazelle, looking very sexy in her new paint, and was immediately parked under the nets.
The evening repast was taken as, Rob, Ian and Boots arrived and rolled their vehicles under nets, they got their kit sorted, and we all retired to the "Ops" tent for the evening.
Everyone got caught up, and a few tins were opened, surprised!, A good end to a good day.
DAY 2:
Breakfast was on the go at 08:00hrs, sky was a bit overcast, but at least it wasn't raining, OOOPS, it is now!, but it faired up a bit and we did
the fine tuning to the displays, it was decided to erect the workshop tent over the Bergen and Webbing displays because of the weather, especially
as, the Brass had just been "Guptered".
The other displays arrived, The British Legion Veterens Bikers, Sea cadets, Air Cadets, and The Royal British Legion, and then the punters started
arriving. A lot more than I expected with the bad weather, but here they were.
L/Cpl Price a casualty in the Aid Station (I'll leave you to figure out which one), got plenty of attention, she had more gropes
than a big bag of gropey things!
The Salute got under way, the band played, announcements were made, gun drills carried out, everyone being warned that it would be loud and to
cover the ears of the young.......FIRE!!!!!
CLICK................MISFIRE! (The only sound to be heard after the deafening click was.."Bollocks". Not sure who said it but it was louder that the gun!)
Misfire drills were carried out, and the Salute was postponed for 20 minutes while it was sorted out.
Apparently the Supreme being thought it would be funny to intervene, and the skies opened with a monsoon-like down pour.
The Band bailed into the Aid Station, the Legion into the Ops tent, and 100 visitors tried to squeeze into the Workshop tent.
As the rain beat down, Hutch and the gun crew were sorting out the misfire. The rain finally let up after about 15 minutes,
and everyone was ready to try again.
Gun drills, then FIRE!
The crowd must have been expecting another click, but were quite stunned at the sound that eminated from the barrel! There
was a tremendous BANG, and the whole crew, gun included disappeared in a cloud of smoke!
The salute continued, a couple of more misfires, but it was put down to bad primers, and the rounds were completed.
The Royal British Legion representatives took over, and the flags were lowererd, as the cadet buglers played the Last Post.
This was followed by two minutes silence, which was well observed.
Everyone dispersed, and started wandering around the displays, but the rain started again, which tended to dampen people's
spirits. The public drifted off home, and we got set up for the evenings entertainment.
Scoff was prepared and enjoyed, then the tins were opened, music turned up...... Time to PARTAAAAAAY!
Rob-some & Jayrome, that infamous double act, had been held over for another season and opened the party with, quite possibly,
their best ever rendition of "I Believe".
People from the Museum, and other displays started to wander in, and soon the "Ops" tent, was standing room only.
Everyone tooks turns on the Karaoke, what was lacking in talent, was replaced by gusto and volume.
DAY 3:
Late start, but no punters really, so not a problem, so quick brekkie, as the punters started to show up.
More public than we expected, but not too frantic, so we got to play about with the display, fine tuning for the rest of the season.
The take down started at about 15:00hrs, and with the breeze, a lot of the kit had dried out, but still lots of work cleaning
for the next show.
Goodbyes were said, and we set off for home.
All in all, a great weekend, despite the weather, and special thanks to Paul, Sue, Thomas and Anna from the Museum, for a very enjoyable event!