As the parade is timed to the second, it was very important to be ready on time, so the band was formed up well before we were due to take our place in the parade. It is split into two halves; the outgoing one is the one that is covered on TV on the BBC, and the return leg takes place a bit later in the afternoon. Usually the BB/GB doesn’t seem to get a huge amount of coverage, but this year we did get on TV for a short time, as the clip below shows:
After the outwards journey, we had a break for lunch outside the old Aldwych Station, before reforming on Victoria Embankment to head back. Despite it being a long march, it is definitely an enjoyable day for all and great to get some publicity for the BB and GB to the thousands of people lining the streets to watch, and the millions of people watching the event on TV.
Written by Tom Boorman