GASS   

        The Gentlemen's Ale Sampling Society

        1982-2017  35 YEARS OF BEERS

APRIL MEETING

Organisor - JB

GASS MILITARY BAND

With The Band of The Royal Engineers

The band kindly taught GASS how to play their instruments.

MINUTES BY GUEST SECRETARY - AND PROFESSIONAL JOURNALIST - STEVE RICHES

Formed in 1856, they've been through a lot, have the Band of the Corps of Royal Engineers.
Wars and famines, bombs and bullets, pests and pestilence.

And then it was 2011. April 5, to be honest.
And the assorted band that is GASS waddled through the gates of their Brompton HQ, fuelled by a couple of glasses of Bricey Brew.

Corps blimey.

So you think nothing could sound as bad as Those Magnificent Men In Their Poxy Flying Machines? Think again.

For all the efforts of the excellent band boss, Craig, and his supremely talented musicians,
GASS plumped depths not even plumbed by submarines at the adjoining Chatham Dockyard.

As a night out, it was one of the GASS goodies. Organised by JB, but not in a brewery and therefore accompanied by liquid,
it involved all the things GASS are good at. Drinking, talking and eating.

As an Army musical exercise, it was a military disaster not experienced since Arnhem.

Long will loom in the memory the sight of Hugh hovering over £150,000-worth of xylophone like a praying mantis.
And that was before he'd finished glugging £85-worth of Harvey's finest.

Or of Ringo Mankelow whacking things with sticks, a whole gaggle of GASSers blowing their own trumpets (not for the first time)
and a couple of silly pluckers on double basses.

Lord knows what music was played, but it was it was fun. Which is kind of the point.

The bandsmen were good enough to accompany us back to our KGV quarters
where Mrs Brice had been absorbed in making fine curries to absorb accompanying further beer. And sherry.

Thanks to the boys in the band and our condolences on your imminent disbandment.
You're more X Factor than ex factor in our neck of the woods.

VIDEO BY GUEST CAMERMAN - TONY MANKELOW - ON HIS NEW 'FLIP' VIDEO CAMERA
 

Thanks to John and Diane at the King George V Public House for dinner and drinks afterwards