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We met at Terminal 5, London Heathrow Airport at 9am, eventually taking off at 12.45 (over an hour late) with strong cross-winds creating a slalom feel down the runway!
On landing in Geneva, we were met by local Salvationists and given an impromptu tour of the city, including a drive-by of the United Nations building. Our destination was the small city of Morges, near Lausanne, where our concert was the first in a series of events to mark the corps' 120th anniversary. The venue, Temple de Morges, was a beautiful church with a lively acoustic. The capacity crowd enthusiastically received the band's programme with Derick Kane receiving a standing ovation for 'Scottish Folk Variants'. The programme included 'Fire in the Blood' (Paul Lovatt-Cooper) and 'Life Ablaze' (Steven Ponsford) and also featured Kevin Ashman and Carl Nielsen in Martin Cordner's cornet duet 'Synergy' and Richard Woodrow in Paul Sharman's flugel horn solo 'Soul-full'. The crowd's final standing ovation demanded two encores, including the band's signature march, 'Praise'.
A long day ended at 1.30am following a 2.5 hour coach trip to Hotel Geroldswil on the outskirts of Zurich and a much needed night's sleep!
Report by Richard Woodrow, Flugel Horn