New colours for the Royal Marines

[truebrit]

Sacha wrote in message ...
>We've just watched a spectacular ceremony of the giving of the new
>colours to the Royal Marines by the Duke of Edinburgh. It took place
>at Plymouth Hoe (out with the hanky, Mrs H) with some wonderful music
>from the Band of the Royal Marines, excellent marching, forming the
>hollow square etc. and the moving ceremony of the 'saying goodbye' to
>the old colours and the blessing and dedication of the new ones.
>Afterwards, they marched through Plymouth's Royal Parade and Union
>Street back to the Stonehouse Barracks. Thousands turned out to
>watch, standing 5 or 6 deep in the streets, though the audience on the
>Hoe was and invited one. The Duke went walkabout a little, chatted to
>some old friends, too and was whisked off to stand on a podium with
>the Lord Mayor of Plymouth who was also in all his finery of robes,
>chain of office and tricorne hat. It was a wonderful display of
>pageantry and modern relevance - very lump-in-the-throat making!
>One lovely little aside was that on one morning just before today's
>ceremony, rehearsals had to start at 4am for some reason. One of the
>citizens of Plymouth had somehow missed the information on this and
>charged outside absolutely furious, dog on a lead, crimson with fury
>only to back off rather quickly when he realised that the RM sergeant
>major he was about to shout at was backed up by a company of 300 Royal
>Marines tagging along behind him!
>--
>Sacha
>S. Devon
>www.garden.demon.co.uk
==============
sniff sniff......Thanks old bean for the update :-) My sister said that
security had been busy preparing for the DoE visit all week, and that
downtown was essentially a no go area today, and like you, said there was a
very good turnout. I just love the Promenade area there, perfect for such
a ceremony, makes a nice little walk too. Best time of the day is early
morning, no crowds, no traffic, just the sound of the gulls and the fishing
boats heading out to the Sound and to the open waters beyond - chug chug
chug, ever so softly. Ahh it's awfully hard having feet in two places at
once.
Mrs H

Devonshire 101
Oh where be that blackbird,
Where be that blackbird be?
He be up that apple tree, thats where 'e be.
He see's I, and I see's 'e,
I gotta stick, and I'll 'ave 'e.
Blackbird, I'll 'ave 'e!

'orrible innit?