It all began with a committee crazed plan to get hideously drunk (just nobody tell Karen this) and incorporate some playing away from Cambridge. Luckily it all ended successfully and we even remember most of it.

So perhaps the decision to tour the Northeast of England in March was not an inspired one. North Yorkshire is not exactly renowned for its sunny climes, but the decision was made and so tour we did. Appreciative audiences, cheap beer and general al round pleasant company made for a great weekend.

On Friday morning when the coach rolled up we weren't ready. Having established the extent of the driver's sense of humour, thirty minutes later we still weren't ready. Paul and bass clarinet duly arrived. The journey north was uneventful. I personally was shocked that we had organised such a feat, everyone else was merely shocked by the bleakness of the weather and the prospect of an outdoor concert that same afternoon, but play we did. Lincoln city centre was damp, cold and windy, and I swear that of the 150 fliers I handed out not one person actually made it to the concert.

Friday evening, despite being in St. Swithin's Church, was not much warmer than the afternoon's concert. Saxilby Youth Band provided an enthusiastic if overlong accompaniment to our programme, and by the end of the evening we had made £60.36 for Comic Relief. The evening was rounded off with a swift pint and bag of chips down the local, wherever that may have been.

Following a rather impressive breakfast at Lincoln Youth Hostel we set off for Harrogate where we were to play in Christ Church to kick start their spring concert season. Harrogate itself was even colder than Lincoln but luckily the church was warmer. Christ Church choir performed first, impressing us with their youthful talent. Our own programme was, of course, very different to our hosts but was nevertheless well-received and by this point we had adapted very well to playing in a smaller group, except maybe for 'trombones', but we've probably argued that out already.

Following the concert we made a hasty departure for York and our evening's accommodation. Unfortunately the majority seemed to agree that food was more important than last orders (what are they like?), but we did return tot he youth hostel in order to build a floor-to-ceiling Jenga tower before bed. Cambridge engineers will always be Cambridge engineers(!)

On Sunday it snowed. Unsurprisingly York too was cold and our audience at St. Olave's somewhat depleted. Fortunately the talent provided by St. Peter's school Chamber Choir and Barbershop group was ample compensation. Following the concert and a rather long trek across York, we were in time to deposit belongings at the somewhat interesting York Youth Hotel before congregating in a completely empty pub for last orders. Methinks there was something dodgy going on there, especially as the locals in a very full pub had directed us to it.

Amazingly, after phoning round every Chinese restaurant in York (all three) we managed to find a place willing to accommodate us for a sit down meal at 11pm on a Sunday night. Arriving there already merry we then negotiated a sensible price and way too much food - wheeling and dealing an optional extra. The faux-pas that ensued were certainly a result of the wine. See quotes page for intricate details.

Dodgy showers did not aid the pounding in my head the next morning, so naturally I decided to punish myself further. Our free morning in York saw the majority of us, including Paul the bus driver, experience the grotesque horrors of York Dungeons. Certain methods may indeed be adopted at future rehearsals.

The journey home was long and sad, but a pick-me-up meal at the Maharajah was the light at the end of the tunnel. It seems in fact the eating turned out to play a major part in the tour in general.

Oh well, task accomplished and enjoyed as well as much to build on for next year.

Kate Marshall (Chairperson), April 2001