Joint US Tour 2011


Harwich MA Portsmouth NH

One of the things that the band is most of proud is its affliation with the Royal British Legion and it has been through this affiliation that has made its relationship with its sister band - The Harwich RBL Brass Band - possible. Under the Royal British Legion's musical direction of Capt. David Cole MVO MMus ARAM RM relationships between bands has been greatly encouraged and it was at one of the RBL's massed bands concerts that it was decided that RBL Victory Brass and RBL Harwich Brass should form a relationshp with one another which over the years has become a bond that we consider unique. After several years of friendship and visiting each other to hold joint concerts in both Portsmouth and Harwich, RBL Victory Brass was invited to join RBL Harwich on their upcoming tour of the eastern seaboard of the USA. After 2 years of planning and preparation the two bands left Heathrow Airport on the 30th July 2011 to tour the US under the name of "The Royal British Legion Brass Band" with the permission and encouragement of Capt. Cole. After a 5 hour flight the bands touched down in Boston at 5:30pm local time and then travelled to Harwich MA to begin the first leg of the tour.

The bands stayed in the Ambassador hotel in South Yarmouth, MA for the first part of the tour which would be based in and around Harwich - the namesake of Harwich, Essex. The bands performed with the Harwich Town Band conducted by Peter Cobb at a local high school and also the Harwich Community Center after surviving a thunder storm. The people of Harwich MA made everyone feel extremely welcome and many players were sad to leaving. After leaving Harwich the bands made a short stop in Portsmouth NH, namesake of Portsmouth, Hampshire for a concert in Prescott Park which included a short presentation to promote a closer bond between the 2 cities.
New York JFKennedy Center