After an overnight ferry crossing, we headed straight down to Allonnes, just outside of Saumur, where we would be staying in La Boumelle Gîtes. Every year we are very kindly put up by Joyce and Dave, who have become very good friends of the band.

We had some time to unpack and take a look around the Gites. Soon we put on our uniforms and headed out to Turquant, a troglodyte village. A large portion of the village is built into the cliff edge, and caves. Turquant is an impressive place to be and the residents were very welcoming. We marched and played a few tunes to the on looking crowds before stopping so our friends from Elan Saumurois could play a few. This served as a very nice welcome and start to France 2011. The owner of a local bar even fetched a cardboard cut out of Price William and Kate, which joined the audience!

Once we finished playing, we packed up our instruments and were treated to food and drink put on by the bar.  The whole evening was a great experience and a swift reminder of just how hospitable the people of France can be.

We headed back to the Gites and went to bed, it had been a long day!

Today we had some time to kill. We spent the morning chilling out, playing some games and planning the finer details of the rest of our week.

In the afternoon we got our gear ready and headed down the road to Vernoil-le-Fourier. We unloaded from the coach and marched down to the town centre where we stopped and played to the audience that was gathering. We played a selection of tunes and then the Drum Section unveiled a new drum solo for the first time to the public.

We marched back up to the town hall, where we put our kit away and headed inside. We were thanked by the Mayor and treated to snacks and drinks. After getting the chance to mingle with some of the people from the town, we loaded back onto the coach and headed back to the Gites.

Once back at the gites we played a few games in the field, had a hot drink and headed to bed as we had a busy day ahead of us.

Today the Quarterjacks were playing in Saumur. We had our breakfast, got our kit together and headed out to Saumur. We formed up and marched in front of the Marie, where we played to the gathered audience, the Mayor of Saumur and his staff.

After blasting out some of our most powerful pieces, we headed upstairs where we were thanked by the Mayor and his staff and once again treated to snacks and drinks. The Quarterjacks were also each given a T-Shirt as a thank you. We spent some time chatting to the various guests and staff before heading back to the Gites.

Soon, most of the members were up in the field playing games and chilling out. Before long though we were getting our gear together and heading back out to Saumur.

We formed up and marched down Rue Saint-Nicolas, where we met up with our friends from l’Elan Saumurois. They marched back up Rue Saint-Nicolas and we followed shortly after. We continued to follow them through the centre of Saumur, down streets and past shops. We stopped in an area surrounded by restaurants, cafes and bars, filled with people. L’Elan Saumurois and the Dorset Youth Marching Band stood side by side, taking it in turn to play various tunes to the on looking crowds.

Once we had finished playing, Elan Saumurois headed back to their coach, and we followed on behind, making our way to ours. We rejoined them at their practice hall, where the Quarterjacks had the chance to mingle with the Saumurois members. We were treated to bread that’s cooked over coals. This can then be ripped open and filled with a variety of sweet and savoury fillings. Several of the leaders were making sure they got the recipe before they left. There were a few games of football, some dancing, lots of picture taking and as usual, everybody was just leaping over the language barrier without an issue!
After a great night, we all piled back into the coach and headed back to the Gites for a good night sleep. We had another long day ahead!

The Quarterjacks spent the morning playing a few games up in the field and just chilling whilst listening to some music. In the afternoon we headed over to Decathlon and the Hypermarket to stock up on food and drink for the BBQ we were hosting later that evening.

Once back at the gites, we got our kit together and headed out to Saumur. Today we were marching along Av du Général de Gaulle, across the bridge and into the main shopping precinct of Saumur. We played a few tunes and then stopped at a bar for a drink before heading back to the gites.

We quickly finished setting up for the BBQ as the guests started to arrive. First to arrive were our friends from Avenir Allonnais. The Quarterjacks were lucky enough to meet Allonnais on our first visit to France in 2006, we instantly hit it off and have seen them every year since. Before we knew it, they had their instruments out and played through some very recognisable pieces to entertain the guests. Before long Elan Saumurois had arrived. The Quarterjacks, Avenir Allonnais, Elan Saumurois and other guests from past trips were all at the BBQ chatting and socialising. Soon Elan Saumurois were up and performing through various pieces to the guests, which went down brilliantly.

Once most had eaten, the Majorettes from Elan Saumurois showed off a display put together for the Quarterjacks. They even had D-Y-M-B on their backs as they lined up during the display. We soon had our instruments on and were playing to the guests. The drummers received plenty of applause during their new drum solo, which seemed to impress.
After a while, the guests started heading their separate ways and we cleared away. It was a brilliant night and great fun for all involved.

We had a slow morning, just gradually getting ready, and packing up the bits and pieces we weren’t using, as it was our last full day in France.

We headed in to Allonnes for the afternoon, where we met up with Avenir Allonnais at their Bandmaster’s farmhouse. We headed in and chatted and played some games before falling in and playing through a few tunes to our friends. Before long we were eating a lovely lunch, complete with hog roast and a mix of salads and sides. It was a brilliant meal.
Following that, Avenir Allonnais played some of their pieces for a while, which was very entertaining. The style of music in France is very different to that in the UK and it’s refreshing to see and hear such a different style.

We spent some more time with Allonnais during the afternoon, chatting and reminiscing. We left at around 4pm and headed into Saumur where we were playing our final performance.
Soon we were marching down Rue Saint-Nicolas again, where we met up with Elan Saumurois and proceeded to march back through the busy streets of Saumur playing to the residents and tourists alike. As we marched through the town we spotted some of Avenir Allonnais had come along to watch. Soon we had finished our playing for the last time of France 2011, we packed up our instruments, said our goodbyes to the members of Allonnais, and headed back to the Saumurois practice hall.

Once again, we were treated to food and drink from Elan Saumurois. After spending the evening socialising with the band we said our farewells and headed back to the gites. We had a long day of travelling ahead of us, so went to bed for a good night’s sleep.

We rose bright and early. After a light breakfast, we finished packing everything away. All the kit was taken down to the front gates, the lunches were packed for the journey and the Quarterjacks packed up a bag for the changing weather during the day.

Doug and Rachel walked down the road and picked up the coach. Before long it was here, we loaded up all the kit and were preparing to load onto the coach. Then the coach started displaying warning lights and alarms. An ominous black puddle was found and after some investigating the offending leak was found. With a lot of kind help from a local transport company, we were able to find a replacement part. But it wasn’t going to be fixed in time. So, we suddenly had an extra day in France.

The sun was beaming down, so we made good use of the pool! The day was very relaxing, just chilling out, playing in the pool, on the field etc. It was a brilliant day in the glorious sunshine!

Simon and Vicky were able to get hold of the new part Doug replaced it without an issue.

After a relaxing day, we tucked into dinner a spent some time just chilling out. Soon we were off to bed, we had a long day of travelling ahead of us… hopefully!

Once again, we were up bright and early to load up the coach. Soon it was loaded and Quarterjacks were on board and with no leaks this time!

Before too long we were on the ferry and heading back to the UK.

This was a truly brilliant trip. We spent a great week, in an excellent country with some brilliant people. A huge thank you goes to all those who made the trip possible, to the brilliant hosts over in France and of course, to Dave and Joyce Harding for putting us up for the week.

Be sure to watch the video of the highlights from France 2011!