Following the success of the 1947 tour, it was with great enthusiasm that the band accepted the opportunity for a return visit to Holland on 12th May 1961. The Musician report by Bandsman Harry Cutler gives further details.
A large company of relatives, comrade soldiers and representatives of other corps in the area gathered at Bournemouth Airport on the Friday evening to bid 'God speed' to Boscombe Band when it left for its tour of the Netherlands. The men were delayed for an hour when an engine fault was discovered after they had boarded the plane, but eventually Rotterdam Airport was reached and the unforgettable sight of the city's lights made the delay seem worthwhile.
Greeted by the Field Secretary (Lt. Colonel Philip van Dalen) and Major J.B. Hoevers, the bandsmen proceeded to Hague Congress Hall where, at 11.30pm, Dutch comrades waited to greet them.
The first festival of the tour was given in Scheveningen Prison, following which the visitors united with Hague Congress Hall Band (Dick Kruyt) for an openair meeting and experienced grand fellowship with the men.
In the evening the Boscombe bandsmen were happy to meet former Divisional Commander, now Chief Secretary for the Netherlands, Colonel Frederick Holland, who offered the territory's official welcome. Items included Army of the Brave and Melodies of Schubert and the congregation was quick to show its appreciation of the contributions made by Bandsmen Reg Tubbs (soprano: Maoriland) and Robin Andrews (trombone: Count Your Blessings), and Deputy Bandmaster Maurice Brotheridge (cornet: Happy Day).
Sunday, May 14th : Lt. Colonel Gladpootjes conducted the holiness meeting at Hague Congress Hall and the address was given by the Lt. Colonel Bramwell Mason. In the afternoon the band gave a programme in the 'Doelen Hall' at Delft and the Divisional Commander presided. Returning to the Hague, openair activity was followed by the salvation meeting led by Major Hoevers and addressed by Major Bertram Wells (CO at Boscombe); the day ended triumphantly with five seekers at the Mercy Seat.
Monday, May 15th : The day was spent in Rotterdam; a tour of the famous harbour was organised in the morning and free time in the afternoon gave the men opportunity for sightseeing. For the evening festival the spacious Rotterdam Congress Hall, seating 800 people, was filled to capacity. Band items included The King of Kings; it was a special pleasure to meet Bandmaster Voorn of that corps.
Tuesday, May 16th : The band travelled to Enkhuisen, on the Zuider Zee. This delightful little seaport maintains much of its old-world character and many of the 10,000 inhabitants came to see the British band. A reception was accorded the visitors by the Burgomaster, and later three local bands combined to march the Boscombe men to the church where the evening festival was attended by nearly 1,000 people. The Territorial Commander (Lt. Commissioner William F. Palstra) presided.
Wednesday, May 17th : The journey to Alkmaar took the band through the most rural part of Holland and, on arrival, the men were shown over a milk, factory where they we entertained to lunch. It was interesting to see the traditional Dutch costumes still worn in this area. The festival here too, created much interest.
Thursday, May 18th : The fine weather continued as the bandsmen set out for Wageningen, where they were greeted by the Divisional Commander for East Netherlands (Major Kruisinga). In the afternoon they made their second post-war pilgrimage to the Oosterbeek Military Cemetery, near Arnhem. The Chief Secretary (Colonel Frederick Holland) presided over the festival in the Junoshof. The corps numbers thirty soldiers, with no band, but the town band was on parade in honour of the occasion.
Friday, May 19th : The day started with a visit to the Orange Nassau Sanatorium at Wageningen, where the band played to the patients. Arriving later at Almelo, the bandsmen were entertained to tea at the town hail by the civic authorities before being marched to the church by the band attached to the Baptist community and the corps band. Both these sections revealed a high standard of musicianship. Pieces played included Melodies from Schubert; Bandsman Graham Coote was the cornet soloist in Wondrous Day and Bandsman Robin Andrews (trombone) played The Eternal Quest.
Saturday, May 20th : The men appreciated the presence of the Burgomaster as they left by coach for Groningen where, on arrival, they marched through crowd lined streets to the town hall to be received by the civic authorities. Later they were the guests of the Divisional Commander for North Netherlands (Major C.A. Verviaal).
In the afternoon a festival was given at the prison and the visitors were impressed by the words of appreciation, spoken in English by one of the prisoners. Later the bandsmen marched to the Harmonic Concert hall for the evening festival attended by more than 1,000 people who comprised a most appreciative congregation. Bandsman Reg Tubbs, who has been the soprano cornet player at Boscombe for twenty four years, was the evening's soloist.
Whit Sunday May 21st : Boscombe Band appreciated more fully the meaning of the Pentecostal story this morning for, although the languages spoken differed, the Salvationists were all with one accord in one place. Major J.B. Hoevers led a powerful holiness meeting and Brigadier Bertram Wells (CO at Boscombe) gave the address. Three corps in the area united for this meeting, which commenced at 9.30am, and Groningen Congress Hall Songster Brigade took part.
The afternoon programme was presented at Leeuwarden, in Friesland, and once again the large congregation gave the visitors a warm reception. The corps band, which entertained them to tea, possesses a brigade of drums, six of its members being women, and it was good to hear them. The responsibility for the Bible messages in each programme was shared by Lt. Colonel Bramwell Mason, Brigadier Wells, Band Sergeant William Legg and Assistant Band Sergeant Cyril Taylor.
An open-air meeting in the market place, attended by several hundred people, preceded the salvation meeting, in the newly decorated hall, which commenced at eight o'clock. It was well after 10pm when the band sang the Army doxology. Major Hoevers again led the meeting, in which Leeuwarden Songster Brigade participated, and the IHQ Representative (Lt. Colonel Mason) gave the address.
Monday, May 22nd : The final day of the tour commenced with the longest journey - over the great dam separating the North Sea and the Zuider Zee, and the bandsmen were glad of the opportunity to express their thanks to Major Hoevers, whose excellent organisation and genial personality had added greatly to the effectiveness of the campaign, and the coach driver, who spoke of the impression for good which the men had imparted.
On arrival in Amsterdam the bandsmen were the guests of the Territorial Commander. The Belle Vue, a hall seating 1,500 people, was crowded for the afternoon festival, the congregation proving to be among the most enthusiastic of the tour. For the final meeting the band was privileged to take part in the commissioning of the cadets of the 'Soldiers of Christ' Session in the famous Concertgebouw. Pieces played were Army of God and Constant Trust.
The Juliana Church, which was the venue for the evening's programme, possesses a fine organ and the bandsmen appreciated the organist's gesture in agreeing to play for them.
The tour completed, the Boscombe bandsmen left in the early morning rush hour for Schipol Airport. They appreciated the fact that Lt. Commissioner Palstra, Colonel Holland and Lt. Colonel Philip van Dalen (Field Secretary) were there to bid them farewell. Many memories of the ten-day campaign remain: those members of the band who took part in the previous visit to the Netherlands in 1947 noted the wonderful recovery made by the people of the country since then, a tribute to their tenacity and technical ability.
These qualities are reflected in the Salvationists, whose hospitality and kindness were so generously given to their British comrades. The morning devotional periods, held while travelling to appointments, were times of rich blessing and a deep sense of gratitude results from the fact that four of the five seekers during the initial weekend's activities were new to the Army.
Soon after their return, the Air Safaris' "Viking" aircraft in which they had flown was to he seen in a localscrapyard, where it had been purchased for £100 following the demise of the airline.
