News
Day 6 in London
Day 6 began with the reloading of the cargo container with all the equipment and uniforms to be sent back to the states. The container was deliverd to the docks in South Hampton at 1 pm on Saturday for the return shipment. It is scheduled to arrive back in Florence on or about the 25th of January. The rest of the day was spent sightseeing and making those all important souvenir purchases before the return trip back home. We watched the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace, toured the London Dungeon, checked out the crown jewels at the Tower of London, and rode the London Eye ferris wheel that gives a panoramic view for over 25 miles around London. Wake up calls are set for 4 am on Sunday as we prepare for our return flights. Half of the group leaves on Delta around 9:30 and the other half leaves on British Airways at 2 pm. –– Read More...
Day 5 in London
On day 5, the band loaded up for departure at 10 am for the parade staging area adjacent to the Ritz Hotel on Picadilly Street. The Grand Marshall announced the kickoff at noon and the Big Blue Falcon band took the city by storm as they began their part of the parade just after 2 pm. The parents and supporters followed right behind the band in an open top, double-decker tour bus. Emotions were high as the group performed 'St. Louis Blues' by Shoals native, W. C. Handy. Our assistant director, Matt Lentz, composed a special arrangement of the classic tune for the marching performance. The spectators lined the streets of London and danced away to the sound of blues filling the streets. –– Read More...
Day 4 in London
Day 4 started with a trip to the 5000 year old Stonehenge formation outside of Salisbury. Afterwards, we continued on the Bath to tour the Roman bath house which still has the hot springs filling the tubs today. The city was founded around 54 A.D. and still includes many of the original buildings of that era. Thursday night the group had dinner at the hotel and then met with the 4 other bands to finish preparations for the grand finale performance at the parade. The groups worked for just over an hour to out the finishing touches on the music and work out the logistics of the parade route. Later that evening the bands enjoyed a New Year's Eve party complete with a DJ and refreshments in the King's Suite Ballroom, a 30,000 square feet facility in the hotel. We counted down the start of 2010 with over 750 people dancing the night away. –– Read More...
Day 3 in London
The FHS band spent Wednesday in London touring the historic city of Windsor and the World Famous Castle that has been the country side residence and fortress of the British Monarch for over 900 years. The group enjoyed a tour of the fabulous Royal Apartment that serves as guest quarters for world dignataries when visiting London. During the afternoon, the band played their second performance of the trip in Trafalgar Square at the base of the 185 feet tall statue of Lord Admiral Nelson who defeated the the French and Spanish in 1805. Some 10,000 people filled the area as the Big Blue Falcon band entertained the crowd. The evening saw the group having dinner at a traditional English pub followed by a sensational performance of "Phantom of the Opera" at Her Majesty's Theatre. This was truly a wonderful day for the entire group of students and parents. –– Read More...
"Marching on London" news, videos available on WAAYTV.com
A new page on WAAY TV-31's website has been set up to host videos and news related to the band's trip to London. On this page you can find news updates, weather forecasts of England, and videos by WAAY's Barry Hiett. –– Read More...
Day 2 In London
Day 2 in London saw the FHS band take a guided bus tour of London including Picadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square, Big Ben, Kensington Palace, Prince Albert's monument, The London Eye, The Tower Bridge, and many other historic sites. We had lunch in Leicester Square and then road the Tube (Subway) back to the hotel. For the evening the band played a concert at the famous St. John's Church in Smith's Square. –– Read More...
Day 1 In London
Day 1 in London has the Florence Falcon Blue Big Marching Band arriving and getting settled in the hotel. –– Read More...
From the Podium
Hello! My name is John Bradley, and I am the Director of Bands at Florence High School. It is a great pleasure for me to welcome you to our web page. Florence High School grew out of the union of Bradshaw High School and Coffee High school, the two high schools which had previously served the students of Florence Alabama. When these two schools were joined to form Florence High School, a completely new identity had to be developed. As a result, we are now the Florence Falcons, and the band is known as the "Big Blue" Falcon Band. –– Read More...