U.S. NAVAL BAND

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31062, 18 May 1966, Page 4

U.S. NAVAL BAND

March Through City

The pomp, splendour and precision of a United States naval band came to Christchurch when the band of the United States Pacific Fleet marched through city streets yesterday. To the accompaniment of martial music, they marched from Victoria square to the City Council Chambers in Manchester street, drawing large crowds as they went They were officially welcomed to Christchurch outside the Council Chambers by the Mayor (Mr G. Manning) before marching along Manchester and Worcester streets to Cathedral square, and then along Colombo street, Cashel street and Cambridge terrace to the Provincial Council Chambers.

The band then gave a 40minute concert to an audience of several hundred on the banks of the Avon river outside the Provincial Council Chambers. It was a warm breezy day, and the large crowd gathered on both banks of the Avon river and on Oxford terrace. The band played with precision and exuberance, earning warm applause from the audience. The Pacific Fleet band also gave a 30-minute concert at the Princess Margaret Hospital at 3 p.m., and another concert at the Cholmondeley Home, Governor’s Bay, later in the afternoon. The band is accompanying Vice-Admiral P. H. Ramsey, Deputy Chief of Naval Operations (Air), United States Navy, who is in New Zealand to take part in commemorative functions marking the twenty-fourth anniversary of the Battle of the Coral Sea.