1950

Alex tells Mr. D he wants to marry a cue card girl but he doesn’t have enough money to buy an engagement ring. Mr. D gives him the money. Squirt plays Don Quixote on his trumpet. Bill meets his future wife coming back on the ship. Harold Fielding is in the audience at their Golders Green show in London. Michael, Ron, Murray and Ron the four musketeers, meet Bobby Gimby. Ron, Gordon, Arnold and Barry form a village band. The Four Notes are a big hit. The boys dance at the Winter Gardens with their capes flowing. There is 21 folders of music to learn.

The next trip to England is in full swing at General Gordon and Lillie and Arthur are just about to board the train to Quebec City. Lillie is looking forward to seeing Gordon in Toronto who along with Walter is organizing their concerts. Both know they will be well looked after in Toronto and hope the first part of the trip will go equally as smooth. It doesn’t take long for the boys to realize the first indication of being famous.  In Swift Current, there is a crowd of over two thousand people standing in the rain waiting for their concert. In Toronto upon departure Walter and his wife Eve and Gordon are all down at the train station to say goodbye.

On board the Samaria, the Delmont’s like to pull in a boy from the band to make up a fourth for bridge. The boys need to teach themselves to play bridge in case they are chosen. Cyril is the chosen one on this voyage. The boys always play badly because there is no one to teach them. Strangely, Delamont doesn’t get that mad when Cyril plays the wrong card. Seems he is only cantankerous when it comes to the music. Then he can really lose it.

The big event this trip is the Oosterbeek Music Festival in Holland. They are met and filmed in Tilsbury by Pathe News. Then they embark on a five month tour of England and Holland.

At one of their more lively concerts, some of the boys go into a nearby pub at intermission. Arnold who isn’t used to drinking gets quite drunk on one glass. He is the third in a trio that is up next so the other two boys help him on stage. Who knew he would not be able to stand up after only one drink. Arthur looks at them curiously especially Arnold. Luckily he is able to get through the solo. The two boys are heroes. Delamont is suspicious.

In Holland, the boys are greeted as VIPs! Seems the townspeople of Hillegom didn’t get a chance to thank the Canadian troops before they left during the war so they decide to officially thank the band. Applauding crowds and bouquets of flowers as well as a pair of wooden shoes for each boy leaves them all speechless, until they are told why. At the Oosterbeek Music Festival held on an airborne landing field near the city of Arnhem they win double gold against bands from Great Britain, Holland, France and Denmark.

In Scotland, the city has forgotten they hired them. The mayor and all the aldermen have gone out of town for Glasgow Fair Week. Finally, someone scrapes up a list of parks but they have no idea where they are or how to get to them. They have 21 folders of music. Which ones should they play?

All over London there are huge billboards announcing the boys which makes them feel like real big shots. On August 3^rd they have their picture taken in front of Victoria monument. The next evening, their boss Harold Fielding is in the audience for their show at the Golder’s Green. Mr. D is in a good mood when they play large theatres because the boys do their best and he can put it over so well.

And of course Ireland.

Quotes from Ambassadors of Empire, Season 3 Episode1:

“I’m Bobby Gimby.”

“Cyril, we need a fourth player for our bridge game.”

“Oh, the most exciting part was the train ride across Canada.”

“It really is a treat to hear us play even if I do say so myself. Since we landed in England we have signed hundreds of autographs and have been treated like kings.”

“We could not have survived for any longer.”

“Do you realize that when we played in Glasgow and we thought we were always going to the same park, we actually played at a different park each day?”

“Boy it was a fast train.”

“We’ve never heard anything like your band.”

“The 39 member band is amazing theatre-goers here as it plays classics and jazz with equal skill.”

“I don’t think in England one would often come across a boys’ band of such outstandingly good precision. They are uncommonly good.”

“Here there lads what are you up to?”

“All of a sudden, ‘dead ahead,’ there comes a bus. No lights! There was a sign on it saying it was not picking up any passengers. The Bobbie gets out in front of the bus and puts his hand up and tells the driver, “Drop these lads off down the road a piece.”

“I want to marry her and I want to take her back to Canada. How can I do that? I don’t even have enough money to buy an engagement ring!”

“This young man thought he was a good trumpet player. We will give him one more chance at it but he sure mucked it up that time. He won this trophy that I am not so sure he deserved.”

“A half an inch too short.”

“What is your name?” Bill’s got these two giant cymbals and he says,“BBBBBill Good sir!” Ah Mr. William Good, I would like you and the rest of the orchestra to know that you are one of the finest cymbal players I have ever heard.” Arthur Fiedler

“Why would you hire a symphony drummer?” Herriot’s reply: “Because he is the best drummer around, that’s why. He is the only guy I know who can keep time and swing a big band. He is so good!”