Memories of Allan

Allan Burnett, our bandleader, venture leader and basically the essence of the community in South Bristol passed away on 1 January 2011 in a ballooning accident. It's one of those days you will never forget, the number of calls, text and emails in a few hours were testament to how many people knew Allan. Many of us joined Ravens Marching band as young as 8, we were still Brownies and cubs at the time when we met Allan. To say we were scared would be an understatement but as the funeral mentioned, Allan only had one volume. Some memories to never be forgotten (a lot written in my 1991 journal where i don't seem to have anything else in there apart from competitions!) -

1) Colerene - The weekend trips to Colerene where we practicised over and over again until it was perfect, it was cold and dusty in an aircraft hangar. In my journal, 1991 it states 'so far we only have 2 tunes, and i have to stay still' (I must have liked that to write it in the journal! All the brass have ribbons and we all weave into each other. I have no recollection of this at all :)

2) Competitions - Travelling around the country in old coaches that never seemed to work, or were always broke down. If you hit the head rest really hard, all the dust would come out. As a 10 year old, this was great fun. We travelled the 4 corners of England most weekends, to Havering, Peterborough, Truro, Midsomer Norton, Malverns, Sheffield, Ilfracombe....Memories of our plastic blue boxes being prepared for us by our dressers (mum was one of them) our shoes were constantly shined, tape was wrapped around their hands to get the fluff off our uniforms and the number of times my trumpet was rejected and i had to keep cleaning was numerous. Looking back through the programmes, it's no wonder we used to win every turnout! After inspection, and after your dreaded number was called and you had to stand still while someone stared at you for ages, the dressers would then cool us down with water in water sprays before going onto the field. There is nothing like the feeling you get when you take the first step into the competition arena and they called 'Ravens marching band' and we collect another trophy. The whole band would jump up in the air. Suprisingly won for songs like flashddance, hot hot hot, all night long (where we had to jiggle the hips and sing 'hey jambo jambo')

Ventures - There has always been rivalry between the two opposing scout groups in the area, so being in both groups was slightly controversial but I won't forget being invested by Allan on top of Avon Gorge. I still believe that the guiding and souting movement is so important for young people, I wouldn't change it for the world.

USA 1996 - Nothing was ever a problem and worth a try. Who would even consider taking a group of young people to Iowa, Illinois and Colorado for a few weeks? It was such an experience staying in a boy scout camp, spending 24 hours in the bus to get to white water rafting, sleeping outside on a park bench... Very few people in this would do this for others but everyone on the trip will cherish the memories we hold.

First aid training - Only Allan would set up such an elaborate role play for first aid training using his car, ventures screaming, a drugs overdose, a car accident with multiple victims. I was petrified!

I regard that New Years day as one of those days you will never forget, you know where you were when you were told the news. Allan was the heart of the community and his spirit will continue, through the people that consider him their mentor, through the people that cherish memories of Ravens Marching Band, Ventures and I just know I'm scratching the surface of the impact he had on people.

If we could all give even a fraction of what he gave, the world would be a better place.