Deutschland tuber alles!

Wandering brass . . . Greenfield Band take to the road on a trip to Germany

THE Greenfield Band has taken its sound of music on a journey to the former East Germany.

Boarding the coach at Greenfield Conservative Club, the 18-strong band — plus 10 fans — set off on their whirlwind adventure in a tradition that dates back 20 years.

The local brass band met their German counterparts The Klostermansfeld group when they came over for Whit Friday celebrations for the first time in 1989.

From the village of the same name, near Leipzig, the band made their first trip just months before the fall of the Berlin Wall.

Band secretary, Andy Clayton (46), said: “They stayed with us during their trip and said they’d never seen anything like the celebrations.

“We hit it off and we have seen them every two or three years since — our friendship has grown so much over the years.”

Escalating air prices have forced the group to take their instruments on a road-trip for the first time, in a 24-hour coach ride including a Hull to Rotterdam ferry crossing.

Andy, who plays the tuba, said: “Paying the excess baggage for our instruments has really pushed up the price. Some of the instruments are really large, but the coach will be a brilliant atmosphere.”

The travelling group, with members aged 12-65, will be playing a handful of concerts in the village.