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The Shamrock Dublin Gazette- Issue #08
Kennedy High School, La Palma, California 90623
Friday, January 30, 2004
Countdown to Departure: 40 Days
Current Email Subscribers: 101
Current Temperatures & Time 6:00am Here & 2:00pm There
Dublin: 43 Degrees - Light Rain - Wind at 6mph
Limerick: 50 Degrees - Mostly Cloudy - Wind at 10mph
London: 45 Degrees - Mostly Cloud - Wind 15mph
Henri Soucy, Editor
http://www.kennedyband.org
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IN THIS ISSUE
(1) A Word from Henri
(2) Globetrotting Shamrock Regiment Ireland Band
(3) The Ghost of Anne Boleyn
(4) Sightseeing in London
(5) Harrods, London's Third Most Visited Tourist Attraction
(6) Fund-Raising Review
(7) Schedule of Events
(8) Frequently Asked Questions
(9) Show me the Money
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A WORD FROM HENRI:
You all should have your airline and hotel information
packages by now. Mr. Anthony and Mr. Dudek have been
passing them out to the students all week long. I mailed a
package to each adult that does not have a student in the
band. If you still do not have one, please let me know.
Prior to 9-11 the instruments and accessories for an
overseas trip could be sent separately. Now everything
requires a name on it. Every single item. I provided the
details on Monday to Norman Travel International for
forwarding to Virgin Atlantic, British Midlands and Aer
Lingus. Norman Travel International will work any weight
limitation issues with the airlines.
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GLOBETROTTING SHAMROCK REGIMENT IRELAND BAND:
Bob Anthony let me know what the practice schedule in the
Band Room will be for the band leading up to the trip.
This time will be used to practice the songs that will be
played for the parades and concerts throughout Ireland.
Flyers will be available in the band room for the students
to take home.
Tuesday, February 2nd (7pm-9pm)
Tuesday, February 17th (7pm-9pm)
Tuesday, February 24th (7pm-9pm)
Tuesday, March 2nd (7pm-9pm)
A Special Open session on Monday, March 8th (7pm-9pm). The
band will be performing all of the songs to be played in
Ireland. All families are invited to come and listen to
the globetrotting Shamrock Regiment Ireland Band strut
their stuff.
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THE GHOST OF ANNE BOLEYN:
I hope you're not faint of heart because this one's scary.
Here we go!!!
Anne Boleyn, the most celebrated of the wives of Henry VIII
was beheaded on Tower Green in 1536. Her ghost frequently
has been seen on the Green and more spectacularly in the
Chapel Royal situated in the white Tower. It was in the
Chapel that a Captain of the Guard saw a light burning in
the locked Chapel late at night. Finding a ladder, he was
able to look down on the strange scene being enacted
within. A nineteenth century account described it thus:
Slowly down the aisle moved a stately procession of Knights
and Ladies, attired in ancient costumes; and in front
walked an elegant female whose face was averted from him.
But whose figure greatly resembled the one he had seen in
reputed portraits of Anne Boleyn. After having repeatedly
paced the chapel, the entire procession together with the
light disappeared.
Another account of this same story tells how the procession
always occurs on the anniversary of the terrible execution
of Margaret Pole the Countess of Salisbury, in 1541. This
brave old lady (she was over seventy when she was killed)
suffered because her son's (Cardinal Pole) vilification of
King Henry VIII's religious doctrines, something the
Cardinal did from the safety of France. So when Henry
realized that the Cardinal was out of his reach his mother
was brought to the block instead as an act of vengeance.
Instead of submitting weakly to the axeman however she
refused to lie down and was pursued by the axeman around
the scaffold. Swinging wildly he inflicted wounds on her
till at last she died.
Another sighting of Anne Bolyen is alleged in 1864 by a
sentry standing guard at the queen's house. The guard saw
and challenged a white shape that appeared suddenly veiled
in mist. When the challenge went unanswered the sentry put
his bayonet into the figure but he was overcome with shock
when it went straight through the figure without meeting
any resistance. Two onlookers who saw the whole event from
a window of the Bloody Tower corroborated this story. It
is not known what made the sentry and onlookers believe
that this was the ghost of Anne Boleyn but we can only
accept that after 100 years of tradition it must be so.
Next week get ready for the "Traitors Gate".
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SIGHTSEEING IN LONDON:
In reviewing the itinerary you can see there's not a lot of
free time in Ireland. Your schedule is pretty busy. Now
for London, you have lots of free time. Take it from me,
there's tons of things to do and see. How do you decide? I
think it would be a disservice to you if I did not let you
know of the most popular sightseeing venues and tours. In
this way you can plan in advance. You'll know the
approximate cost. It won't be a "What do we do now as you
all arrive at the Paragon Hotel in London?"
Besides providing the information via the newsletter each
week, I plan to give each chaperone a detailed briefing of
everything available at our chaperone only meeting on
February 23rd. In this way, the 108 band members can get
the best information on things to do that might interest
them from their chaperones. In London, chaperones will
accompany the students wherever they go. So advance
planning will be critical.
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HARRODS, LONDON'S THIRD MOST VISITED TOURIST ATTRACTION
The legend began back in 1849 when Henry Charles Harrod, a
wholesale tea merchant of Eastcheap, took over a grocer's
shop in what was then the village of Knightsbridge.
Harrods in London's Knightsbridge has gone beyond being a
mere department store, and has become a tourist destination
in it own right. Tucked away in Knightsbridge, away from
the main shopping area, this is the place to come to buy a
chic green bag that wraps all purchases made here from a
Chelsea bun to a grand piano.
You can spend days wandering the floors. There are
extensive Food Halls on the ground floor, you name it, they
have it.
Perhaps it is a little less exclusive than it was in the
days when they had their own fleet of ships scouring the
world on behalf of their patrons, but never the less it is
a pleasant place to spend a few hours, and you will
probably end up the proud owner of one of those green bags.
I can attest to Harrods being quite a place to spend a few
hours. The shopping and food is unbelievable. In fact,
there's one restaurant that just serves desserts. I didn't
want to eat what I ordered because it was so pretty. But
after admiring it for a few minutes, I enjoyed it to the
fullest.
Harrods is just 10 minutes away from the Paragon Hotel
where you will be staying.
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FUND-RAISING REVIEW:
Being that your final payment is due, there's obviously
nothing we can do for fundraising at this point. I would
recommend you continue purchasing the scrip and sending out
donation letters. Any additional monies that get added to
your account can be used to purchase the foreign currency
you'll need on the trip.
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SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:
MANDATORY CHAPERONE ONLY MEETING<=>
On Monday, February 23rd from 7pm-9pm there will be a
mandatory chaperone meeting. This meeting time will be
for the chaperones to meet each other and we'll go over
their group and individual responsibilities. We'll review
each day's itinerary in complete detail. It will be a time
for the chaperones to ask any questions that they may have.
FINAL "ALL HANDS" MEETING<=>
On Monday, March 1st 7pm-9pm we will have the final "All
Hands" meeting for everybody going on the trip. We'll be
going over the entire itinerary. The chaperones will be
introduced. The foreign currency will be distributed for
the parents that asked us to procure the Euros and Pound
Sterling on their behalf through Bank of America. This will
be your best opportunity to ask questions.
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
(Q1) When can I talk to my son's chaperone?
(A1) On Feb 23rd we'll be having a chaperone only meeting
where they will get a very extensive briefing on the whole
trip. Plus we'll be going over everything in regards to
the students. After the meeting they will be better
prepared to answer your questions. I'd prefer you wait
until then. I will note all requests and pass them along
to the chaperone at that meeting.
Normally questions will be answered in the weekly
newsletter. If the questions require an immediate response,
I'll send out a special email.
mailto:henri.soucy@ngc.com?subject=questions
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SHOW ME THE MONEY:
$100 US Dollars = $55 Pound Sterling (Great Britain)
$100 US Dollars = $80 Euro (Ireland)
Rate valid as of: 01/30/2004
Currency conversions are based on Yahoo and CNN Currency
Conversion data.
The currency exchange rates have stabilized for the time
being. I'm just hoping that it stays that way.
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Thank You For Your Readership!
Henri Soucy, Editor
12903 Belcher Street
Norwalk, CA 90650-3329
Telephone: 310-332-3239
Pager: 310-232-4458
http://www.kennedyband.org
Email Address: henri.soucy@ngc.com
Bob Anthony, Kennedy Band Director
Telephone: 714-220-4119
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