At the invitation of Jean-Jacques MILHOUB and the municipality of Le Poinçonnet, former musicians of the band of the Material Services (CISM – ESMAT – 4th RMAT – 13th BSMAT) led by Hervé Chalaire, met at La Martinerie, as they did in 2023, to prepare, this year, the souvenir concert planned at Le Poinçonnet on Saturday May 24, 2025, 27 years after the closure of the ESMAT.

The morning was devoted to a rehearsal under the baton of their former music conductors, Louis Derouelle, Mario Canovas, André Lucas and Alain Bertrand.

Welcomed with their spouses at “Les Amis de La Martinerie”, they were able to either, visit “la Maison départementale de la mémoire militaire” with Antoine and Roland, or participate in a stroll in the Northern Zone led by Jean-Jacques and Jean-Pierre and welcomed by abbot Viannet de Ledinghen, new director of the Saint Michel school.

A walk which allowed them to evoke many memories of their time at La Martinerie.

Note that the oldest of the musicians, Patrick Léon, was present in 1974 at the time of the CISM, 50 years ago, and that another, Mario Canovas, lives in Winnert, north of Germany which is 1100 km from Châteauroux.

“Nostalgia” “a pang in the heart” “sadness to discover part of the abandoned site” "… but happy to be together again", these were some of the words heard during this walk in the northern zone.

The next appointment has been made for 2025.

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Photo credit: Jean-Jacques Bérenguier