Page 82 - MERCIAN Eagle 2018

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Musician Pithers / Lichfield Cathedral / November 2018
from eight reserve bands coming together to entertain.
The band has also been involved in a number of other high profile events, such as the Parachute Regimental Association’s Regimental Commemoration day, which was held at the National Memorial Arboretum; Poppy in the Park at Saunders Park in Bromsgrove; Beating Retreat at Hartlebury Castle, Kidderminster, for the ABF; supporting the Annual Troop Aid 2018 Ball in Birmingham, working with the West Midlands Fire Service Pipe Band; and of course we were part of the 95th Regimental Annual Pilgrimage to the Crich Memorial, where this year the sun shone and toasted everyone!
There have been several large concerts this year, including performing as part
of the Market Drayton Arts Festival
and at Lichfield Cathedral as part of a series of Remembrance – Tide events
to commemorate the centenary of the
end of the First World War. The Lichfield concert was composed by Major Michael Collie, who also joined with the band to read poetry from WW1 set to music as the
Band of the Mercian Regiment/ Remembrance Parade/ Birmingham/ November 2018
pages of the Book of Remembrance were turned by uniformed cadets. The night also featured a vocal solo from Musician Pithers, accompanied by a small ensemble, who sounded stunning with the Cathedral’s acoustics, and a set from our clarinet group. A stunning location
and chances for some musicians to take and pass their trade test exams.
The band’s year ended, as always, with the Battalion Christmas Carol Service in Wolverhampton.
We were joined by singers from St. Anthony’s and St.
to reflect and be entertained.
Saturday, the evening barbecue finished everyone off and a relatively early night was enjoyed by all.
Mary’s Primary Schools performing some of their Christmas songs. We played a selection of Christmas music, as well as the carols for singing, and of course finished with the now traditional Christmas Festival by Leroy Anderson.
THE MERCIAN EAGLE
This year, the
band were given the
honour of leading
the Armed Forces
Day parade through
Wolverhampton,
the city in which we
are based. For the
Armistice Day Commemorations we were proud to lead the Remembrance Parade in Birmingham City Centre. Our Annual Deployment Exercise was held in Windsor and Kneller Hall, working as Roulement Band and being conducted by those training to be Band Masters. As well as allowing for musical training, there was also a performance at the Royal Dragoon Guards Polo Cup at Tidworth Polo Club,
The band of the Mercian Regiment has had a good year and has worked with a wide variety of other Bands, both reserve and regular, in many different locations
and styles of engagement. Our saxophone group has entertained on many occasions and we have got fully involved with adventurous training and trade training and are looking forward to the challenges of 2019!
Band of the Mercian Regiment / Lichfield Cathedral/ November 2018