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103 Regiment Royal Artillery
The Lancashire Artillery
(Volunteers) Band and the Pipes &
Drums 103 Regiment RA
By LBdr Rachel Johnson
Early in 2018 the Lancashire Artillery Band and the Pipes & Drums 103 Regiment RA welcomed Captain Guy Booth as our new Director of Music. Under Captain Booth’s baton, the Band and the Pipes & Drums have undergone a period of change and development, both musically as individual units, and in our relationships with the broader world of Army Music.
Just prior to lockdown taking hold, the P&Ds relocated to Bolton ARC from RHQ. This brings all the ensembles in the same chain of command under the one roof, enabling group cohesion and alignment of rehearsals and drill nights. The P&Ds are being accommodated in the former F Troop Room, a silent honour for DMaj Sgt Neil Bailey, whose uncle, LBdr Fred Bailey, served with F Troop 53rd Field Regiment (Bolton Artillery) prior to the outset of World War Two until his untimely death in Italy in January 1944.
The Band and the Pipes & Drums have in recent years enjoyed opportunities to contribute to a number of very high-profile events. The Centenary of the end of the First World War was, as with all bands, a highlight of 2018. The Band were honoured to parade on Armistice Day in Manchester, while other events in support of the commemorations included an invitation to lead the Mayor of Bolton’s Centenary Concert, which gave us a valuable oppor- tunity to perform a substantial programme on our home turf. We have also worked closely with our colleagues in the Royal
Lancashire Artillery Band, on parade in Bolton
Artillery Band to put out a combined band for Gun Salutes in Green Park, including on the occasion of the State Visit of President Donald Trump in 2019. For our 2019 Annual Camp we took on the role of lead band for the Shrewsbury
Flower Show. Our musical duties included opening the show both days with a parade through the town, performing two bandstand concerts, pop-up entertainment by the Pipes & Drums around the showground and the town, and leading massed band finales both nights, culmi-
nating in the 1812 Overture accompanied by fireworks. The weather was challenging at times, with frequent torrential rain and gale force winds, but spirits and standards remained high! We also performed a
charity concert for the ABF during festival week at St Chad’s Church, Shrews- bury. This was something of a family occasion for our Director of Music, as it took place in his hometown at a church for which he and his father had both sung as chor- isters. His eldest daughter featured as vocal soloist in our finale ‘Amazing Grace,’ singing beautifully in front of the combined Band and Pipes & Drums to a large audience.
Alongside these prestigious occasions, we continue to have a busy calendar of events in support of our region and the Royal Regiment. Significant annual engagements include the RAA Assembly in Blackpool in May, the RA Service of Remembrance at the National Memorial Arboretum in July, Armed Forces Day events in Manchester, Bolton and St Helens, the RA Reserves Conference at Larkhill, and the St Barbara’s Dinner at Aigburth in November. The Reserves Conference saw a particularly good attendance from the P&Ds, accompa-
The Pipes & Drums 103 Regiment RA
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The weather was challenging at times, with frequent torrential rain and gale force winds, but spirits and standards remained high!