Page 35 - 103RA 2018-20

Away from music, members of the band have taken part in a variety of army and interservice sporting and AT activities. Individuals from within the band have competed at army and interservice level sport climbing and table tennis. Skiing has been a particular growth area. Several members of the band took part in the
CAMUS ski trip 2019 and achieved Ski Foundation 1, qualified individuals from the band instructed on
other units’ trips and courses including Ex SNOW WARRIOR, whilst in January 2020, a six-man team from 103 Regt RA competed on Exercise Nordic White Fist Skiing Cham- pionships, held at the Hochfilzen World Cup Biathlon stadium in Austria. The competi- tion was for all RAC and RA regiments. The team included two members of the Lanca- shire Artillery Band and one member of the Lancashire Artillery Pipes & Drums, none of whom had ever skied Nordic before. Three races took place: one 15 km Classic;
Regimental Journal 2018-20
Captain Guy Booth conducting the band in St Chad’s, Shrewsbury
our numbers but also increased the overall experience level and diversity of what capabilities we as a band are able to deliver. We have also been joined by an avid brass bander, Musician Caroline Cross, who having recently returned from teaching abroad, successfully auditioned for the band, and has been welcomed in to our cornet section. We
currently have eight appli-
cants at various stages in
the process of joining the
Band; some are waiting
for the reopening of the
Assessment Centres
whilst others await
auditions or results from
auditions. We are main-
taining a strong recruiting
and nurturing programme
and have been allowing
those who have expressed an interest in joining to take part in our rehearsals and this is something that we are strongly encouraging.
Recent individual achievements within the band include Sgt Neil Bailey, who successfully completed the Drum Major Course and has been appointed to this role for the Lancashire Artillery Pipes and Drums, while also continuing to play tuba with the wind band. Bombardier Karen Swales and Lance Bombardier Lucy Geddes attended the first ever CLM course for Army Reserve Musicians, held at Kneller Hall. WO2 Matt Speight played a pivotal role in the development of CLM courses for Army Reserve musicians, and recently promoted members of the Band and the Pipes & Drums have attended every CLM course held since 2018. Addi- tionally, SSgt Mark (Tomo) Thompson successfully completed the MOD Defence Driver Examiner qualification.
Lance Bombardier Catherine Line in Bulgaria, November 2019
We are maintaining a strong recruiting and nurturing programme
Pipe Major Gary Burgess, pictured in Shrewsbury, 2019
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