Page 77 - Mercian Eagle 2016

throughout the day, a number of sprints
(for those that still had it in their ‘legs’) were meant to test individuals. Upon arrival back to Ayia Nikolias, the riders were greeted by family and friends, a well-deserved beer and evening BBQ took place to thank the support staff and to present prizes for those who excelled during the event.
After an arduous 8 days of cycling, the team managed to take in a cultural visit
to the City of Famagusta which is in the Turkish side of Cyprus. A medieval city with extensive exterior walls that has played
a major part in Cyprus’ history. We also managed to visit and spend some time recuperating on the Famous ‘Nissi Beach’
and ensure we came back with a tan to be proud of.
As always, a special thank you to all members of the JSSU, especially the Adjutant and the QM (Capt Leo Conway & Maj Lee Crossing both R SIGS) who without their drive and motivation, CCC 16 wouldn’t have taken place.
The Band of the Mercian Regiment
The Band of the Mercian Regiment has
had yet another busy and rewarding year. The Band has had the privilege to play in a wide range of differing parades, concerts and services, whilst the small groups have been out providing musical accompaniment for many dinners, events and ceremonies during the year and throughout the area. Intense musical training has continued under the direction of Captain Tony Hodgetts.
In March, the Band were the guests of The University of Warwick Music Centre
in a combined concert, also featuring The University of Warwick’s Wind Orchestra and Brass Band, and The Band of the Royal Corps of Signals. It was a day filled with music of all styles, lots of enthusiasm, and the truly great sound of so many musicians working together. The audience really enjoyed the music that filled the Arts Centre, which featured everything from Big Band
to Post Horns, and from Greensleeves to Alphorns. The event was co-ordinated by recent recruit Musician Iain Fraser-Barker.
During May, the Band were once again invited to play a major part in the annual Stoke-on-Trent Military Tattoo at The King’s Hall: a high profile public event raising money for The Soldier’s Charity. This involved a concert performance, a marching display and a massed performers’ finale featuring all those involved in the event. The Military Wives Choir from Salisbury Plain joined us to deliver a joint performance
of ‘I vow to thee my Country’ from ‘The Planets’ suite. We played a varied musical programme, which included ‘The Bass
in the Ballroom’, a fun solo for our Tuba player Cpl Rob Andrews, and involved ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ score cards for
his cadenza from his fellow tuba players. Also featured was our newest Band recruit, trombonist Musician Nicole Taylor, who performed a duet called
Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas. We participated in the Service of Thanksgiving and played several short concerts during the afternoon. The Arboretum is a beautiful location to play at, and one that symbolises clearly the contributions and sacrifices of
‘A Nightingale Sang
in Berkeley Square’
with our principal flute
player Sgt Dudley
Evans, and a vocal
solo from Miss Emma
Sumner with ‘Skyfall’.
After a traditional
marching display involving both quick and slow marching, The Band of the Mercian Regiment were again joined by the Military Wives Choir to perform ‘Land of Hope
and Glory’, and then joined by all the other performers for the finale, including the Drill Squad of D Company Staffordshire ACF, The Band and Bugles of Shropshire ACF and The Corp of Drums from Staffordshire and West Midlands ACF. The massed bands were joined by the Standards of the Veterans Association of North Staffordshire for the finale sequence, which included Sharpe’s arrangement of ‘Evening Hymn and Last Post’, and ‘Auld Lang Syne’, with the now traditional arms linked and singing along, before the proceedings were brought to a close with ‘The National Anthem’. After permission to march off was granted, the Bands and Corps of Drums marched out to the sound of their regimental marches.
Armed Forces Day in June saw The Band of the Mercian Regiment at the National
men and women of
the armed forces. It was lovely to see so many people of all ages and from all walks of life coming together
to reflect. In July, The Band of the Mercian Regiment attended the
annual Crich Pilgrimage at The Mercian Regimental Memorial. We were grateful for the dry weather, having got rather wet last year! It is always such a pleasure to play at events within the Mercian family. The Battle of the Somme concert, in the grounds of Shrewsbury Castle, also took place in July. Here we were joined by The Band and Bugles of Shropshire AFC to play ‘High
on a Hill’, a Bugle classic, and to perform music interspaced with poetry to recall the events of the Battle of the Somme on its 100th anniversary. This outdoor concert was listened to by people picnicking in
the castle grounds, and all prepared to shelter from the promised rain! Luckily, the sun shone throughout the concert, and
a pleasurable and reflective evening was had by all. This year’s Annual Deployment Exercise took place in London, with the use of the practice facilities of The Household Cavalry Band in Windsor, and MATTS training and joint rehearsals with The Band
We were grateful for the dry weather, having got rather wet last year!
THE MERCIAN EAGLE
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