Page 43 - Bugle Issue 20 Autumn 2022

6 RIFLES
THE SALAMANCA BAND AND BUGLES ‘NOTES’
After two years the Salamanca Band and Bugles have finally bounced back with
a diary brim full of concerts, community engagement events, parades and our first deployment abroad since 2019!
Early in the year we performed at a recruitment event for 6 RIFLES at Exeter Chiefs Rugby Club as well as providing bugle support to the RIFLES Cup match between Bristol Bears and Bath. Our ADE this year was participating in The Rifles Sounding of Retreat at Horse Guards Parade and after two challenging weeks of training we had the honour of performing for the Colonel-in-Chief and other Royal Colonels.
Finally travelling abroad again, our Soul Band had the pleasure of a five-day trip
to Spain supporting the British Embassy. Engagements included the Embassy Armed Forces Day and memorable performances with the Madrid Spanish Army Band and the local Children’s Hospital. For the first time in the band’s history, we visited the monument at Arapiles and sounded the Last Post over the Salamanca battlefield. Wreaths were laid by HM The Ambassador; the Defence Attaché and the Director of Music and music was provided by our saxophone quartet. The final performance of the trip was by invitation of the Mayor
of Salamanca, playing to 3,000 people
on a beautiful summer evening in the stunning Plaza de Mayor.
We have welcomed guitarist Musn Paul Hughes and saxophonist Musn Max Rusalen to the band, and Rfn Charlie Olding has joined the Bugle Platoon.
In addition, some of our members attended Frosted Wyvern 22, earning SF1 qualifications and our singer, Musn Leila Jones, has also qualified as a Ski Leader. Musn Leila Jones
For the first time in the band’s history, we visited the monument at Arapiles
RIFLES The Bugle 43