Page 52 - Bugle Spring 2025

BAND & BUGLES
The Band and Bugles after their performance
in Cathédrale Saint-Louis des Invalides, lead
by DOM Maj Oliver Jeans.
BSM, WO2
Jason Pickin,
pictured
after his final
Changing of
the Guard of
his 36 years
or service to
Army Music.
The Band and Bugles in concert in Shrewsbury Abbey. Led by BM, WO1 Tom Wood,
photographed after the final performance of BSM, WO2 Jason Pickin
Base Camp, Mount Manaslu
MUSIC, CEREMONY AND ADVENTURE
The Band and Bugles of The Rifles have had
a particularly busy second half of the year,
marked by a blend of musical achievement,
military occasions, and adventurous
training.
To kick off we hosted a summer academy
for the Royal Corps of Army Music (RCAM),
an initiative that offered aspiring recruits the
chance to perform alongside professional
musicians, while also enabling the band to
inspire and engage with the emerging talents
who could well shape the future of RCAM.
In preparation for a busy period, the band
took part in Exercise ‘Third Encounter,’ a
military training week aimed at enhancing
their fieldcraft and navigation skills. Led by
52 RIFLES The Bugle
our outstanding Bugle Platoon, these sessions
fostered team cohesion and helped build
confidence ahead of upcoming engagements.
In late August, we had the honour of
performing at Lord’s Cricket Ground during
the Sri Lanka vs. England Test Match. The
performance included a diverse repertoire
that captivated the audience, with one of the
highlights being a rendition of the regimental
favourite High on a Hill.
The musical journey continued in
September with participation in the Annual
RIFLES Officer Dinner Night at Guildhall.
There, they showcased their prowess with a
Sounding of the Retreat display. Meanwhile,
several band members embarked on a
several
band
members
embarked
on a three-
week
expedition
to Nepal
three-week expedition to Nepal, which
included a 12-day trek to the base camp of
the Mount Manaslu summit. Those remaining
in the UK supported a range of public duties,
including performances at Windsor Castle and
Buckingham Palace for the Queen’s Gurkha
Engineers, as well as participation in the
Ceremony of the Keys at the Tower of London.
Additionally, the band took part in the 5 RIFLES
OP CABRIT medal parade in Bulford, which was
attended by HRH The Duchess of Edinburgh,
the Royal Colonel of 5 RIFLES.
November saw us play a key role in the
106th anniversary of Armistice Day at the Arc
de Triomphe in Paris. The event, attended
by significant dignitaries including Sir Keir