Page 53 - Bugle Spring 2025

BAND & BUGLES
Performing on the forecourt at Buckingham Palace,
conducted by Director of Music (DOM) Maj Oliver Jeans
The Band and Bugles at
The Arc de Triomphe,
prior to
Armistice Day
ceremonies.
The Band and Bugles at the Arc de Triomphe, whilst
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and French President
Emmanuel Macron thank VIPs during their departur
Starmer and President Emmanuel Macron,
was a solemn occasion of reflection. The band
performed poignant music for the ceremony,
with Bugle Major CSjt Keeley delivering the
Last Post at the Winston Churchill memorial.
The day concluded with the Buglers
performing a massed Last Post for the Royal
British Legion outside the Cathédrale Saint-
Louis des Invalides, the final resting place of
Napoleon.
At the end of the year, the Annual Bugle
Competition took place at Worthy Down Camp.
Buglers from all RIFLES battalions took part
in an intensive week of training, followed
by a series of challenges to identify the top
performers. The selected candidates then
competed for one of the three prestigious titles
on offer, including Colonel-in-Chief’s Bugler,
Colonel Commandant’s Bugler, and Division
Colonel’s Bugler. We are incredibly proud of
our very own Rifleman Moid, who earned 2nd
place and was subsequently named Colonel
Commandant’s Bugler. Congratulations, Rfn
Moid!
To conclude a remarkable year, the band
hosted a Christmas Concert in Shrewsbury,
showcasing their musical versatility. A
standout moment in the performance was
the Yuletide Gallop, an arrangement of the
Post Horn Gallop with a festive twist. Four
buglers from the platoon took turns playing
the solo, with the band providing festive
We are
incredibly
proud
of our
very own
Rifleman
Moid, who
earned 2nd
place
accompaniment, all culminating in a friendly
“battle” between soloists Bugle Major (BMaj)
CSjt Keeley and Assistant Bugle Major (ABMaj)
Sjt Streetin. Sadly, the evening also marked
a poignant farewell to Band Serjeant Major
(BSM) WO2 Jason Pickin, who, after 36 years of
irreproachable service, has retired to embark
on the next chapter of his life.
In summary, the Band and Bugles of
The RIFLES have had a busy yet rewarding
year, showcasing excellence in music and
performance. Their appearances, from the
streets of Paris to the gates of Buckingham
Palace, have highlighted their commitment
to tradition, their musicianship, and their
steadfast dedication to the regimental ethos.
RIFLES The Bugle 53