Page 80 - MERCIAN Eagle 2019

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The Band of the Mercian Regiment
Sgt Jennie Wood
2019 saw the Band of the Mercian Regiment out and about in support of the Regiment, as well as various charities and events, in all weathers, all over the region and beyond.
At the end of March, the Band of the Mercian Regiment said a sad farewell to their Director of Music (DoM), Captain
Tony Hodgetts. Captain Hodgetts began his music career with
the Prince of Wales Division in 1971. After an impressive
Regular Army music career, he joined the Band of the
Mercian Regiment in May 2014 as Bandmaster. He was promoted to
Captain and to the position of Director
of Music during the Regimental
Pilgrimage at Crich
Memorial in 2016. Under his command in 2017, the band became the first Reserve Band outside of London District to perform public duties. Captain Hodgetts led the band for his last public engagement at Stoke City Football match. As he retires from a long and full career in both Regular and Reserve Forces
Gurkha Ambulance Group, the Band of
the Royal Army Ordnance Corp, the Royal Military School of Music, the Kings (Division Waterloo) Band, the Prince of Wales (Clive) Band, the Adjutant General’s Corp Band, the Light Cavalry Band, CAMUS HQ, the Band of the Royal Armoured Corps and
military music, the band are certain he will be sorely missed: a true gentleman of the music world.
...he will be sorely missed: a true gentleman of the music world
the Band of the Scots Guards. He brings with him a wealth
of experience and a particular interest in jazz and contemporary music and he has already made a big impact on the Band
The new Director
of Music, Major Ian
Johnson, joined in
the autumn from the Band of the Scots Guards. Major Johnson, who grew up in the Wolverhampton area, has an impressive regular career including time serving both as a musician and a medic. He has served with the Royal Hampshire Regiment, 32
of the Mercian Regiment. Welcome to the Reserves, sir! The band’s first public performance under
his direction was at the National Memorial Arboretum, Alrewas, in November, as part of a moving
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