Page 54 - Bugle Issue 16 Autumn 2020

Director of Music Captain Jeans
and Senior Bugle Major Topp salute the podium
Spruce Meadows and BATUS Tour
In September of 2019, the Band and Bugles of The Rifles
had a three-week tour to the Spruce Meadows International Masters, and to British Army Training Unit Suffield (BATUS) in Alberta, Canada. This tour was to provide musical support to the Spruce Meadows International Masters, engage with the local communities around BATUS, and help further strengthen the professional relationship between the British Army, the communities around BATUS, and the local city of Medicine Hat.
The tour gave us plenty of opportunities to rehearse for all the medal ceremonies that we would provide the soundtrack and national anthems for, culminating in what the band had considered a highlight of the week, performing a live soundtrack for a fireworks display, whilst the Buglers provided fanfares for the Canadian Cavalry mounted display. The band also provided several concerts for the participants and spectators, ending with an invite to a private reception and BBQ.
In BATUS we performed to local schools in and around the Medicine Hat area. This was well received and we were able to show off our unique capability, which makes us stand out from other regular British Army bands.
We also combined forces with the Royal Canadian Artillery Band in rehearsals which concluded with an afternoon concert in Medicine Hat. The last few evenings consisted of rehearsing for a Sounding Retreat parade, which we then performed to the Officers’ and Sergeants’ Mess later in the week
Overall, this was a unique and thoroughly enjoyable experi- ence for all members of the Band and Bugles.
Musn M Beazley
Joint concert with Royal Canadian Artillery Band
Captain Jeans takes a salute on
the Showground after a performance
We had several duties throughout the summer season but culminated in a 12-day stint at the Palace
The Band and Bugles performing to the
crowds in the Castle grounds
PUBLIC DUTIES SUMMER 2019
Throughout the summer and Autumn of 2019, the Band and Bugles had once again been afforded the privilege of performing at the prestigious Changing of the Guard ceremony in London, and we relished
the chance to represent the Regiment and perform alongside the bands of the Household Division.
We provided musical support at both Windsor Castle and Buckingham Palace. 10 Queens Own Gurkha Logistic Regiment represent the light division/infantry and as such can only be accompanied by a light division band such as ourselves.
We had several duties throughout the summer season but culminated in a 12-day stint at the Palace at the beginning of July! The occasion gave us the opportunity to perform some larger scale works such as Rossano Galante’s Resplendent Glory which was a successful forecourt premier for the Band.
We performed alongside the bands of The Coldstream, Welsh and Grenadier Guards, as well as the Household Cavalry, and savoured the friendly musical rivalry between them!
Our Public Duties ended with a pres- entation on the parade square at Wellington Barracks. The Bugle Major and Bandmaster were presented with a brightly coloured Nepalese ceremonial scarf called a Khata. The two most junior members of the unit were presented with a ceremonial coin representing the Brigade of Gurkhas.
Musn A Watt
54 RIFLES The Bugle