Page 27 - MBS 2022/23

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Iarrived in post in May 22, which was my first exposure to working with the Household Division and what an
exposure it has been! I was aware that LONDIST was a busy place, but the next year would see, arguably, the busiest and most historic period ever and it has been an absolute honour to witness and be part of it.
The Queen’s Birthday Parade was the first ceremonial duty which allowed me to see first-hand how much work goes into this. I was fortunate to see one of the rehearsals “The Brigade Major’s Review” from the stands with some of my family and on the day itself, I had a bird’s eye view from the top floor of Horse Guards looking over the parade with my wife and 2 of my daughters. What a spectacle...
After the sad passing of HM The Queen, Operation (Op) LONDON BRIDGE was called and everyone within Horse Guards sprung into action. As the G7 PD department and no ceremonial background we offered our services and joined the watchkeeper team.
By any measure Op LONDON BRIDGE was an enormous success. In the region of 4 billion people reportedly watched on television and in excess of 150 world leaders attended the State Funeral. As a final duty undertaken by the Armed Forces for HM The Queen and a first for HM The King it provided powerful confirmation of our relationship with the Sovereign and, in the excellent manner in which it was delivered, the importance we attach
WO1 (SMI) D Farrugia RAPTC
to it. But perhaps more importantly the ceremonial activity captured the public mood and provided a vehicle for their own reflections on a very long reign.
As LONDIST SMI, one of my roles is to oversee sport for both LONDIST and 16 Air Assault Brigade (16X). Like the rest of the Army, sport had dropped off the radar over the last few years due the pandemic and this is something SO2 PD Mike Mumford tasked me to reinvigorate. First up was the Army Reserve GOC’s Trophy competition and Women’s Festival of Sport which was ran by WO2 (QMSI) Kenny Pitcairn, held at Woolwich Barracks and supported by our LONDIST RAPTCIs.
Next up was the Regulars,’ GOC’s Cup Competition which was held between Oct 22 – Feb 23 in a league format rather than a single day event to try and get more people out playing sport. It worked. HQ LONDIST were crowned overall winners of The Women’s category and we also secured runner up for The Minor Unit event.
As part of the RAPTC and Army running teams, my SO2 squared me away and manned the fort for me on not just one, but two overseas sports trips to Cyprus with the Corps and South Africa (SA) with the Army in preparation for the Inter Services Cross Country Champs. Whilst in SA some of us took part in Berts Brick Half Marathon where we had the option to collect a brick at the halfway point. I did take 2 bricks (souvenirs for 2 of my girls)
Mike Mumford SO2 PD
Charlie Peacock SO3 AT
HEADQUARTERS LONDON DISTRICT
but got chased down the road and had to put one back...
In between the sport our team have conducted multiple PDAs and gym visits where we have been able to see the great work our RAPTCIs have been doing. Next up is The Kings Coronation which G7 PD are helping out with (not sure what we are doing yet) and then straight into the King’s Birthday Parade!
The funeral procession makes its way across the Tilt Yard of Horse Guards
Farrugia’s at Horse Guards
Berts Brick Run
SMI Farrugia and Laura Muir