Page 52 - Bugle Autumn 2024

BAND & BUGLES
THE BAND AND BUGLES OF THE RIFLES
Since the beginning of the year, The Band and Bugles of The Rifles has been extremely busy. In February, we joined forces with
The Band of The Grenadier Guards in Salisbury Cathedral in a joint charity Concert attended by Her Majesty the Queen. “A Unique Concert for Wiltshire” was attended by over 1,200 people and helped to raise funds for many worthy local based charities including the RIFLES Benevolent Fund.
The concert culminated in a spectacular finale, Peninsular Suite – a piece featuring our Buglers and written about the chaos and camaraderie of a Rifleman fighting in Wellington’s Army during the Peninsular War.
March saw the Band perform another concert at Thornden Hall in Eastleigh. Here, the audience were treated to an eclectic mix of traditional light division music all the way through to jazz with the RIFLES Big Band. Three members
also battled it out to win the soloist of the year competition. It was a tough contest, but, in the end, LCpl Thomas Thorne was victorious with his impressive rendition of Monti’s Czardas played on Xylophone, Marimba and Vibraphone.
April brought a 3-week tour to Dhekelia, Cyprus, in support of 1 RIFLES. Here, The
Band and Bugles not only played alongside the Battalion’s Bugles, but also had the unprecedented opportunity to work alongside the Cypriot National Guard Band. On top of this, the Band held a workshop with by the Cypriot Youth Music Service in Nicosia where we had the chance to work with some exceptional schoolchildren. This then culminated in an informal concert at the end of the day in front of families and friends in awe.
The finale to the tour was an impressive Sounding Retreat for 1 RIFLES, their families and a large presence of local dignitaries. The display featured a nautical themed Sounding Retreat, choreographed by RIFLES’ Bugle Major CSjt Keeley, as well as displays from the Cypriot National Guard Band and The Corps of Drums of The Lancashire Regiment, with an RAF fly-over to begin proceedings.
Off Duty, we enjoyed access to the many beaches and facilities of Dhekelia Station
– soaking up the sun and taking part in watersports in the Mediterranean climate. We also explored the local towns of Larnaka and Ayia Napa, walking around Mount Olympos and swimming in around the spectacular coastline of Eastern Cyprus.
On return, we landed straight into an intense schedule of Public Duties. The Queen’s Own Gurkha Signals had been guarding our Monarch for much of this year, and of course
52 RIFLES The Bugle
needed the unique talents of Light Division Bands to support them musically. Sharing
the honour with The Band of the Brigade of Gurkhas, we took part in Changing the Guard at Buckingham Palace, St. James Palace and Windsor Castle. Playing old favourites such as Bab-el-Mandeb, Jellalabad, Silver Bugles and Prince Consorts Own, The Band and Bugles stole the show heading down The Mall at 140 beats to the minute.
The likes of Bugle Boy and Sir John Moore were joined by newer favourites when our rendition of Shake it Off by Taylor Swift went viral online after being shared by the Royal Family’s social media accounts.
You may have recently seen on the news the stories of two amazing children, Tony Hudgell and Lyla O’Donovan, who were both invited to a garden party in Buckingham Palace by The Queen but sadly both unable to attend: Tony due to traffic and Lyla due to ill health. In her generosity, Her Majesty decided to host another special and more intimate garden party for the children in the form of a private tea party in the garden’s summer house.
Being our Colonel in Chief, Her Majesty specifically requested that the music be provided for the rescheduled party by the
Band and Bugles. A Brass Quintet was sent and performed a special selection of music for the children, featuring favorites such as The Bare Necessities, Thomas the Tank Engine and several tunes from well-known Disney animations.
Finally, June saw the end of WO1 Alex Nixon’s tenure with The Band and Bugles as Officer Commanding after two years at the post. Having been at the helm for many of the Band’s highlights over the past couple of years, she quite literally hands the baton to the Band’s new Director of Music, Major Ollie Jeans.
Band Rehearsal with Cyprus Youth Symphony Orchestra
Our rendition of Shake it Off by Taylor Swift went viral online after being shared by the Royal Family’s social media accounts
The Band and Bugles of The Rifles marching down the mall during public duties performance – led by Rifles Bugle Major CSjt Aaron Keely
RAF Flyover – Sounding Retreat opening ceremony – conducted by WO1 Alex Nixon