Page 140 - The Bugle 2018

OFTHERIFLES
Since the last Bugle Magazine article, The Band and Bugles of The Rifles (Band RIFLES) had a busy year with various engagements around the country, including musical support to Freedom Parades, performances at Sounding Retreats and possibly the highlight, undertaking State Ceremonial Duties at Buckingham Palace for the Changing of The Guard.
However, in September 2017 for the second year running, the band held the Roger Swift Solo Competition. Designed to challenge the musicians on an individual platform and testing their musical skills as a soloist. A range of unaccompanied solos of varying degrees of difficulty took place in front of the DOM and ADOM and selected performances were chosen to be accompanied by the band in front of Lt Col Darren Wolfendale CAMUS and Maj Roger Swift (Retd). The winner for the second year running was Musn Elliott Milum, who performed Rodney Newton’s ‘Capriccio’ on Tuba.
In the same month, The Band and Bugles took part in our annual Adventure Training with members taking part in various activities such as parachuting and climbing in Cyprus, mountain biking in Wales and kayaking, climbing and hill walking in Bavaria.
Five members of the band and one PTI from ATR(W) Cpl Luke Smith spent a week in Wales with the aim to qualify as Mountain Bike Instructor (Levels 1 and 2 respectively) Following some intensive training the assessment was conducted by WO2 Jase McNaney ATR(W) RMCO. The week’s course took them to a range of Mountain Bike Trail Centres such as Coed-Y-Brenin and also an arduous ride over the Marin Trail near Betws-Y-Coed.
Musn Elliott Milum receiving his trophy awarded by Maj Roger Swift
A RANGE OF UNACCOMPANIED SOLOS OF VARYING DEGREES OF DIFFICULTY TOOK PLACE IN FRONT OF THE DOM & ADOM
WO2 John Bilby, Cpl Luke Smith, LCpl Russell May, Rfn Nathan Clark and Rfn Martin O’Neill pictured on the Marin Trail
146 THE BAND AND BUGLES OF THE RIFLES THE RIFLES
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