Page 145 - The Bugle 2018

Light Division and Rifles Buglers’
Association - 2018
The Buglers’ Association has had another as part of a Channel 4 documentary to commem-
extremely busy year and the number of requests for all our services grows steadily year on year. The highlight of 2018 was the joining together in concert for the first time of the Light Division and Rifles Buglers’ Association and the Light Division and Rifles Band Association. This unique combi- nation of Veteran Bandsmen and Buglers under the baton of Captain Tex Carlton took place in Shrewsbury on the 16th of June 2018 to mark the 50th Anniversary of the formation of the Light Infantry. This was received with wild applause and great acclaim. With the demise of so many military bands, the importance of both Veteran and Cadet Bandsmen and Buglers becomes even more relevant to the Regiment to support our many events and to maintain our distinctive military music.
The year started with seven Buglers marking the 209th Anniversary of the death of Sir John Moore at his memorial service held on the 16th January beside his splendid monument in St Paul’s Cathedral. Our Buglers had the honour of sounding the Last Post and Reveille in his memory and it was especially significant as this had never been allowed before. Their performance was excellent because without practice they were able to deal with the 13 second receding echo of the Cathedral. This was a very special occasion and hopefully will be repeated.
Another ‘first’ was the excellent Band Concert held in the Guards Chapel Wellington Barracks in London on 16th April, where our Buglers joined the Band and Bugles of The Rifles for this special event. This had been the first time that the Rifles Band and Bugles had been allowed to perform in the Chapel normally reserved for Household Division bands.
As well as the many funerals and memorial services we attend every month, we have been providing numerous concerts around the country at various Regimental functions as well as performing alongside both the Rifles Band and Bugles and the Waterloo Band and Bugles of 7 RIFLES. As a result a very strong bond has developed between the Buglers’ Association and our regular and reserve bands.
Other highlights of the year so far include the very special Reunion in Shrewsbury marking the 50th Anniversary of the formation of the Light Infantry, where our veteran Bandsmen and Buglers performed at individual battalion events on the Friday evening and throughout Saturday 16th June, supporting both the Waterloo Band and the Light Division Veterans Band to the great applause of some 2,500 former members and their families. In Winchester, the annual Royal Green Jackets Gathering has become another favourite event of ours. A great day was had by all and the cheer that went up when the Buglers marched on was very special.
Our Buglers have participated in many World War One Anniversaries recently and one in particular involved John Henry Plumridge in November 2017
orate the centenary of the tank battle of Cambrai. He sounded Last Post on location in Cambrai for this programme. We will be having a busy time ahead too, particularly around the 11th November for this most significant of years, the Centenary of The Armistice and the culmination of this intense period of commemoration. .
But before that, we have an event that is very dear to our hearts namely the Northern Ireland Veterans’ Memorial Service at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire on 8th September 2018. This event has obvious poignancy for the Light Division, where our Buglers have become an important feature. This is an event not to be missed for all of those who served there.
As always, I am truly humbled by the dedication and commitment of all our Buglers, who between them attend many hundreds of events across the country every year with a pride and dignity that is second to none. Without their hard work and dedication to the cause, the majority of events we attend would have no buglers in attendance at all, which is a very sobering thought. On behalf of our Chairman Alan Tamblyn, the Buglers’ Association would like to thank everyone for their support, particularly those who have generously supported us financially, since every penny helps.
A GREAT DAY WAS HAD
BY ALL AND THE CHEER THAT WENT UP WHEN THE BUGLERS MARCHED ON WAS VERY SPECIAL
Ballygawley Memorial, Omagh
The memorial service to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Bally- gawley Bus Bomb was extremely well attended and supported by both the local community, and former members of 1LI. Our Buglers sounded the calls in their honour at the memorial service, and again at 12.30am on the 20th to mark the exact time the bomb went off.
The local community have done a great job in restoring the memorial, which was re-dedicated during the service. There were also a number of survivors in attendance, many for the first time. The local PSNI were enormously supportive and secured the area including the closure of the road for the Service. The community of Omagh did us all proud.
Alan Tamblyn
THE RIFLES
THE BAND AND BUGLES OF THE RIFLES 151