WO2 Pass in plain clothes.
popular features of the evening with many Mess members striving to run their seniors off the road - a more direct approach than the old fashioned method of “finger pointing” I’m sure you’d agree. For the second time, we enjoyed a fantastic event and were spoilt by the surroundings and the staff. On 28th November, the Mess hosted the annual dinner for The Prince Philip Trust Fund for the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead along with the Windsor and Eton Rotary Club. This was attended by The Duke of Edinburgh. In December, once again in true fashion, all activities had to be crammed into the one week prior to leave due to Guided Weapons firing camp at Otterburn Ranges. The first formal event was the SNCOs and wives attending drinks in the Officers’ Mess. This happened
WO2 Stevenson
SCpl Brown with WO2 Stevenson.
directly after the Regimental Carol Service, just to get people in the mood and, more importantly, reduce the amount of nights out and baby sitter requirements. This is turning into an event that all look forward to and enjoy very much. The living-in Members then had their function on the Wednesday prior to Brick Hanging. This was organised by CoH Flynn CGC and went down really well. For the first time, I think, myself and the PMC, WO2 (SCM) Rogers, were invited to sit down with them. I think that this was a ploy to offset the wine cost. It WORKED. The Brick Hanging Ceremony then took place on the Thursday. Once again, it was as a very well-attended event, particularly well supported by Association members. Leave, Thank God for that! May I also point out that we are once again hosting
SCpl Matthews
the Derby for 2006? Letters will be out in the New Year, and could I ask that Mess and Association members alike support the event as well as you all did this year. The Senior Mess Members are: WO1 (RCM) O’Connor LG, WO1 (ASM) Cush REME, WO1 (BM) Hallatt LG, WO2 (RQMC) Trinick RHG/D, WO2 (RQMC(T)) Kellet LG, WO2 (SCM’s) Gaddes RHG/D, Gardner RHG/D, Rogers LG, Pass RHG/D, Goodwin LG, WO2 (AQMS) Speakman REME, WO2 (RAOWO) Green AGC, WO2 (RCWO) Priest RLC, WO2 Benge LG, WO2 Goodall RHG/D, WO2 (BCM) Allen LG.
Band of the Life Guards he year started relatively quietly with the Band providing musical accompaniment to the Windsor Support Guards at Windsor Castle, a chance for the Band to entertain the tourists. Albeit not too many of them during January and February.
T
At the end of February, several members of the Band teamed up with members of the Band of The Blues and Royals for an Alpine skiing trip, the second such trip since 2002. A few members of the Band are now becoming highly proficient skiers among whom the Band Master, WO1 Craig Hallatt, LCoH Tim West and Musn Jules Sandford were awarded the Advanced Alpine Skiers’ Certificate. For the beginners, it was an introduction to the pleasures and pain of being on the piste, for the rest of the group, it was a chance to develop their skills and, for the fuller figured ones, the chance to practise stopping at high speed after defying the pull of gravity.
Back at Combermere, March began with an Investiture at Buckingham Palace and a day at Sandown Racecourse playing at the Grand Military Gold Cup meeting. The month continued with both Household Cavalry Bands providing the pomp and ceremony for the Freedom of Windsor parade, a very proud day for the Bands and Regiment alike. The Major General’s Inspection was as much a spectacle as ever for the general public. SCpl Kevin Pearson had proudly announced at breakfast that this was to be his last mounted engagement and that he had not fallen off in state kit throughout his twenty-two years. He left a lasting impression by making an involuntary dismount as the band ‘took post’ in front of the Major General, hitting ‘the deck’ with a thud thanks to Aden’s dislike of saddles and girths. Fortunately, no harm was done to either. The Band was then full throttle into the
mounted season with the Beating Retreat and the early morning ‘sparrow fart’ Trooping rehearsal. However, leaving Combermere at 0010hrs and mounting up at 0230hrs, the morning strangely lacked the sound of any bird song. It was after The Queen’s Birthday Parade this year, that the Band bade a fond farewell to Major David Cresswell after four years as Director of Music. He has gone on to pastures new with the Band of The Welsh Guards. Therefore, thrown in at the deep-end with his first engagement being the Garter Service, the Band welcomed Captain Bob Pennington, who took up the reins with great delight. The summer season culminated with a trip to Buckingham Palace playing for The Not Forgotten Association’s Garden Party. A little drama was injected into the day when at 1800hrs, as the Band was about to pack away and head back to Windsor for the start of summer leave,
Household Cavalry Regiment
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