Welcome to Friary Diary issue 92 - a monthly round up of news about the Friary Brass Band.
REMEMBRANCE:
Whilst the full Band was unable to undertake the usual duty of leading Guildford’s Remembrance Sunday parade this year, Friary players were individually involved in a number of ceremonies around the area.
First on duty was Lauren Straker who played The Last Post and Reveille at her daughter’s school assembly on Armistice Day. She was closely followed by husband Richard who repeated the performance at a brief civic Remembrance service held on Guildford’s Guildhall balcony, with the addition of the National Anthem to lead spectators’ participation.
Saturday saw bass player David Richards lead the RAF Halton Voluntary Band (above) as they supported the War Widows
Association in their annual service held at the Cenotaph in London.
And on Sunday, fellow RAF musicians Neil Wharton (trombone) and Sam Noden (euphonium) were also at The Cenotaph playing with the Band of the RAF Regiment on the march and during the veterans’ march past the cenotaph.
Kelly Harrison (tenor horn) returned to help out her previous band, Thundersley who provided the music for the remembrance service at Canvey Island, south east Essex, a sizeable event which usually draws an audience of 800.
Band Chairman, David Wicks was on duty with his cornet at All Saints Church, Woodham, whilst fellow cornet player Simon Persin played from the balcony at Guildfordians’ Rugby Club.
As well as playing trombone for Friary, Ian Stewart is also Musical Director of East Sussex-based Lewes, Glynde and Beddingham Band (‘LGBB’). Ian was joined by tenor horn player Nick Krebs as LGBB were on parade at both Ringmer and then Lewes.
Friary members from top left clockwise: Ian Stewart & Nick Krebs, David Wicks, Simon Person, Kelly Harrison, Richard Straker
Thank you and well done to all our members who played for Remembrance. It’s a duty which we are honoured to undertake in memory of all those who sacrificed so much. I laid a wreath on behalf of the Band at the new war memorial in Castle Grounds, Guildford. Without their sacrifice, our lives and our music might be very different.
We will remember them.
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