Brigade band to play at Menin Gate ceremony
They are part of the Bugles and Drums of the Stedfast Association, which is made up of ex-members and serving officers of the Boy’s Brigade and Girl’s Brigade from all over the country.
Richard Newman and Barry McCann from Southwick, Brian White from Worthing and Ken Towner from Ferring will be among 82 members making the journey to Flanders and the Somme from August 29 to September 2.
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Hide AdThe tour will commemorate ex-members of the Boy’s Brigade who served and died during the First World War.
Mr Newman said: “The band is booked to play at The Menin Gate for two nights and will visit several places, such as Authuille, where the 16th Battalion of the Highland Light Infantry fought, to pay its respects. The battalion was formed from members of the Glasgow Battalion of the Boy’s Brigade and they suffered greatly.
“The Lord Mayor of London will be attending the same ceremony, as head of the Livery Company of Historical Researches.”
It is expected the company, made up of 180 people on the day, will join the band for part of the occasion.
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Hide AdThe band has members from all over the country, plus one who flies in from Germany, and on the trip, the ages will range from 17 to members well in their 70s.
Adur County Local Committee agreed a donation of £2,500 towards the tour and the band was also given £400 by Brighton and Hove Bus Company, where Mr Newman has worked for the last 25 years.
Mr Newman said: “Since I was six years old, I have been a member of the Boy’s Brigade and for the last five years, I have been a member of the marching band.
“We have played twice in The Lord Mayor’s Show in London, we have played in England, Ireland, Wales and Scotland.
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Hide Ad“We are all volunteers, we do not get paid for playing, and we have to pay for all our own travelling expenses, this is why I applied for the grant.”
The group was at RAF Halton last weekend for one of the final practice sessions.
On November 8, the band will be playing live on BBC1 for the third time, in The Lord Mayor’s Show.
Mr Newman said the 16th Battalion of the Highland Infantry, which was formed from members of the Glasgow Battalion of the Boy’s Brigade, suffered greatly.
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