Somerset Army Cadet Force

Silver Bugles Delight A Duke

Written by SMI Julie Halford

The Silver Bugles delivered an inspiring performance at a high profile Court & Yeomanry Dinner attended by His Royal Highness Prince Edward, Duke of Kent KG, GCMG, GCVO on Wednesday 26 October 2011 in London's historic Apothecaries' Hall.

Our band was invited to play by the Battalion Medical Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Timothy Chambers OBE, who was appointed as the 396th Master of The Worshipful Society of Apothecaries of London in August this year. This livery dinner is held annually and celebrates the Society's long established connections with the Armed Forces.

Due to the limited space available at the venue, only 19 cadets and six of their Adult Instructors were chosen to represent the band on this very important occasion. Eight cadet buglers were stationed on the stairs leading up to the Court Room to welcome His Royal Highness, high ranking military officers and other dignitaries for the evening. Once everyone had eaten and speeches been made, the band delighted the Duke (Royal Colonel of 1st Battalion The Rifles) and the 120 dinner guests with an impressive programme of music which included the pieces Sailing, Sharpe's Rifles and Tripoli.

Our Commandant, Colonel Paul Richardson, who was an invited guest at the dinner, said 'This has been a fantastic opportunity for our band to showcase their musical talents and a great honour for the Somerset Cadet Battalion. Although it has been a long day, I am certain that all of the young people that played in the Apothecaries' Great Hall tonight will remember it as one of the highlights of their time as cadets .'

The Worshipful Society of Apothecaries can trace its beginnings back to the 14th century, although it was not incorporated by royal charter until 6 December 1617 by James I. The original Apothecaries' Hall in Blackfriars was destroyed by the Great Fire of London but was re-built almost immediately on the same site, where it still stands today. It is the oldest extant livery company hall in the City with the first-floor structure and arrangement of the Great Hall, Court Room and Parlour remaining as it was constructed around 1670. The Society is the largest of the livery companies in the City of London and in addition to its traditional civic, ceremonial, social and charitable activities; it has been licensing doctors to practise Medicine since the early 1800s.

Images by Major Paul Bunce and SSI Pete Russell LBIPP:

Image 1 Cadet Serjeant (Bugle Major) Paige Starr, Frome Platoon, and Colour Serjeant (Bugle Major)
Sam Blundson, Uphill Platoon, on 'sentry duty' in the Entrance Hall waiting to welcome His Royal
Highness the Duke of Kent and the Apothecaries' Court & Yeomanry Dinner guests.

Image 2 The Apothecaries' Master of Ceremonies chatting with two members of the Silver Bugles as they wait
for the arrival of His Royal Highness the Duke of Kent.

Image 3 Lieutenant Colonel Timothy Chambers OBE, Master of The Worshipful Society of Apothecaries and
Battalion Medical Officer, delivering his inaugural speech at the Court & Yeomanry Dinner in the
historic Great Hall.

Image 4 The Silver Bugles playing for the Apothecaries' Court & Yeomanry Dinner guests in the Great Hall.