When it comes to ceremonial occasions nobody does it better than the British and there is nothing finer than a colourful procession supported by one or more military bands in full flow.
There are around 50 Armed Forces bands in the UK, five belonging to the Guards Regiments and another five to the Royal Marines. Until 1994, however, there were as many as 64 Army bands alone but subsequent reviews and reductions in manpower have cut this down to 22. What a pity, although there are still an additional School of Music is based at Kneller Hall in Twickenham, West London, but with the building scheduled for closure and future sale, the School, which was founded in 1857, may have to move elsewhere.
The oldest band is the Royal Artillery which traces its roots back to 1557 at the Battle of St. Quentin in France, when British and Spanish forces defeated the French. However, the band was not officially recognised for another 200 years.
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Anglesey's Beacon
South Stack Lighthouse.
Wiltshire's Strange Place Names
The county of Wiltshire is famous for unusual ancient sites such as the standing stones at Avebury and Stonehenge, and the man-made mound of Silbury Hill. It also has its fair share of places with strange and amusing names. Blue Vein, Knockdown and Bleet are just a few.
Escape To The Lake District
The early months in the lead up to summer offer the perfect chance for the first warm weather getaway of the year. Spring wafts in with the promise of summer bursting forward, and a trip to the mountains makes it extra special.
Music Makers
When it comes to ceremonial occasions nobody does it better than the British and there is nothing finer than a colourful procession supported by one or more military bands in full flow.
Then & Now
Banbury Market Place, Oxfordshire
On The Air
Well-loved programmes from the world of wireless.
Cinemagic
I love the history and grandeur of my little London retreat; some say it is too big for me alone, but I love the space.” Ava Gardner’swords might perhaps conjure images of some bijou bolt-hole nestled in the heart of the capital, but the beautiful Hollywood star was actually referring to her 3,000 square foot home on the first floor of 34 Ennismore Gardens in Knightsbridge. It was here in this elegant garden square flat that she spent the last decades of her life enjoying a surprisingly quiet existence.
Rural Rides
How many of us search for a dream, and then spend a lifetime fulfilling it? Clough Williams-Ellis spent 20 years seeking the ideal location to build his Italianate village and 50 years building it. Originally he thought an island might be a possible location, but it was only when he came to an untamed peninsula on the breathtaking Traeth Bach tidal estuary that he realised he had finally found his chosen spot.
The Literary Pilgrim
Browsing recently in a charity shop, I came across a copy of a book I had at home on my shelf of treasured children’s books. I was young when I first read it and it proved to be a seminal book, one to which I have been indebted ever since. First published in 1937, it was written by a Wesleyan minister who roamed England in a horse-drawn caravan, writing as he went of the countryside and its wildlife. He called himself Romany.
Almanac
The Lady Of Vision.
