Festival of Remembrance

Hadleigh Temple
RAF Wyton Area Voluntary Band; Victoria Yellop (violin); Hadleigh Temple Band; Hadleigh Temple Singing Company; Hadleigh Temple Timbrel Brigade; Hadleigh Temple Songster Brigade
Saturday 1st November

The expectant audience gathered at Hadleigh Temple for the third annual Festival of Remembrance were introduced to the event by means of a ten-minute montage of appropriate newsreel, static images and music, accompanied by a minute by minute countdown. 

Return

After the visit last year by the Royal Navy Volunteer Band, 2008 saw the return of the RAF Wyton Area Voluntary Band, under their charismatic bandmaster Graham Sheldon.

The band has recently recorded its third CD, currently being prepared for release, and had just returned from a brief tour of duty in Cyprus.

The men and women of the band marched briskly and smartly into place to the martial strains of the “RAF March Past” (Davies/Dyson), played by Hadleigh Temple Band.

Special guests

The two bands then united under the baton of Bandmaster Ken Hillson in the “British Legion March” (Bidgood) for the entry of the flags of the Royal British Legion, the Air Training Corps and various Salvation Army sections.
After the rousing singing of “The National Anthem” Major Dicker, Hadleigh Temple’s Commanding Officer, welcomed all present and introduced the participants and special guests.

Kenneth Alford’s “Hollyrood” is the regimental March of the RAF Regiment, and was given a sparkling rendition by the massed bands under the leadership of Graham Sheldon. The contrast in tone colours between the two groups was highlighted by the woodwind taking some sections on their own, whilst the euphonium counter melody was given particular prominence in the trio.

Centre stage

Hadleigh Temple Singing Company then took centre stage, led by Marion Still and accompanied by Paul Hillson (piano), Carl Carter (bass guitar) and Thomas Johnson (drums).

Despite their numbers being somewhat depleted due to the half-term holiday, they made quite an impression with their two songs, the reflective “You Are the One” (Darren Bartlett) and the exuberant “Let There be Praise” (Dick and Melodie Tunney).

One wonders sometimes what the television schedulers would do without the various war films that appear to surface at every holiday weekend.

Solo item

For their first solo item, RAF Wyton presented the familiar theme to “The Great Escape” (Elmer Bernstein arr M Pegram), based on the ambitious plans for a mass escape by airmen detained in a World War II Prisoner of War Camp. The timing was all the more poignant due to the recent death of one of the last survivors of the camp.

“Crags of Tumbledown Mountain” was written by Pipe Major J Riddell to commemorate a more recent incident in military history, the fierce engagement fought by the 2nd Battalion, Scots Guards during the Falklands War.

Unlike many such memorial compositions this is not a slow, reflective piece but rather a lively celebration, played with gusto by Piper Michael Basford, a fine young player who received a standing ovation (following a little prompting by Graham Sheldon!) after he had encored the work.

Glamour

Violinist Victoria Yellop then introduced some colour and glamour to the proceedings, wearing a striking red, backless gown. Fortunately, the sound problems which had plagued her rehearsal had been ironed out as she launched into her rendition of “Czardas” (Monti) followed by a selection of “Jigs and Reels” she had performed at the pageant “All the Queen’s Horses”, held at Windsor Castle in the presence of the Queen.

These initial numbers did highlight some discrepancies with the melodic line on the backing track, but her vibrant personality soon won the audience over, and she had them singing along to her “Glenn Miller Medley” and a selection of “Vera Lynn Songs”, ending with programmes and flags waving to “Land of Hope and Glory”.

Repeated

Hadleigh Temple Timbrel Brigade (Irene Ivory) had been requested to repeat an item devised by Zena Graver for the previous visit of the RAF Wyton Band. As the band played the slow introduction to Don Gillis’s arrangement of “Just a Closer Walk with God” (adapted for band by Calvin Custer) the timbrellists strolled up the centre aisle in two rows, singing in harmony and each with their hand on the shoulder of the person in front.

When the band broke into an up-tempo version of the tune, directed by a loud “1, 2, 3, 4 . . .” from the bandmaster, the group split either side of the band to take up their positions on the platform for the rest of the number, which featured stand-up solos on trumpet and trombone and appropriately lively choreography.

Contribution

As their solo contribution, Hadleigh Temple Band played the march “Britannia”, written by Canadian Salvationist Kenneth Smith, and incorporating the melodies “God Bless the Prince of Wales” and “Rule Britannia”. Next was the Hadleigh Temple Songster Brigade, conducted by Paul Hillson, with Carl Carter this time at the piano and Thomas Johnson once more on the drum kit.

“This Day” (Lowell Alexander arr Graeme Press) featured the women’s voices effectively at the opening, and this was followed by the spirited “Bound for Glory”, (words by Richard Jukes to an up-tempo setting by Richard Phillips).

Thoughts

RAF Chaplain Rev (Wg Cdr) Mike Elliott shared some thoughts on the subject of remembrance, mentioning links between The Salvation Army and the Armed Forces, before focussing particularly on the Book of Remembrance that was to be presented later on in the programme, and to references in the Book of Revelation to the Lamb’s Book of Life.

After a summary of the history of the RAF, which is celebrating its 90th Anniversary in 2008, and in particular the development of RAF music, and the role of both full-time and voluntary bands, Hadleigh Band joined with RAF Wyton in Eric Coates’ march “The Dam Busters”.

The wind band arrangement by Duthoit and the brass scoring by Dawson complemented each other well, with the brass once more leaving off in the middle and allowing the lighter tones of the woodwind to shine through.

Hornpipe

Victoria Yellop returned to the stage, this time dressed in cream, opening with a maritime-themed set beginning and ending with the hornpipe “Jack the Lad”, and also featuring “Anchors Aweigh”, “A Life on the Ocean Wave”, “What Shall we do with the Drunken Sailor” and “Blow the Man Down”.

Her bubbly personality and abundance of energy made quite an impression as she proceeded to lead the audience in a military medley of “Blaze Away” and “Tipperary”, followed by a set of “Jigs and Reels” that she performs when touring with the Mike James Big Band.

As the music got faster and faster – accompanied by the enthusiastic clapping of the audience – her playing grew more and more frenetic until she sunk to the floor in a heap, rising up from there to a high-soaring finish. The audience then sang along heartily to her final patriotic numbers, “I vow to Thee, my Country” and Parry’s “Jerusalem”.

Final item

For RAF Wyton’s final solo item Graham Sheldon chose a new arrangement of “Riverdance”, made by Squadron Leader Crompton of the RAF Central Band. This was presented with tremendous verve and vitality, with driving rhythms and negotiating the frequently changing patterns with confidence.

Despite the absence of some members due to official duties, and the recent transfer of a couple of key players to other units, Graham elicited an impressive performance from the forces at his disposal, in turn encouraging and cajoling them in their efforts.

Of particular note was the soprano saxophone playing of Sally Reid, standing in front of the band and playing the intricate and exposed solo passages without a copy.

Contrast

In total contrast, Hadleigh Songster Brigade then provided the wordless choral contribution to “Hymn to the Fallen” (John Williams, arr Frank Bernaerts), backed by the united bands.

A snare drummer from the RAF stood at either flank of the band, dressed in full ceremonial uniform, as was the timpani player in her position in the centre, as they beat out the gentle but insistent rhythm of the opening bars.

The cornet duet was played by the Principal Cornets of the two bands, standing together to one side, and Graham’s tight control ensured that the vocal parts carried across the band.

Moving

This moving rendition led into the Service of Remembrance, which featured drums and flags from the RAF and Salvation Army being brought forward to construct a drumhead altar, as used traditionally by troops on campaign.

This also incorporated the presentation of a beautifully produced Book of Remembrance including the names of all those from the village of Hadleigh who have lost their lives on active service since 1914.

The book will in future be on display every November for members of the public to view. Following the “Last Post” and “Rouse” played by the two cornettists, poppies fluttered gently down from the ceiling over the participants.

Band Sergeant John Ashcroft led a vote of thanks, after which the standards left the platform to the strains of a reprise of “The British Legion March”, followed by the songsters, allowing the songster/bandsmen and women to resume their places for a final rousing rendition of “The RAF March Past”.

Peter Bale

^back to top