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All the King's Men...

Players from Friary Brass have played their part in the King's Birthday Parade and Armed Forces Week.

Friary
  Jack and Morgan (right) took part in the official celebrations

Amongst the 400 or so musicians that took part in the recent King's Birthday Parade were Friary Brass players Jack Beer and Morgan Marston.

Speaking about the occasion, Jack, who plays cornet with Friary is a musician in The Band of the Coldstream Guards, commented: "It's always a great because of the spectacle of it. It takes a good couple of months of rehearsing, and the actual parade is hard work, but it's all worth it in the end!"

Brilliant

Despite the hot weather, Friary tenor horn Morgan (far right) who plays French horn in The Band of the Grenadier Guards, relished the occasion. "I really enjoyed taking part in my third Trooping of the Colour.

It was brilliant to play in front of the King and an appreciative crowd!"

King's Cross

Earlier in the week, Jack had also been part of the Regiment's 375th anniversary march of The Coldstream Guards through Berwick.

100 soldiers from Number 3 Company, 'The Spotty Dogs', of the 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards, accompanied by the Band of the Coldstream Guards, marched across the station concourse at King's Cross in London shortly after 6.00am to the surprise and delight of early morning commuters.

Jack added: "This was a new one for me and a great experience to be part of — setting off at 4.00am in full uniform and not taking it off till 9.00pm. It meant so meant to the Regiment."

It's always a great because of the spectacle of it. It takes a good couple of months of rehearsing, and the actual parade is hard work, but it's all worth it in the end!Jack Beer

Armed Forces Week

In addition to the contribution to the armed forces Friary cornet player Simon Persin once again played his part in Guildford's flag-raising ceremony to mark Armed Forces Week.

As part of the service, Simon played a fanfare on the Guildhall balcony before the flag was raised.

He stated: "It's always an honour to be part of this notable occasion, all the more so with some fellow Friary players in HM Forces and at this time of various tensions in the world."

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