THE GOLDONIAN
2nd COY. 1st "C" BATTALION.
 HERTS REGIMENT. A.C.F
BAND NOTES

At the start of the winter term we lost the services of our Drum-major, John Stocking, who left to take a job. John was a very reliable and smart lad and his place has been taken by L/Cpl. Furnise. Already Richard Furnise has led two public parades and displays and promises to keep up the high standard required of a Drum-major. Sergeant J. Hilton, our leading tenor-drummer, has become apprenticed and Cadet D. Brewer, our solo side drummer, has also had to leave for the same reason. John Hilton was also our School Captain. We shall miss these lads but shall now build up again during the winter term. Tub-drummer Brian Cummings has left for a situation-he was one of the oldest members of the Company having served four years and four months with the Company and the Corps of Drums. I welcome in the replacements and would say that being a member of the Corps of Drums means that you must be prepared to keep up the high standard that has been set over the years by past members.

The Corps of Drums attended the annual Battalion inspection at Hertford on the 22nd June; they led the Company to and from the inspection and all did very well in spite of the heavy showers.

During the summer season we have given displays of figure marching and the Beating of the Retreat at Waterford, Buntingford and Barkingside, and at Welham Green, where we entertained the disabled ex-servicemen, we were highly complimented by the several ex-service bandsmen present.

The Corps of Drums led the parade at Romford for the Battle of Britain service on the 28th September, and Cadets Bishop and Cleary sounded the Last Post and the Reveille at the laying on of wreaths. They also gave a display at Walkern on the 20th September which was much appreciated. At the School Exhibition of work and other activities we were represented in the display stands and also many photographs of past bands were displayed which brought happy memories to the old boys that visited us on the Sunday.

On Sunday Remembrance Day, 9th November, the Corps of Drums led the parades at Buntingford in the morning and at Roydon in the afternoon. Duty buglers sounded the Last Post and Reveille at these services, and buglers were sent to Wheathampstead, Harlow, Walkern, Stanstead Abbotts, Watton-at-Stone and Waterford. All the boys concerned were well spoken of for their smartness and playing.

Duty buglers also sounded the Last Post and Reveille in our School Chapel at the Remembrance Service. There was no band competition at the annual Battalion camp this year, owing to most of our lads being on their summer holidays, but Cadet Bishop was highly praised for his smart turnout and good playing as duty bugler for the guard mounting competition which was won by the 1st Battalion.

I would like to close these notes by wishing all members of the Corps of Drums a very happy Christmas.

A. P. CULVER, Captain, O.I.C

From Company notes The Goldonian Winter 1958