Yesterday saw ROSL's Remembrance activities commerating the centenary of the end of the First World War conclude, with a moving memorial service and a concert from the London Military Band.
Firstly, members gathered in the Princess Alexandra Hall at 3pm for a memorial service led by Paul Edmonson, who led us through a series of hymns and readings from members, ROSL ARTS alumni, and staff. The congregation then headed outside to ROSL's war memorial at the entrance to Over-Seas House, where Chairman Sir David Brewer laid a wreath and trumpeter Adam Stockbridge played The Last Post, followed by two minutes silence.
Later that evening, members and guests again gathered in the Princess Alexandra Hall, this time for a rousing concert from the London Military Band of British marching standards and well-known pieces from composers working during the First World War.
Formed in 2014 by Alan Shellard, formerly the principal clarinettist of the Band of the Grenadier Guards, and dressed in resplendent reproduction uniforms based on those worn by the Buckingham Palace Guards in the Victoria era, Alan led the band through such classics as Greensleeves, Rule Britannia, and Irish Tune from County Derry (more famously known as Oh Danny Boy).
Director of Arts Geoff Parkin even joined the band on clarinet for a rendition of Vaughan Williams' Seventeen Come Sunday after the interval, before Alan closed the performance with another rendition of The Last Post and service marches from the Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force.To read more about ROSL's activities in the First World War, visit our new WWI archive here.
