Household Division Music Spectacular
4th July 2023Horse Guards
Rain, rain go away come again another day! A nursery rhyme from my youth in the USA, which we sang at the top of our voices every July 4th. Chanting against the rain or employing a rain Sharma to ward off the clouds in Indonesia seems like great ideas to borrow when you are glued by rain to a metal bench at Horseguards and the drums haven’t even started. Fortunately once the drum rolls began, followed by the bagpipes, Past Master Mark Gower Smith and I were mesmerised. Soaked through and through, we never considered returning to dry land - in this case the nerve centre of the Irish Guards at Wellington Barracks. The bands performed, the fireworks lit up the sky, and even the cannons boomed. The Household Musicians, many wearing water laden bearskin hats, were magnificent. Mark and I were so enthralled that we mistook the ending for the intermission! Special thanks to Major Robbie Wilmont MBE for generously inviting us to a memorable evening - and for not leaving us!