Appeal to find musicians in time for Remembrance parade

8 hours ago

A Remembrance parade will take place on Sunday in Halton

BBC Wooden Remembrance crosses topped with red poppies fill the foreground of a war memorial display, leading towards a large wooden cross and rows of red poppy wreaths placed against a stone memorial wall. Bronze plaques listing the names of servicemen and women, including a plaque headed “The Second World War 1939–1945”, form the backdrop to the tribute. — A Remembrance parade will take place on Sunday in Halton

A veterans' charity has issued a last-minute appeal for musicians to help complete its Remembrance Sunday parade.

Halton Royal British Legion said the band originally booked to play had been stood down because of uncertainty over whether the village's parade would go ahead.

The event has now been given the green light, but many of the musicians are committed to commemorations at their own local cenotaphs.

The charity is urgently seeking players, particularly a drummer, bass drummer, flautist and piper. It said a full marching band "would be the dream", but acknowledged finding one at such short notice might be difficult.

Councillor John Davies, who represents Halton Castle ward, said it was "great news" the village's Remembrance parade would go ahead, but it was still missing a key component.

"We are left with a parade ready to march on Sunday to pay our respects, but we don't have a band to accompany us," the Reform UK councillor said.

Reform UK councillor John Davies has issued an appeal to find musicians in time for the parade.

Councillor John Davies with short grey hair wearing a dark suit, white shirt and blue striped tie stands outdoors in front of a partially ruined stone structure. A small lapel pin and a clip-on microphone are attached to the suit jacket. — Reform UK councillor John Davies has issued an appeal to find musicians in time for the parade.

Davies has asked for drummers, flutists or pipers to come forward.

"I've been in the military now for nearly 26 years and it is quite a lonely old affair when you are marching without accompanying music," Davies told BBC Radio Merseyside.

"You don't have to be a professional. You don't even have to be in a band."

Davies urged anyone who could help to get in touch with Halton Royal British Legion as soon as possible.

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