Thursday 11 June 2009

This morning, I meet with the OC of the company who wanted to make sure to see me before I left on Friday. It was a very nice meeting with the OC giving me two choices in the future, one was to either join the regiment or two, come back again to visit.

Around midday, the entire regiment formed on parade in the square for the arrival of the Colonial in Chief of the Regiment, His Royal Highness Prince Andrew. As HRH approached, the Regiment to came to a smart attention. HRH addressed the regiment, and bestowed medals to rangers who showed overwhelming courage during their recent tour in Afghanistan.

That afternoon, the BP&D headed over to the community center which would be the venue for the boxing match. There we were able to do a quick rehearsal and we were briefed on the the layout of the evening.

At 1800hrs the band meet at the band block to get dressed in our No.1 uniform and prepare to head over to the community center. Once at the community center the band took its place in the stands to watch the first half of the boxing match. I was however posted with the bugles to await the Commanding Officer and Prince Andrew. As the two dignitaries arrived, the bugles played a fanfare, and I was queued to strike in and play them to their seats.

Once the boxing match had started another piper and myself took turns piping each boxer into the ring.

After the half time intermission, the entire band played its selection. The performance ended with the drummers playing a drum salute with a twist. The drummers had painted their drum sticks with fluorescent paint and installed two black lights on either side, and as the main lights were shut down, it made for a very impressive show.

After the boxing match I returned to my room to finish packing and to say good bye to the lads who would be leaving very early in the morning to go back home for their long weekend. I was just about to head to bed, when a few other lads from the BP&D nearly kidnapped me for one last night at the Stormy.