2024 Otterbourne Remembrance Concert

This was the first outing of Sutton Scotney & District's Standard during the remembrance season of 2024.  Events held during these couple of weeks are what Hampshire's Standard Bearers primarily train for throughout the year.

Following the success of last year's concert, the Otterbourne Brass Band invited me back this year for their 2024 Remembrance Concert.  However, this year the venue was different; it was held in the Poulner Baptist Chapel, near Ringwood.  

When I arrived, an hour before the event start time, I found this venue presented new challenges on last year.  The format for the Standard Bearer is quite simple.  In the second half, towards the end, they hold the Act of Remembrance.  The band plays the British Legion March, during which time I march from the back of the room, around the seating area, and finish up on stage, facing the audience.  If I marched directly to the stage, I would be there in about 20 seconds, so to last out the March, I try to take a circuitous route, presenting the Standard to as much of the audience as possible.  However, this was a challenge in this chapel.  In order to make a safe route, avoiding TV screens suspended from the ceiling, I had to remove a few chairs, and clear a clutter of music stands and speakers on the stage itself. 

I thought I had the route sussed, until the percussionist set up her drum kit and xylophone right in front of the steps up to the stage.  This required a little negotiation, and the removal of a couple more chairs.  I was confident now.  Then the audience turned up!  The start of my route was between two rows of seats towards the back.  For some reason, this turned out to be the row of choice for all the wheel chairs and zimmerframes.  A little more negotiation was now required.

Once the concert began all was well.  The music was terrific.  Some highlights included Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah, Whitacre's Lux Aurumque, and then of course Hubert Parry's Jerusalem.  The Act of Remembrance went well, and I managed not to trip over any wheelchairs. 

The concert went well, and it was an honour to be invited back again.