FEATURE Band of the Coldstream Guards
ON HER MAJESTY’S
MUSICAL SERVICE A number of Salvationists at Regent Hall serve in the Band of the Coldstream Guards. Two of them – the longest serving and the newest – share their experiences
GLENN LITTLE (PERCUSSION) MY passion for military music started from an early age when my parents would take me to see the Royal Tournament at Earls Court, Changing the Guard and Trooping the Colour. I was in awe of the bands, their powerful sound, the uniforms and the pomp and ceremony – from then on I knew that was what I wanted to do. I grew up in The Salvation Army, attending Felixstowe Corps. Music was a large part of my upbringing: playing in the YP band, senior band and Anglia Youth Band, as well as attending various music schools. I joined the military straight after my GCSEs at the age of 17 and am now coming up to 18 years of service. Over my career I have been able to play at numerous state occasions, including The Queen’s Birthday Parade (Trooping the Colour), the Festival of Remembrance and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee – and I have lost count of the number of Changing the Guard ceremonies I have taken part in. I have also been fortunate to travel all over the world to take part in military tattoos and concerts, including a three-month tour of the United States and Canada. My faith plays a huge part in my job in the military. We are often pushed out of our mental and physical comfort zones 10
Salvationist 6 April 2019
in order to progress, and I’ve always needed to rely on God in these situations. Early in my career I was also often pressured into situations that tested not only my faith but also the promises I had made in The Salvation Army’s soldier’s covenant. I soon learnt that if I trusted God and stayed true to the promises I had made I would be respected for my Christian faith. Courage, discipline, respect for others, integrity, loyalty and selfless commitment are the values of the British Army, which reflect the values I try to implement in my Christian life. I hope that I show colleagues, through my acts, decisions and conversations, that my Christian faith can influence them to think about their own beliefs.
GREG WATERS (CORNET) IN September 2018 I was sent to the Band of the Coldstream Guards on completion of my initial trade training in the British Army. Since that date I have been in my dream job and have worked with some excellent musicians who I am glad to call friends. Performing music every day is a privilege that is sometimes easy to take for granted, and having a Christian faith has helped me in all aspects of military life.
Basic training was tough, but not in the ways that I would have expected. It was physically demanding, and my mentality was tested daily, but the hardest aspect was living in a room with nine other men from different backgrounds. As a troop we attended church during the working week for lessons on the values and standards of the British Army. The padre invited us to the Sunday morning service, which wasn’t compulsory. I’ve never been nervous about sharing my faith but on this occasion there was something holding me back. Perhaps it was the fear of being an outcast for 14 weeks. On the first Sunday I made it clear that I was going to attend the church service, and to my surprise I was joined by a handful of others from the troop. I really felt God’s presence with me at that moment, and it has helped me share my faith ever since. There are plenty of mixed views about Christianity in the band. I love having conversations with some of the guys who are atheists or agnostics as it gives me a chance to explain my views, even though I don’t always act in a way that shows them. I have found some aspects of adjusting to a new workplace difficult, and it can be easy to do and say things that don’t align with my faith. I’m glad that I have a long career in the military ahead of me. It will present me with plenty of opportunities for God-related conversations with lots of different people. The band will be presenting a St George’s Day concert at the Corn Exchange, Bedford, on 23 April at 7.30 pm. Tickets are available from bedfordcornexchange.co.uk or 01234 718044
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