Remembrance Sunday is always a busy day for the Norwich Citadel Band (Bandmaster Richard Woodrow) and this year was no different. A crisp November morning saw the band formed up at 10:00 am, ready to march a large group of ex-servicemen to Norwich’s War Memorial facing City Hall. The band then returned to head a second parade with a “flight” from RAF Marham followed by active military personnel, including part-time personnel of the Territorial Army. It was noted that the gathered crowd was the largest in ten years, perhaps with many people wishing to pay tribute to the brave men who are facing many dangers in Afghanistan.

Dignitaries both civic and religious, including the Deputy Lord Mayor and the Lord Lieutenant of Norfolk, solemnly processed to their places at the Memorial as incidental music was played by the band. A short service of Remembrance was held and poppy wreaths were laid, again to music by the Norwich Citadel Band.

The parade then formed up and, with the Norwich Citadel Band at the head, marched to Norwich Cathedral for a further service in which the band also participated. Matthew Peek played “The Last Post” and “Reveille” both at the War Memorial and at the Cathedral, as well as a third time during the evening service at Norwich Citadel attended by standards of the Royal British Legion and other organizations. During the evening service, a message was read out by the corps officer, Major Andrew Diaper-Clausen, from former Norwich Citadel bandsman, Warrant Officer Class 2 (Band Sergeant-Major), Royal Artillery Band Martin Whybrow, currently based in Afghanistan:

My thoughts are with everyone at Norwich Citadel on this Remembrance Sunday. My earliest memories of this day will always be the Sunday form-up outside City Hall, the march to the Cathedral and the evening service with the British Legion. The memorial to the fallen of Norwich Citadel is reflected all around me where I am based at the present time and in every city, town and village in England. The memorials here are of young men and women who have given their lives in the last 10 years of conflict in this land, bringing home to me the reality of the ultimate sacrifice made by those in previous conflicts. Norwich Citadel will always be my spiritual home.

Source:
Norwich Citadel Band web site, original report by Band Secretary Michael Whybrow