Durham ACF at the Festival of Remembrance
For the first time in its 100 year history, Durham ACF was selected to represent the ACF, in Cadet 150 year, at The Festival of Remembrance and the Remembrance Day Parade at the Cenotaph in Whitehall. Four Officers, four Adult Instructors and thirty-two cadets were involved..heavily involved!
At the Festival of Remembrance, Standard Bearer for the Army Cadet Force was Durham’s RSM Alan Pearson, recently returned from expedition in South Africa. We also provided the Honour Guard for The Queen and Royal Party, Arena Honour Guard for the Chelsea Pensioners and Battle Of Britain pilots.
We were also present on the Muster and provided programme sellers and wheelchair orderlies. Rehearsals began on the Friday for eleven key personnel which lasted all day. On the Saturday the cadets were in the Albert Hall from 0900-2200hrs and involved in a dress rehearsal in the morning, the matinee performance in the afternoon and the Royal performance in the evening.
Durham were up early the next morning for Remembrance Sunday, arriving at Wellington Barracks by 0830. There then followed a stroll down The Mall to the gathering at Admiralty Arch in Trafalgar Square, before moving through the security check and forming up near Scotland Yard.
The parade itself followed the route down Whitehall passed The Cenotaph, right onto Birdcage Walk and then quickly right again onto Horse Guards Road ending on Horse Guards Parade itself. The march past began with the Prince of Wales taking the salute and ended with the Princess Royal doing the same on Horse Guards opposite the Foot Guards Memorial.
Those cadets not involved in the Festival Of Remembrance rehearsals on the Friday were taken into London and visited the Cenotaph, Household Cavalry Museum, 10 Downing Street, where they were allowed past the gates to have photographs taken at the front door, Churchill’s War Rooms under what is now The Treasury and Westminster Abbey.
Another splendid series of experiences provided by The Army Cadet Force for North East youngsters.