RAF MUSICIANS DECLARE THEIR UNSUNG HEROES
Doctors and nurses from the defence medical rehabilitation centre Headley Court, the British Forces Post Office and Tri-Service bomb disposal units are among those deserving greater recognition according to musicians on the current Unsung Heroes national concert tour.
The musicians recorded their own personal video messages on the eve of the tour, which will visit 13 venues across the UK concluding with a performance at the Congress Theatre, Eastbourne on December 11.
To view the musicians' personal video messages, click here.
Violinist, Chief Technician Barry Stringer said: "I have first-hand experience of what the guys at Headley Court do and they are amazing."
He said that he was personally looking forward to performing The Prayer during the concert tour but not just because he has a solo part. He said: "In 2009 at the Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall, my son presented a wreath of poppies to the President of the British Legion and as he walked down the steps they played The Prayer. It was really wonderful."
Drummer Sgt Kevin Miles said his unsung hero was the British Forces Post Office. It does a tremendous service," he said. "When I was in Iraq all the mail came through, all the parcels. It is such a wonderful system they have set up. My mother wrote to me on an e-bluey at 11pm one evening and I received it by 11am the following morning. It is such a morale boost."
Trumpeter Senior Aircraftsman Andrew Lofthouse, from the Central Band of the RAF, who performs solo on MacArthur Park, said his unsung heroes were RAF flight engineers. "They're the ones working behind the scenes making everything run smoothly," he said.
Percussionist Corporal Chris I'Anson said his unsung heroes were all the RAF veterans. "We play for them every year at The Cenotaph on Remembrance Sunday but it is very important they are remembered throughout the year for the sacrifices they have made."
Horn player, Senior Aircraftswoman Ellen Driscoll from the Central Band said the families of serving personnel were her unsung heroes. She said: "They have to follow their partners, mums or dads, around the country and beyond and they have to deal with anxieties and uncertainties when their loved ones are away on deployment whilst being unfailingly supportive of all that they do."
Audience members attending the RAF in Concert Unsung Heroes tour will be able to record the names of their RAF Unsung Heroes in a special book of remembrance that will be displayed at the central church of the RAF, St Clement Danes in London.
The tour in full: Symphony Hall, Birmingham (Oct 26), Bridgewater Hall, Manchester (Oct 28), The Sage, Gateshead (Oct 30), The ICC, Harrogate (Nov 6), The Barbican, London (Nov 15), The Anvil, Basingstoke (Nov 17), Colston Hall, Bristol (Nov 18), Royal Centre, Nottingham (Nov 19), Theatre Royal, Norwich (Nov 20), Cliffs Pavilion, Southend (Nov 23), The Lighthouse, Poole (Nov 25), Ipswich Regent, Ipswich (Nov 26), Congress Theatre, Eastbourne (Dec 11).
Each performance starts at 7.30pm and tickets are available at £15.50, £18.50 and £21.50 (London: £16 - £36). For details, click here.
To view the musicians' personal video messages, click here.
October 25, 2011
