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Author: Bandmaster

Leyton Orient Football Club Remembrance 

Acts of Remembrance at the O’s

Bandmaster

Each year and further to the research undertaken by Steve Jenkins on Clapton Orient’s service and sacrifice in the Great War, Leyton Orient hold an Act of Remembrance on the pitch at half-time should the O’s have a home fixture on the weekend of Remembrance Sunday. The interest and support shown, not only by the football club, but also the many thousands that have witnessed this important event is evident by the close attention and respect shown by all those in attendance. Over the years, family members of the Clapton…

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Highams Park 

Christmas Fayre 2017

Bandmaster

The 17th Pals’ were proud to once again be invited to participate in the Highams Park Christmas Fayre. The band was asked to initially form up in the station car park and to commence playing as the assembled group of cyclists made their way from the Library to Signal Walk – the pedestrian area outside Tesco, via the railway level crossing. However, just as the band struck up the weather, which was forecast to be poor that afternoon, took a turn for the worst as a steady downpour began to…

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Leyton Orient Football Club Remembrance 

Remembrance Sunday 2017

Bandmaster

Remembrance Sunday saw the band assist the Leyton Branch of the Royal British Legion with its Act of Remembrance in Coronation Gardens, Leyton, after which it lead the parade to the Parish Church. This is something the band has done for many years and it is always a popular event, particularly as the band is invited to attend the Legion’s HQ for lunch! Later that day, the buglers and other members of the band who were available for support, drove up to Epping to assist Epping Upper Clapton Rugby Club…

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The Menin Gate Ypres 2017 

The Menin Gate 2017

Bandmaster

As part of the Ypres Tour in 2017, the band was honoured to parade in the Town Square as well as at the world-famous Menin Gate, during which the buglers took part in the Last Post ceremony when they played ‘Reveille’, pairing up with the Ypres Fire Brigade buglers who play ‘Last Post’ each evening at 8pm local time. This was without doubt the proudest moment to date for everyone connected with the 17th Pals’ Battalion Band since its formation in 2012.

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Ypres 2017 

Ypres 2017

Bandmaster

Further to the overwhelming success of the O’s Somme Tour in 2016 and the staging of The Greater Game later in the year, it was felt that a first ever tour of the Ypres Salient should take place in 2017. Due to this being the inaugural visit to Ypres and surrounding area, organiser Steve Jenkins felt that only two coaches should be booked, particularly as much of the tour would involve driving through narrow road and lanes and included more urban locations than experienced on the Somme. This still meant…

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The Somme The Somme 2016 

Delville Wood 2016

Bandmaster

Sunday 24th July was to be the final day of the tour, but it was to be another special day. Having checked out of the hotel, everyone  set off for Longueval and Delville Wood, a place that, like Thiepval, is always on the itinerary due to its Orient connections with William Jonas. Firstly a full wreath-laying ceremony was held at the Football League Memorial after which the band paraded the short distance to Delville Wood where a special time of words, prayer and song took place lead by the O’s…

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The Somme The Somme 2016 

Thiepval Centenary Celebrations 2016

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The visit to the Thiepval Memorial was to be one of the highlights of the 17th Pals’, not only during this trip but probably always as the bands performance was videoed and shown live on the Legion’s website. Moreover, footage of the band at Thiepval was also shown on the BBC Breakfast Show that morning. It was an extremely proud occasion, particularly when the band formed up at the large cross at the rear of the memorial and marched up between the crosses and headstones of the French and British…

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The Somme The Somme 2016 

The Somme 2016

Bandmaster

It was obvious that this special trip needed to be organised to the battlefields of northern France in 2016 commemorate the centenary of the Battle of the Somme. Four coaches and a convoy of cars with a total of over two hundred people including the 17th Pals’, who also had a pipe band which was organised by former Royal Marine Duncan MacKinnon added to their numbers, made their way over to the Somme departing the O’s on the morning of Thursday 21st July. Having docked in Calais, the coaches drove…

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The Somme The Somme 2014 

The Somme 2014

Bandmaster

The first of three special centenary Somme Tours saw over two hundred O’s supporters and friends of the Club make their way over to northern France during a very hot wekeend in July. Whilst Leyton Orient buglers, Norman Coe and Steve Jenkins travelled, regretfully on this occasion Bob Sargeant was unable to make the trip due to family commitments. Norman and Steve were joined by two experienced pipers; Korean veteran Eddie McHale and Jenny Barrow. What made this trip extra special was to have family members of William Jonas, Richard McFadden…

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The Somme The Somme 2011 

The Leyton Orient Memorial 2011

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Following on from the successful tour of 2008, it seemed natural that another visit to the battlefields of Northern France should take place, particularly before the overwhelming commemorations of the centenary of the Great War commenced in 2014.  Four coaches were commissioned to transport almost 200 Leyton Orient supporters and friends of the O’s over to France and as well as paying respects to the Clapton Orient lads lost on the Somme; William Jonas, Richard McFadden and George Scott, along with remembering the nations fallen, a very special event was…

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