The evening’s concert was preceded with a rehearsal when the band was introduced to a vocalist guess singer who would appear with us on all three concerts of the tour. His name was “Spider” Webb who was an ex Welsh Guard. This colourful character came armed with quips and gags as well as his vocal solo, The Green, Green Grass of Home.

The concert was a success with the band offering two solo items and two main works. Soloist Musn Rebecca Watts played the violin solo from John Williams’ movie theme tune Schindler’s List. Next it was a duet featuring Sergeant Andrew Libby and Musn Matt Ashment who sang the big band number “Me and My Shadow” which went down a storm. The band’s main featured pieces were Johann Strauss’ Die Fledermaus and Peter Graham’s collection of Welsh tunes “Day of the Dragon”. The concert was shared with the Penrhyn Male Voice Choir who performed a number of Welsh choral pieces before joining the band in Monte Christe and Gwahoddiad.

Caernarfon was the next port of call with the band heading another march around the town. A short parade took place as the Welsh Guards were presented with the freedom of the town. The march then continued around the rest of the town heading past the very impressive Caernarfon Castle and down to the sea front where we fell out. The rest of the afternoon was spent walking about this picturesque town frequently bumping in to members of the Battalion in full ceremonial dress enjoying the freedom of the town. 

The evening concert was in the Gallery Theatre Caernarfon and was the same programme as the night before. This time we were joined by the Caernarfon Male Voice Choir whose honorary president is the renowned baritone Bryn Terfel who sang with the choir on an east coast tour of the USA as a sprightly twenty-two year old. The choir has also won many choral competitions including the chief choral competition in the National Eisteddfod three times in consecutive years between 1994 and 1996 and seven times in all.

Friday bought us to Wrexham and followed the same suit as the previous days. The morning march was probably the longest march of the trip from the barracks up to the town centre. Upon arriving the crowds displayed genuine appreciation and took great delight in seeing us parading our regiment of the British Army on home turf. After an afternoon of relaxation the evening concert took place in the newly refurbished William Ashton Hall, Wrexham. Again the program was the same but this time Spider Webb was going out on a high, bringing a swag of jokes and props to the stage prior to his song. The choir was the Rhosllannerchrugog Male voice choir – yes that is spelt correctly I haven’t just collapsed on the keyboard – and were a real delight and fantastic sounding choir. The choir leader too was both an excellent conductor and great showman often turning about and holding conversations with the audience.

The weekend was broken down into two performances. First on Saturday the church band played for the Falkland Veterans before joining the rest of the band for a short march through the town to massive crowds again.

Sunday was the turn of the dance band who headed back to Caernarfon to play for the Welsh Guards Family’s Day. The day was set up complete with an inflatable assault course for entertainment and a hog roast for lunch. The band played in a green army tent which kept them out the rain, however the generator was not able to power the PA and all the electrical instruments duly shut down during one of the songs. A more powerful replacement eventually ensured that a good day was had by all.