Military concert hail "great success"

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Sunday, 21 May 2017 12:12

More than seven hundred people enjoyed a spectacular concert by the Band of the Royal Marines Plymouth at Hereford cathedral on Saturday.

The concert was held to commemorate the 35^th anniversary of the Falklands War, local servicemen killed in action and the loss of Hereford’s affiliated ship, HMS ANTELOPE.

As well as members of the public the audience included veterans of the conflict and family members of those killed in action.

A total of 27 men from the county and its Armed Forces units lost their lives, including 19 men from the Special Forces, who lost their lives in a helicopter crash.

Chairman of the South Atlantic Medal Association, Gordon Mather, a veteran of the war, read the names of the fallen while the band played the music to Elgar’s Nimrod.

Another Falkland’s veteran was Rear Admiral Philp Wilcocks, chairman of the concert organising committee. He said: “It was an extremely powerful evening with a fabulous mix of music and of course for many there were memories from 35 years ago. The band was excellent and the people of Herefordshire turned out in their hundreds and gave them a truly enthusiastic welcome. I would like to thank everyone who supported this brilliant and successful event.”

Proceeds from the evening will go to two military charities; SSAFA the Armed Forces charity and the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity.