Oundle's CCF Marching Band play at Saints Match

Published on isbi School News dated Tuesday 15th of April 2014

On 19 March, Oundle School CCF Marching Band had the honour of playing at Franklin Gardens at the annual Mobbs Memorial Match between Northampton Saints and the British Army.

Edgar Mobbs was a rugby legend and a hero of the Great War. He was the first Northampton Saint to captain England and inspired hundreds of men to join the Army with him at the outbreak of war, in what became known as the Sportsman's Battalion. Mobbs was killed in the Battle of Passchendaele in 1917 while attempting to storm a German machine gun nest: the match celebrated his legacy and commemorated the centenary of the outbreak of WWI.

The CCF Band was invited to play before the match, marching proudly on to the pitch to Men of Harlach, and then to join to the Band of the Parachute Regiment to play the National Anthem.

CCF Band Captain, Cadet Colour Sergeant Dan Bateson, said, 'This was an amazing evening; I will remember marching onto Franklin Gardens alongside The Band of the Parachute Regiment for years to come.

Rehearsing, with the Para's band was arguably one of the highlights of the day as they were exceptional yet they did not lower their standards in any way to help us and many of them commented on how well we integrated with their band, making the hours of preparation worthwhile.

Before the start of the match Drum Major Charlie Dowdeswell led the Oundle CCF Marching Band on to the pitch for a display involving the pieces 'Men of Harlech' and 'Napoleon's March'. This was followed by a display by the Para's Band. Both bands then played 'The National Anthem' after a minutes silence to remember Edgar Mobbs. At half time, both bands were integrated and this was a true honour as it showed the confidence that the Para's had in the Oundle pupils to uphold their standards of performance. The Parachute Regiment's Drum Major commented, 'This was one of the best CCF Bands I have ever seen.''

During half-time the bands came together to form a Massed Band, giving the Cadets a unique opportunity to play alongside the professional musicians of one of the Army's most famous Bands.
The Contingent Commander, Major Andrew Mansergh RM said, 'It is an honour to have been invited to play at the Memorial Match and the Band has worked tremendously hard to reach the standard required to do so; every Cadet should be very proud of the performance that they gave'.