Local army musicians take part in Queen’s birthday parade Trooping the Colour

Date published: 11 June 2022

Two army musicians from Rochdale were honoured to take part in this year’s Trooping the Colour parade for the Queen’s birthday during Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations.

Leading the parade on the leading drum horse was Chris Diggle, of Rochdale, who first took part in the parade in 2015.

The former St James’ C of E and Wardle Academy student was taught the flugelhorn by his mum Gwen Smith. Once he moved to Wardle Academy, Chris learnt to play the drums.

He joined the army in 2001 where he completed his basic training before going to the Royal Military School of Music in Twickenham. After passing out, he joined the Minden Band in 2002, where he stayed until 2006. He then moved to Reme Band until 2012.

He was then asked to go to riding school where he passed out in 2012. He joined the Lifeguards Mounted Regiment at Hyde Park Barracks in 2012, where he was given the honour of learning to ride the drum horses.

Chris, who now lives in London, has travelled all over the world with the army bands, including making trips to France, Belgium, Germany, Portugal, Holland, Tenerife, Cyprus, Gibraltar, Kosovo, Bosnia, Iraq, Switzerland, India, Russia, Jordan, Pakistan and Canada.

Also taking part this year was former Wardle Academy Youth Band player, Jack Beer, 18, who played as part of the Band of the Coldstream Guards during the celebrations.

The cornet player joined the British Army as a musician when he was 16, before spending six months undergoing his training. He moved to the Royal Military School of Music in March 2021 where he furthered his musical training and was assigned to the Band of the Coldstream Guards.

Jack has played the cornet for around 12 years and said he was “very honoured” to take part in the event, especially in the year of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations.

The Trooping of the Colour has marked the official birthday of the British Sovereign for over 260 years.

Over 1,400 parading soldiers, 200 horses and 400 musicians come together each June in a great display of military precision, horsemanship and fanfare to mark The Queen's official birthday.

The streets are lined with crowds waving flags as the parade moves from Buckingham Palace and down The Mall to Horse Guard's Parade, alongside Members of the Royal Family on horseback and in carriages.