Burgess Hill Marching Youth members visit Wellington Barracks and prepare for London Band Week

The band visited Wellington Barracks on Sunday, Janaury 8, to watch the professionals rehearse before they marched to Buckingham Palace for the changing of the Guard.

They were then let inside for the performance.

Bandmaster Claire Stacey said: “On the band’s return from Buckingham Palace, they performed a short marching display just for us. We spent time talking to the musicians and we even saw Seamus the mascot of the Irish Guards.

"”After lunch, Captain Ben, Musical Director of the Grenadier Guards conducted a rehearsal where BHMY played music with army bandsmen.”

BHMY also worked on the tunes they will perform at London Band Week at the ExCEL in July. The band was recently selected to perform at the prestigious event.

Claire said: “We are one of only three youth marching bands that have been invited.”

She added: “After the indoor rehearsal, we were given permission to march on the parade square at the front of Wellington Barracks and we believe we are the first youth marching band to have ever done that. We had a small audience and some of the Grenadier Guard musicians gave us tips on how to improve our drill.

“At the end of the day, BHMY was complemented on how talented our young people are and how professional our band is. The volunteer staff at BHMY are immensely proud of the band, how they conducted themselves and how they impressed professional military musicians.”

For more information or to join Burgess Hill Marching Youth email [email protected].