The choir of Hereford Cathedral returned to the Royal Military Chapel, better known as the Guards’ Chapel, Wellington Barracks, London, last Tuesday (3 December) when it repeated its Advent Sunday service. The service was attended by HRH The Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence.
The service, which opens with an act of remembrance and the laying of a wreath at the chapel’s memorial to the Special Air Service (SAS), was attended by 500 friends and guests of Hereford Cathedral Perpetual Trust. Over 250 later enjoyed a reception in the Officers’ Mess.
‘It is always a tremendous evening, this being the fourth year we have held the service,’ said Glyn Morgan of Hereford Cathedral Perpetual Trust. ‘We were delighted to welcome the Princess and Sir Tim, who took such an interest in all that we were doing and in the choir.’
‘We were also delighted to welcome many old and new friends who live in London and the evening is now developing a reputation as the start of Christmas celebrations for quite a lot of people. Guests have been very generous in their comments about the evening and it is a pleasure to be able to share a little of our music and liturgy with so many.’
The evening, which was supported by British Land, is an annual event hosted in the chapel by permission of the Major General Commanding London District and the Chapel Padre. The event celebrates the many links between the various Guards’ Regiments and the county.
While in London the choir and the team of stewards also took the opportunity to have a visit to the Palace of Westminster, which was guided by Sir Robert Rogers, Clerk of the House of Commons and a former Chairman of the Perpetual Trust.
‘It was a wonderful opportunity to visit the Palace and the boys had the opportunity to see the brass plaque commemorating the address Nelson Mandela gave to the joint sitting of the Houses of Parliament. Little did we realise that within a few days it would be so very relevant to us all,’ said Glyn Morgan.
