Today’s the day — William & Kate!
Date published: 29 April 2011
Photo: Anthony Miller and Gareth Lowe
SUNSHINE celebration... bride Caitlin Hall, groom Harrison Stone and bridesmaids Amy Jakeman, Victoria Lichter, Maisie Harper, Kate Roberts and Jessica Ward-Davies
Children have been joining in the big event with celebrations galore — and Chronicle photographers ANTHONY MILLER and GARETH LOWE were there to capture some of the best parties in town.
Fanfare for the modern royals
AN emotive fanfare will be played moments before Prince William and Kate Middleton begin their procession through Westminster Abbey as a newly married couple.
The melodic blast from the brass instruments will herald a new era for the monarchy, as the second-in-line to the throne and his wife pass their family and friends and walk out to meet the world.
Trumpeters from the Central Band of the Royal Air Force have been given the honour of playing the piece commissioned for the wedding.
Wing Commander Duncan Stubbs has composed music and will be directing the band of seven trumpeters and one drummer as they stand on a specially built platform overlooking the Abbey’s Quire, where the choir and members of the Government will be seated.
The 30–second piece is called Valiant and Brave after the motto of No 22 Squadron, a unit Prince William serves with as a search and rescue helicopter pilot at RAF Valley in Anglesey, north Wales.
W/Cdr Stubbs, RAF Music Services principal director of music, from Stoke, said that he drew inspiration from the RAF for the piece.
He added: “Part of it alludes to the RAF corps so that forms a basis of some of the material. Basically I have taken examples of fanfares that we know and recognise and just added my own thoughts and ideas into that.”
Sergeant Kev Miles (40) from Margate, Kent, said: “I never in a million years thought I’d be playing at the future king’s wedding.”
The drummer, who did a six–month tour of Iraq, added: “We have been rehearsing the fanfare that the boss has written. It is great, very stately, exactly what it needs to be.
“Prince William is a serving RAF officer so it is quite apt that RAF music is playing.”
As well as the musicians from the Royal Air Force taking part in the ceremony, the State Trumpeters of the Household Cavalry will also perform.
Love’s young dream
young love blossomed at St Martin’s School in Fitton Hill as four-year-olds Jenna Gardner and Harley Kelsall got hitched.
The nursery class hosted their own version of the Royal Wedding with the ceremony performed by Reverend Tony Grant, of Holy Trinity Church, Bardsley.
Classmates and staff alike joined in the fun by donning their finery and enjoying a slap-up wedding breakfast complete with cake and flowers.
Anything you two can do...
WILL and Kate eat your heart out — classmates of Harrison Stone and Caitlin Hall looked on in delight as the lovebirds staged their own version of the Royal Wedding.
Reverend Paul Monk conducted the ceremony at St Thomas’s Leesfield Church before pupils went back to school to continue the celebrations.
Staff dressed in black and white to serve the wedding breakfast and youngsters donned their most glamorous garb for the day.
MORE YOUTHFUL NEWLYWEDS and local Royal Wedding celebrations in Friday’s E-Chron and the Oldham Evening Chronicle. And check out more pictures on our photos tab above!
