Sunday's Manchester Regimental Parade took on a more sombre mood than usual with the very sad news reaching us as we fell in that Fred Bennett had died shortly before. Fred had been very poorly recently but that didn’t diminish the shock and sense of loss that a lot of the leaders and members who knew him felt when they heard of his passing.

Fred, a long time leader at Christchurch Ashton-under-Lyne, staff member at Battalion and Regimental level and a major player in their Company band and the Band movement in general will be sadly missed and our thoughts and prayers go out to Mildred and all their family, friends and Brigade.

Those members and leaders representing Christchurch on Regimental Parade took the difficult decision to carry on in the Parade and pay their tribute to Fred in their music. Reverend Jack Hemsworth started the service in St Ann’s Church with a minutes silence after paying his personal tribute to Fred and leading prayers in his memory. Rest in peace Fred, a wonderful servant of CLCGB over many years.