My wife and I attended the big parade last Tuesday to welcome the boys and girls home.

I can’t help wondering if these guys don’t have a proper uniform – No1 Home Dress, as it used to be called.

In my day, you would never be allowed off base in “fatigues”.

However, a minor fault – they were smart and mostly in step, but I couldn’t help notice the band beat had tailed off somewhat.

It was a good job the tailenders had a regimental sergeant major to call the beat!

Then came a second contingent, led by a band in bright red parade uniforms (who were they?), whose music could be heard before they came into sight, but again had faded before the rearguard came by.

Perhaps next time, there could be a band nearby to the saluting base?

Incidentally, the officers were parading with drawn swords, but no sign of a scabbard?

We took up our positions early and had an hour’s wait, along with other folk.

A short while before the event kicked off, a number of video photographers installed themselves in the road in front of the spectators, spoiling the views of the people who had arrived in good time.

One crew, having set themselves up, another (looking somewhat amateurish) arrived, followed soon after by yet another.

This last lot were told by the spectators, who were losing their early viewpoints, to “go away”.

None of these crews seemed to have ID tags, which I believe is the norm for these events, so I presume they had no official status.

Bob Dove
Launceston Close
Colchester