Alfred Blake was conscripted to the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders in 1955. He was advised that the Infantry would provide more excitement to his National Service and it certainly proved to be the case. Born in South London, the furthest he’d ever travelled was to go hopping in Kent during the summer holidays. The regiment were based in Inverness. His first deployment was to Korea where he was part of the peacekeeping force. Six months later, the regiment is sent to Aden. On one patrol the platoon is attacked and Alfred is very lucky to survive. Alfred has shared some great photos.

By the age of 14, Esther Hayes was approaching Grade 8 standard on the flute and piano. Three years in the band of the TA led her to pursue a full-time military musician career, and after completing basic training at ATR Winchester she spent her first year at Kneller Hall. Esther shares memories from her subsequent assignment to the Band of the Royal Corps of Signals, followed by a return to Kneller Hall for three more gruelling years of hard work to become a bandmaster. She went on to make history as the first female bandmaster of the Paras, and she talks about her experience of what was then a heavily male-dominated environment. After several years with the Paras, Esther returned to Kneller Hall, spending a couple of years in post as a Training Design Warrant Officer before joining the Household Cavalry and further developing her skills by learning to ride a horse whilst playing the flute. She goes on to talk about an operational role in Afghanistan, a stint in the Band of the Queen’s Division, and another return to Kneller Hall, this time to facilitate the training of the student bandmasters joining the ranks: a full-circle moment, but by no means the end of her incredible career.