Sounding Retreat held in barracks

The Mayor of Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council, Councillor Thomas Beckett accepts a Silver Bugle from Lt Col Neil Bellamy (Commanding Officer 2 Rifles) at the recent Sounding Retreat at Thiepval Barracks, Lisburn.

The Retreat included a Salute and rebadge ceremony to local cadets from the Mayor, Councillor Thomas Beckett.

He said: “As Mayor, I was extremely honoured to attend this ancient military tradition.

“I had the privilege of meeting local cadets, whose commitment and passion for the Regiment is commendable, and it was a pleasure to be involved in their rebadge ceremony.

“The highlight of the evening for me was listening to the traditional sounds of the Band and Bugles of The Rifles, who recently played at a reception held at Lagan Valley Island to officially welcome the 2nd Battalion, The RIFLES, to the City of Lisburn, and witnessing their impressive marching display of a speed of 140 paces per minute. It was simply mesmerising!

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Commanding Officer and Riflemen of the 2nd Battalion, The Rifles, for their invitation and kind gift of a Silver Bugle,” concluded the Mayor.

The Sounding Retreat is where either a bugle call, or roll of drums, heard at sunset would signify to garrisons, billets or skirmishers that the day’s activities were over and the evening guard ‘Watch’ was to be set.