A VILLAGE brass band has a surprising connection to the coronation of King Charles III.

Lt Col David Barringer MBE, commanding officer of the Household Division Bands and who conducted the Household Division Orchestra at the Coronation concert, has a link to Romsey having performed with the Michelmersh Silver Band at three venues.

In 2015, whilst posted locally, the then Major Barringer was appointed as musical director of Michelmersh Silver Band and conducted the band’s annual Remembrance Concert in the United Reformed Church.

He would then go on to conduct two Christmas concerts at the Plaza Theatre in December of that year, and also appeared in Romsey Abbey, leading the band in its Proms in the Abbey concert.

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The Major’s military experience was put to the test as he trained the band in marching in preparation for the event to mark the unveiling of the War Horse statue, attended by the Princess Royal.

His tenure as MD to the band ended in 2016 when David was posted to Scotland, but he still maintains contact with band members and has admitted that he has been “living the dream” over the Coronation weekend, receiving thousands of congratulatory messages.

As part of the celebrations, the Major’s former bandmates in the Michelmersh Silver Band also performed at the Romsey Coronation Concert at the War Memorial Park. The group performed a range of songs, including Rule Britannia, Land of Hope and Glory and God Save The King.

Michelmersh Silver Band will be returning to Romsey Abbey in concert with the singing trio The Spitfire Sister on Saturday, July 8.