Queen’s Speech Featuring Former Wardle Student
Former St James and Wardle Academy student Chris Diggle had the honour of riding Mercury Drum Horse with the Band of the Household Cavalry at the beginning of the Queen’s speech on Christmas Day 2020.
Chris played drums and Flugel horn at St James and Wardle and joined the Army after leaving school. He trained at Kneller Hall which is The Military School of Music in Twickenham and then was posted to the Queens Division Minden Band. He moved to the REME Band in reading then was asked to move to the The Life Guards 8 years ago.
He had to pass out of the riding school and then spent years learning to ride the drum horses using his feet to steer, so his hands would be free to play the drums.
Chris has travelled all over the world performing at Berlin Tattoo and Calgary Canada and he has had the privilege of performing in the Queens Trooping the Colour in 2014 and has done that 4 times since.
“It is such a privilege to play at these prestigious occasions, and to play on The Queens Speech was such an honour and a moment I will treasure’.
Chris Diggle
Well done Chris! What an amazing achievement!
