City ready to host military spectacular
12:41pm Friday 5th September 2008
forces and cadets will be in the spotlight when the first military tattoo in 50 years is held in the shadow of Durham Cathedral.
Tickets for tomorrow's spectacular on Palace Green, Durham City, are selling well and the organisers are hoping that near sell-out crowds well see the afternoon and evening shows.
The event, which is being staged by the Reserve Forces and Cadets Association, will celebrate the centenary of the Territorial Army.
The afternoon preview performance gives priority for seats to TA soldiers and their families while the evening tattoo is open to anyone.
Seating for 2,000 people is being erected on three sides of Palace Green as well as floodlighting for the evening performance, which will feature a feast of music and a recreation of a battle scene.
Col Jonny Hackett, chief executive of the Reserve Force and cadet Association for the North-East, said: "Ticket sales are picking up and there are about 300 seats left for the evening. For the afternoon, we have 1,000 to 1,100 taken.
"It looks like we will reach our target and that is great.'' Commentary will be provided by Maj Alasdair Hutton, the voice of the Edinburgh Tattoo.
Tatoo programme
● The Royal Signals (Northern) Band plays a selection of music dating from World War 1
● A living history' display from the Great War Society capturing the spirit of World War I
● The massed pipes and drums ● 101 (Northumbrian) Regiment, Royal Artillery
● 102 Battalion, The Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers Ampleforth College Combined Cadet Force
● The Northern Re-enactment Group revives memories of World War 2
● The Borneo Band, which has built up a reputation as one of the finest cadet bands in the country
● The Army Cadet Force
● Cleveland Army Cadet Force
● Durham Army Cadet Force
● Northumbria Army Cadet Force
● The Reserve Forces will demonstrate an action from current operations in Afghanistan
● The Queen's Own Yeomanry
● 101 (Northumbrian) Regiment, Royal Artillery
● 72 (Tyne Electrical Engineers) Engineer Regiment
● 34th (Northern) Signal Regiment ● 5th Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers
● 159 Supply Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps
● 168 Pioneer Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps
● 201 (Northern) Field Hospital, Royal Army Medical Corps
● 255 (Scottish) GS Medical Regiment ● 102 Battalion, The Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
● 5th Battalion, Military Intelligence ● 252 Provost Company, Royal Military Police
● Royal Naval Reserve Ship's Protection Organisation
● Royal Marines Tyne
● The Band of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers with a guest appearance from Amy Holford.
● The grand finale will feature the complete cast, representatives from The Royal British Legion, the Royal Hospital Chelsea, Territorial Army Veterans and a Guard of Honour from 5th Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers
● Songs that won the wars
● National Anthem - Auld Lang Syne
● Evening Hymn and Sunset
● Lone Piper
● March off
● The preview will take place from 2.30 to 4pm and admission is by programme which costs £5 . The evening event runs from 8.30pm to 10pm and a programme is £10.
They are available from Durham Tourist Information Centre, Millennium Place, Claypath, 0191-384 7641, www.durhamtourism.co.uk.