Sarah Rapley
Musical Director

Brief history
When I joined the Band in 1996 I was only the second person to be recruited outside of the Higham Wood Group. I joined as a fife player, but was soon given a bugle. It didn't take me long before I was hooked on the sound of the bugle and in 1997 I came first in our annual Solo Bugle Competition. I was promoted to the Competition band in 1997 and soon after started teaching Fife & Bugle to the younger members. My main aim was to improve the Fife section. With a lot of determination the amount of fife players in the band has increased from 10 weak players to 30 competent musicians. In 2004 I made an honest man of the bandmaster; we were married at the Methodist Church in Highwood and had our reception at the Hop farm. We enjoyed a fantastic Honeymoon at the Sandals Resort in Antigua.

I left the competition band in 2005 because I felt I could give more to the band as a non playing member. I subsequently took the position of Musical Director and now work on the musical arrangements.

Band Highlights

• Winning the Wind Section Trophy at my very first competition, which happened to be at the Albert Hall.
• Playing Reveille at the WW1 Menin Gate Memorial
• And so so many many more.

Away from the Band
Away from the Scout & Guide Band I am also a member of The East Peckham Silver Band playing Soprano Cornet. We perform all over the South East of England. I am current studying for grade 5 on the cornet. My aim in life is to become a music teacher.