By Ismay Woods
A PROUD dad from Newtownards has described witnessing his son take part in a military music festival in London’s Royal Albert Hall as ‘the best minute of my life’.
Chris Faulkner’s 19 year-old son Brandon is training with the Royal Navy, and last weekend he took part in the Mountbatten Festival of Music, led by the massed bands of the Royal Marines.
The sold out festival was held on Friday and Saturday, March 21 and 22.
Brandon, currently based in Portsmouth, was chosen to perform the ‘Bosun’s Call’ – the use of a whistle to announce the arrival of a dignitary on board ship.
In this case, Brandon had the job of ‘piping on’ the First Sea Lord, Admiral Sir Ben Key KCB CBE.
Chris describes his son as a ‘confident lad’, but Brandon admitted he was ‘very scared’ before taking to the stage.
The teenage sailor ‘loved the applause’, his dad says, and was delighted when, after the performances, members of the audience approached and asked for photographs.
Brandon’s participation in the festival may have lasted just 60 seconds, but Chris, who attended the performance with his mum, Kim, from Plymouth, described it as ‘the best minute of my life’.
Brandon joined the Royal Navy almost two years ago, and recently returned from Gibraltar. He will be assigned to a ship once his training is complete.
Dad Chris, a former submariner in the Navy, admitted he had a great relationship with his son, of whom he is ‘very proud’.
The Mountbatten Festival of Music raises funds for Royal Navy and Royal Marines charities.
