London for Ceremonial 
Percussion versatility in the Household Division
By Senior Time Beater Sergeant Neil Brocklehurst
Over the past nineteen years I have had the privilege of playing drums and percussion at the highest level in the army and as a civilian. I joined the army in 1997, becoming a musician in the Scots Guards band with which I played in all the major state occasions. After taking a break from the Army in 2003 I worked in the London’s West End, playing in shows from Cabaret to Chicago. I also took the opportunity to tour with shows such as Joseph and Scrooge. In addition, I frequently found myself in the recording studio with different artists, and also playing in a number of jazz clubs. In order to have a more stable family life and steady income I re-joined the army in 2008. Since returning there has continued to be plenty of opportunity to freelance and deputise around the West End and for other gigs, without the pressure of securing a permanent seat.
Sergeant Brocklehurst worked regularly in the West End in 2013
The experience gained during my time in the West End was invaluable especially when I took the prestigious role of the senior time beater for the massed bands for Her Majesty The Queen’s Birthday Parade and the Household Division Beating Retreat. It is all about having confidence in one’s own ability. In a professional show the drummer holds everything together – music, dancers, lighting cues etc. Having this pressure every night for five years greatly enhanced my ability to hold the massed bands together and keep the entire parade under control.
I have also had the chance to play in an array of ensembles within the Household Division, including the Guards’ Big Band and Jazz Orchestra, as well as in pop and rock groups. As leader of the Big Band I am able to play my first love: “Jazz drums”. I have also played percussion in many other performances and concerts such as ‘Scarlet and Gold’, the Household Division summer Music Festival, the Festival of Remembrance, and most recently with the Household Division Orchestra at Buckingham Palace and Horse Guards Parade for the 75th Anniversaries of VE and VJ day.
Sergeant Brocklehurst performs regularly in
the Guards' Big Band and the British Army Jazz Orchestra
In many ways working as a West End drummer is similar to working in army music, with the pressures and standards being extremely high. The Bands of the Household Division are famous for their state ceremonial work, in which a percussionist plays a crucial role, but the assortment of other ensembles it offers are equally demanding and provide an added variety to this exciting career.
Sergeant Neil Brocklehurst is in the Band of the Scots Guards. He has been the senior time beater on Massed Band events since 2011. The role is one of the most high-pressured positions for a percussionist within the Household Division.