An Evening at Brookwood

See below for a breakdown of times and acts at this year's magical Evening at Brookwood.

Stage times

• 5.00 pm - The event opens. Guided cemetery tours begin for those who wish to take part. Stalls on the work of the CWGC and CWGF and cake stand open too. 
• 6.15 pm - Guests are invited to gather around the 1939-1945 Memorial for the evening's musical element.
• 6.30 pm - Director-General introduction welcoming guests to this year's event.
• 6.35 pm - Gordon's School Pipes & Drums
• 6.45 pm - The Purcell School for Young Musicians
• 7.05 pm - Harp & a Monkey - first performance
• 7.30 pm - 30-minute intermission
• 8.00 pm - Harp & a Monkey - second performance
• 8.25 pm - Sandhurst Military Wives Choir
• 8.45 pm - Director-General closing words
• 8.50 pm - Gordon's School Pipes & Drums
• 9.00 pm - Event ends

Acts

Harp & a monkey

Award-winning song and storytelling trio Harp & a Monkey specialise in poignant and melodic short stories (original and traditional) about everyday life, love and remembrance – the extraordinary ordinary.

The outfit’s work has been described as “bold and brilliant” by the likes of The Observer, “fantastic” and “fascinating” by Mark Radcliffe on BBC Radio 2, “inventive” by Mojo, “excellent” by The Guardian, and “unique” by folk legend Mike Harding. 

The multi-instrumentalists have released four acclaimed albums (including an internationally praised 'War Stories' collection) and are regulars on the national concert circuit, guaranteeing poignancy, humour and great audience rapport at their live performances. 

The versatile trio have been commissioned to undertake bespoke song-writing, soundtrack, film and public/community art projects for leading universities, museums and TV companies, as well as bodies like Arts Council England, The Heritage Lottery, The Department of Sport, Media and Culture, the Western Front Association, and many more. They were the 'house band' for a number of national events marking key dates during the centenary of the First World War. 

Set list:

Sandhurst Military Wives Choir

Established in 2012, Sandhurst Military Wives Choir are proud to be one of over 70 Military Wives Choirs celebrating 10 years since the official formation of the charity. They have come a long way and through it all they have used the power of singing to bring women in the military community closer together. Like all choirs in the network, Sandhurst Military Wives Choir is wonderfully diverse with women from all walks of life and a mixture of serving military personnel, veterans, Officer Cadets, wives, partners, mothers and daughters.

Families of service personnel move around frequently and it can often be tough to put down roots or make new friends, particularly when loved ones are away for long periods of time. Research shows that singing in a choir can help to alleviate stress and can contribute to an improvement in mental health. The Military Wives Choirs, therefore, have a vital role to play by bringing women in the military community together to sing, share and support. 

Sandhurst Wives Military Choir has a particularly strong link to the armed forces, being located in the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. We are delighted to host them at this year's Evening at Brookwood.

Set list:

Poppy Red
Home Thoughts From Abroad
Pack Up Your Troubles
We Will Remember Them

Gordon's School Pipes & Drums

Gordon’s School is the National Memorial to British war hero, philanthropist and martyr, Major-General Charles George Gordon (1833-1885), and was founded in 1885 where it began existence as ‘Gordon Boys’ Home’ for necessitous boys. Queen Victoria, as the first of an unbroken line of sovereign patrons, took the lead in demanding a fitting National Memorial be created in Gordon’s honour; an interest that has been maintained to this day.  

From inception, the Gordon Boys’ Home in Dover had a Pipe Band, tutored by the Pipe Major of the Seaforth Highlanders, when the regiment was posted to Dover Castle. Sadly, in 1941, the Home in Dover was bombed and it was at this time that the Pipe Band were relocated to the Home in West End, then known as The Gordon Boys’  School. In 1941, the Band consisted of six boys and has since grown over the last 80 years to a Band of 50 strong, establishing a lasting tradition within the School. 

Gordon’s School Pipes & Drums has been fortunate to perform in the presence of Her Majesty The Queen in Westminster Abbey in 2014 for An Observance of the Commonwealth, as well as performing in the Lord Mayor’s Show, at Earl’s Court and Windsor Castle, to name but a few prestigious occasions. Every year, the Pipes and Drums lead the annual School Parade through Whitehall to the statue of General Gordon in Embankment Gardens for a short memorial service, which is always a highlight of the Band’s calendar. 

As the Band celebrates its 80th anniversary this academic year, we hope that it will be able to return to Menin Gate, Ypres, to take part in the Last Post Association Service and in August 2022, take part in the World Pipe Band Championships in Glasgow Green for the first time in the Band’s history. 

The Purcell School for Young Musicians

The Purcell School is Britain’s oldest music school. Situated on the outskirts of London in Bushey, Hertfordshire, the co-educational boarding and day school is home to around 180 musically talented young people, all of whom are passionate about fulfilling their talent.

Its aim is to provide these young musicians, of remarkable ability and promise from all backgrounds, with the best possible teaching and environment in which to fulfil their potential. Purcell School delivers the very highest world-class musical instruction and holds the UNESCO Mozart Gold Medal in recognition of the School’s unique contribution to music, education and international culture.

The School affords ideal opportunities for practising, performing and developing musicianship, while also providing a balanced academic education which helps to prepare Purcell students for life-long careers as musicians. 

Set list:

Ensemble 1 - EUROPE 'We will remember them' by Maddie Melville Smith

flute, oboe, horn and viola

Ensemble 2 - ASIA  'Songbie' by Oscar Mao

flute, violin and tabla

Ensemble 4 - THE PACIFIC  'Springvale 612' by Jakob Rahmstorf

3 solo voices, horn, cello, cajon

Ensemble 5 - CARIBBEAN 'The Fisherman' by Laila Arafah

2 saxophones, oboe and string trio

Ensemble 3 - AFRICA  'Senziwe Saba Bahle' (we are made beautiful) by Francesca Stevenson 

3 solo voices, djembe and audience participation

Musical Partners

We are delighted to be collaborating with our musical partners The Commonwealth Resounds to bring you this evening's entertainment.

The Commonwealth Resounds is an officially accredited Commonwealth musical organisation. Established in 2005, its mission is to connect musical cultures, and to promote initiatives and partnerships in Commonwealth countries. We have a special focus on music education and composition.

Timings and tickets

• Please either print your ticket from Eventbrite or have it to show on your device
• Stalls will be available to look around from 5pm
• Guided tours will commence from 5.15pm and will run until 6.15pm
• Guests to be seated by 6.30pm around the Memorial for the musical performances
• Intermission 7.30pm-8.00pm
• Second half 8.00pm-9pm
• Event ends 9pm

Covid 19

• Please do not come to the event if you have tested positive for Covid-19
• Please keep 1.5-2 metres where possible
• Do wear a mask if you feel comfortable
• Hand sanitiser stations throughout venue
• Personal hygiene - wash hands regularly and use sanitiser throughout the day. Attendees should cover their mouth and nose with a tissue (not their hands) when they cough or sneeze

First aiders and Fire Marshalls:

• Two first aiders on site
• Fire Marshalls on site

Risk assessments are available to view.

Parking and access to the event

Due to the lack of parking at Brookwood, we regret we can only offer accessible parking onsite at the Cemetery. If you require the use of accessible parking please drive to the main gates of the CWGC Brookwood Military Cemetery, off ‘Dawney Hill’ and along the Road called ‘Brookwood Cemetery’, as shown below and staff will be there to guide you to the very limited onsite parking.

Other parking can be found at Brookwood train station – Brookwood Cemetery is accessible through the subway from Platform 2 or the staircase from platform 1, as shown in the diagram below. CWGC representatives will be around the site to point people in the right direction.

Refreshments

Please bring your own picnic, there will be a hot drink and cake stand on site.

The Coffee Can Company

Seating

This event is in the spirit of an outdoor cinema event and therefore we encourage you to bring your own picnic blankets and camping chairs. No gazebos please.

Weather

This is an all-weather outdoor event and therefore we encourage guests to come dressed and prepared for the very changeable British weather.

Facilities

There will be portaloos on site including accessible options.

Alcohol

While we are allowing the consumption of alcohol on the premises, we ask that this is consumed in moderation and only by adults.

Dogs

Well behaved dogs kept on a lead welcome. All dog waste to be cleared up by the owner and taken home.

Litter

All litter to please be taken back home.

Commonwealth War Graves Commission (“CWGC”) and Commonwealth War Graves Foundation (“CWGF”) Ticketed Event Terms and Conditions

These terms and conditions relate to ticketed events organised and run by the CWGC and CWGF (“us”, “we” “our”). By requesting tickets for our events, you agree to be bound by these terms and conditions. If you are booking on behalf of a party, you accept these terms and conditions on behalf of all people in the party.

Tickets and Payment

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3. CWGF Supporters who have paid their membership fees (Join the Commonwealth War Graves Foundation | CWGC | CWGC)  Supporters may have early access to our events. You must be a Supporter to take advantage of any member offers. We will make reasonable efforts to let Supporters know where tickets are available to them for early release.
4. For the event “An Evening at Brookwood’ hosted a Brookwood Military Cemetery on Thursday 26^th May 2022, 100% of the profits made from ticket sales will be given to CWGF. A maximum of ten tickets may be purchased per household.
5. You must produce your valid ticket to gain entry to the event. This can be printed, or to save paper, we encourage you to show your ticket via your smartphone.
6. Tickets are non-transferable and at some events (we will notify you on booking) are personal to you and your party for security reasons and you may be asked to produce valid identification to access the event.
7. If the event is being held at certain venues, there may be additional security requirements in order for you to access the event. We will notify you of these, in advance.
8. Tickets are limited and subject to availability on a “first come – first served” basis.
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10. Where there are different types of tickets available for one event, we will do our best to ensure access to the event at the level of ticket purchased, but we cannot make any guarantees.

Personal data

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Refunds

13. We are unable to process any refunds for tickets. However, if for any reason the event cannot take place, we will make every effort to reschedule the event and provide you with details of the new event information.
14. We will only be able to refund the purchase price of your tickets if the event is cancelled and not rescheduled by us.
15. In any event, our total liability if the event is cancelled and not rescheduled , is the face value of the ticket. Only the original purchaser of the ticket is entitled to a refund.

Suitability

16. Unless otherwise specified, our events are suitable for ages 18 and over. Under 18’s must be accompanied by an adult. If you are unsure if an event is suitable, please contact us.

Health and safety

17. You will comply with any relevant health and safety announcements and regulations when attending the event, including but not limited to:
    1. If you are experiencing any covid-19 symptoms or have tested positive for covid-19 and/or have been told to self-isolate, you should not attend the event.

Event content

18. We reserve the right to make any alteration to the event content (including as relates to speakers, performers or artists, as well as the event timing, dates and/or venue). We will make reasonable efforts to contact you to inform you of any changes, where possible. We will not be liable for any changes to the event.

Admission

19. We reserve the right to refuse you admission to the event, or request you leave an event, if, in our reasonable opinion, your admission to the event might:
    1. be a risk to the safety of others and/or yourself;
    2. effect the enjoyment of other attendees and/or effect the running of the event.
    3. Otherwise at the discretion of those representing us at the event

For example, if you act aggressively towards us and our staff and/or volunteers or other members of the public, or you appear to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs, we may not allow you to enter the event, or if you are already at the event, we may require you to leave.

Late arrivals

20. We will do our best to allow you access to the event if you are late arriving to the venue. However, we are not able to guarantee access to the event if you are late. We are unable to refund the tickets if you are late arriving and cannot access the event or if you miss part of the event.

Filming, recording and electronic equipment

21. By attending events with us, you and your party consent to be filmed, livestreamed, recorded and/or photographed. You and your party grant us the right to use recordings of any means and type on any media or promotional materials about our work or the event.
22. Unauthorised use of recording equipment, including cameras and camera phones is strictly prohibited unless explicitly advised by us at the event.
23. Please ensure your electronic equipment, especially mobile phones, are switched off or set to silent before entering the event, if directed to do so.

Smoking

24. We have a strict non-smoking (which includes vaping) policy at our events.
25. You must also adhere to any specific venue policies.

Limitation of liability

26. We are not liable for any loss or damage of any kind whether direct or indirect, including but not limited to travel expenses, or other out of pocket expenses. In any event, our total liability to you is the face value of the ticket purchased.

General

27. We reserve the right to change or amend these terms and conditions at any time.
28. These terms and conditions shall be construed in accordance with English Law and the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts in England and Wales.