The Commonwealth War Graves Foundation presents: An Evening at Brookwood

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. 

Richard Digance

Born in West Ham, London, Richard Digance is a BAFTA Nominated entertainer and a recipient of The Gold Award from The British Academy of Composers and Songwriters. He is also one of the few folksingers listed in The Virgin Anthology of Songwriters.

Along with award-winning radio documentaries he also composed and performed the music for the audiobook version of work written by one of the world's best-selling authors, Bill Bryson.

On his own ITV TV show in the 1980s and 90s, he played a guitar duet with Queen's Brian May as well as joining Status Quo and The Moody Blues for cameo appearances.

Richard has made nearly 200 appearances on Channel 4s Countdown, released 43 albums and published 22 books, including The Animal Alphabet, serialised by The BBC. 

Off stage, he has ghost-written autobiographies for many celebrities and is a sought-after writer of after-dinner speeches. 

Although a concert performer in his own right, Richard has also supported Steve Martin in The USA and both the late comedy genius Robin Williams and Roy Orbison at The London Palladium as well as Tom Jones at The Royal Albert Hall.

Daniel Swani

Based in East London, Daniel enjoys a varied career in music, owing to his versatility as an orchestral flute, recorder and historical flute player. 

Recent highlights have included performing in the Royal Opera House’s production of Lohengrin, recording the music for the West End show ‘Upstart Crow’ starring David Mitchell, performing with Damon Albarn for BBC’s ‘Later with Jools Holland’ and working as a recorder soloist with the BBC Concert Orchestra.

As an orchestral flautist, Daniel has been invited to play with the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House and Britten Sinfonia (including as principal recorder), as well as being an extra player for the Royal Ballet Sinfonia and guest principal baroque flute with Armonico Consort. 

Equally at home with musical theatre, he is currently principal flute on the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory UK and Ireland Tour and was the principal flute/piccolo player for the West End production of ‘Chess: In Concert’ at Theatre Royal Drury Lane. 

Alongside live performance, Daniel has recorded for Netflix, Apple TV and BBC TV, recently being featured in a CBeebies production of ‘As You Like it’ at the Globe Theatre in London. 

In 2017, he co-founded the award-winning ensemble ‘Parandrus’, who have been featured on BBC Radio 3’s ‘Early Music Show’ and ‘Early Music Now’. They have since gone on to perform internationally at festivals including ‘ORDA’ in Amsterdam, the London International Festival of Early Music and the UK Society of Recorder Players National Festival.

Daniel studied flute, recorder, and baroque flute at the Royal Academy of Music, graduating with first-class honours in 2021. Whilst a student, he won both the Nancy Nuttall Early Music Prize and Jonathan Myall Piccolo Prize. Now a dedicated teacher himself, he is currently teaching recorder students at the Junior Royal Academy of Music and Flautists at Wellington College, Berkshire.

Surrey Wing Royal Air Force Air Cadets Band

 Surrey Wing is one of 36 Wings across the country, that make up the Royal Air Force Air Cadets. With 26 Squadrons, Surrey Wing brings aviation and adventure to young men and women in the County of Surrey and Southwestern London Boroughs.

Timings and tickets

• Please either print your ticket from Eventbrite or have it to show on your device prior to arrival on site
• Stalls will be available to look around from 3.00 pm
• Guided tours will commence from 2.30 pm and will run until 4.00 pm
• Guests to be seated by 4.00 pm around the Memorial for the musical performances
  Act of Remembrance will take place between 4.15 and 4.30 pm
• First half 4.30-6.05 pm
• Intermission 6.05-6.15 pm 
• Second half 6.15-8 pm
• Event ends 8 pm

Covid 19

• Please do not come to the event if you have tested positive for Covid-19
• 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 on request. Please email megan.kelleher@cwgc.org.

Parking and access to event

Parking on-site is limited and needs to be pre-booked; this can be done via the ticketing section of Eventbrite. If you require accessible parking, please book parking as normal and email megan.kelleher@cwgc.org to let the event organiser know your vehicle details.

Parking signs will be sent out prior to the event that need to be displayed on the dashboard of your vehicle prior to entering the site.

If you have booked 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 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 refreshments available to purchase on-site. 

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 please be cleared up by the owner and taken home.

Litter

All litter to please be taken back home.