When the management of Leadenhall Market in the City of London decided to host an event to celebrate St David's Day they invited the Central Southern Area Fellowship Bandof the Salvation Army (bandmaster Brian Cooper) to play a programme of Welsh music over the lunch time. They had previously regaled the bystanders with carols during Christmas week and was so popular that there was a public demand for their reappearance. By now the Bandmaster and Band Secretary were Mediaeval Knights themselves and were delighted to accede to the City of London's request.

The band played for two hours whilst the market management took a collection in support of the homeless in Westminster and whilst hundreds of people passed by and whilst many stood and listened to the music. The band played almost every Welsh hymn tune in the book and every arrangement of such music that it could find. The most enthusiastic applause came when the band played the arrangement of "Land of my Fathers" taken from festival series music "Songs of Britain".

Three Mediaeval Knights, two loyal leaders, some red roses, and an appeal for the needy. Together they epitomised some of the tenets of our Order of Chivalry on St George's day in Leadenhall Market.

Lloyd’s of London, Leadenhall Market, the Mansion House and the Guildhall were some of the places that reverberated to the wearing of the Red Rose. England and London in particular came alive that day. Music in Leadenhall market, traditional Morris Dancers and three Knights of Old in chain mail brought the whole fervour of our Patron Saint’s day alive.

The Coombe Trust whose initiative it was, had procured 20,000 attractive red roses for distribution that day. All the proceeds obtained from the donations given for the roses will benefit needy children and provide holidays for needy families.

From here on, every St. George’s Day will be alive with red roses. Anyone wishing to obtain donations on the Coombe Trust’s behalf in the future should contact the Chief Executive of Coombe Trust.

On the 21st of December 2009 as the crowds joined in Carols in Leadenhall Market ably led by Shirley Cooper - a Silver Songstress. The venue resounded to the Marshall strains of the Central South Fellowship Band of the Salvation Army under their conductor Brian J. Cooper now a Mediaeval Knight too.

Brian was joined during the band's two hour stint by Sir Alan Traill GBE a past Lord Mayor of London and our Premier Knight who himself is a very accomplished conductor.

It so happened that our Grand Chamberlain Don Coombe with his wife Betty shared a table for dinner each evening with Brian and Shirley Cooper during a cruise to Norway when the whole occasion was plotted.

Refreshments for the hard working band were kindly provided by Lady Veronica at the Brokers Wine bar in Leadenhall Market.

During the 2 hours of music and carols, volunteer ladies and Father Christmas collected from bystanders their donations towards the Coombe Trust efforts on behalf of needy children.

As a memorial to Scout Jimmy Mizen (a posthumous Mediaeval Knight of London) a Union Flag was unfurled by then the Chief Scout Peter Duncan. The day would have been the 17th birthday of this courteous and courageous lad who tragically lost his life whilst performing an act of chivalry.

Frylands Wood – the Scout campsite run for the boys and girls of South London and open to Scout visitors from all over the world, was the scene for the ‘breaking of the flag’. At the same time the International Scout Flag and that of the Coombe Trust were also unfurled.

Margaret and Barry Mizen, Jimmy’s parents were joined by approximately 120 family members, friends and Scouts for the ceremony. The ‘Last Post’ and ‘Reveille’ were ably sounded by bugler Sarah Ratley from Tonbridge whose rendition caused so many in the crowd to shed a tear on this solemn occasion.

The Reverend Cyril Elkington who seventeen years prior had baptized Jimmy, officiated and made the blessing.

Our American cousins may well have been a tad confused to have Thanks Giving on 14th April, without a turkey in sight, they would how ever have been impressed by the Texas sized barbeque that awaited them.

Some 130 men, women and children attended what turned out to be a superb day at the special Thanks Giving party spread out over the Trust’s six Westgate properties. Our guests included friends and colleagues from far and wide and 11 of our smallest and most welcome guests from the 999 Club who were enjoying an Easter holiday with us.

A quite wonderful new playground (Bosun’s Yard) for visiting children was officially opened, along with Bosun’s walk, a pathway to connect our properties and to eventually be paved with stones bearing the names and messages of friends and supporters. The first stones, including those of Matt and Luke Goss who have kindly endorsed the project, their father Alan, was on hand to lay their bricks.

The Howard Coombe memorial garden was also the scene of more pavers being laid, some 80 were initially placed to honour those dearly departed friends, Trustees and supporters. Each of the special bricks carries the Native American ‘gone home’ symbol in honour of our departed friends.

To purchase a paver or memorial stone, please see the Coombe Trust website at www.coombetrust.org. These may be purchased for as little as £40 and engraved to your specification.