Household Cavalry Foundation

Congratulations to Squadron Corporal-Major Wayne Gorman LG who was the Household Cavalry Foundation’s runner in this year’s London Marathon.

Wayne fundraised for The HCF, and was resplendent in kit featuring The HCF’s logo; this kit was kindly supplied by Troop Logos owned by Matt Pellett LG.

Volunteers for The HCF’s place in next year’s London Marathon are asked to contact [email protected]

Congratulations to HCav Operational Casualty Corie Mapp who is European para-Bobsleigh champion 2026 and to RHG/D Musician Henry Newton from Melton Mowbray who is The Household Division Musician of The Year 2026.

Congratulations are also due to to our Director of Music, Paul Collis-Smith, who will become Commanding Officer and Senior Director of Music for The Bands of The Household Division after this year’s King’s Birthday Parade. The HCF was delighted to support the iconic recording Paul made with our Band and the choir of St George’s Chapel, Windsor during the celebrations of HM Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee. “The Monarch’s Music” recording was released on 3 November 2023.

On 25 February 2026 at Berkhamsted School, Paul conducted Henry and The Band of The Household Cavalry when they played their latest Through Music We Care concert. This was our Band’s second concert at this school and twice as many pupils as before joined in. Hopefully this will encourage recruits!
Special thanks to former HCav Musician Kevin Connaughton who lives in Berkhamsted and started our Through Music We Care concerts’ initiative a decade ago.
Concerts have been played during these ten years in: (1) Ely Cathedral with the Moriston Male Voice Choir (2) Twice in The Leonardo Hotel in The City of London (3) Twice in The Guards’ Chapel with Rick Wakeman and the Orion Youth Orchestra and (4) Twice at Berkhamsted School.

Best New Year and Burns’s Night Wishes from The HCF
Best New Year and Burns’s Night Wishes from The HCF to all serving and veteran members of our Household Cavalry “family”. In the true spirit of “Best of both worlds: Operational and Ceremonial” both these photos celebrate our dynamic heritage and current “ops”. During the World War 2, a former 2nd Life Guard (Stewart Menzies - James Bond’s “M” - from the UK’s “Celtic fringe” like our current Regt Adjt!) was “Churchill’s Spymaster”. Ian Fleming, creator of James Bond, worked for “M” and is believed to have based Bond on a Royal Horse Guard (David Smiley - a surname shared with John Le Carre’s hero) who led 1953’s Coronation Parade. Ripley’s photo is of Major Charlie Onslow. It’s an addition to the Household Cavalry Coronation foto-series created by Ripley for King Charles III.
The location is a reminder of Old War Office (OWO) hotel’s role in the iconic rooftop scene featuring Daniel Craig in the James Bond movie “Skyfall”.
The HCF and HCav’s “family” owe extra-special thanks to four people: Ripley, Fiona Harris (sister-in-law of Harry Whitbread RHG/D) who’s Marketing & Communications’ Director for the OWO Raffles hotel and initiator of Watering Order replens; and to former Defence Secretary Dame Penny Mordaunt and Chris Lewis. Their book “Pomp & Circumstance - why Britain’s traditions matter” features another Ripley masterpiece on its cover: former RHG/D Mtd Sqn Ldr who’s now HCav Museum Trustee, Major AGR (“Agro”) Owen on top of Canary Wharf. Chris and Dame Penny very kindly donated some proceeds from their wonderful book to The HCF.

Thank you for your continued support to the Household Cavalry Foundation.

Please find the Household Cavalry Charity 2026 calendar now available online

https://www.advantageprintroom.co.uk/product/2026-household-cavalry-cale

Remembrance Day is a Memorial Day observed throughout Commonwealth Member states since the end of the First World War, honouring the Members of the Armed Forces who gave their lives in the line of duty.

It is observed each year on 11 November, marking the end of hostilities in the First World War. The Armistice was signed between Germany and the Allied powers in the early hours of 11 November 1918, and the guns fell silent at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.

At 1100 hours today, all soldiers who were available at Hyde Park Barracks attended a Service of Remembrance conducted by Rev. Tom Sander, to mark this solemn occasion and honour the fallen.

We Will Remember Them

Special thanks to Lars Swann who is this season’s supremo at the fantastic Hemerton Golf Club near Henley.

There last month he very kindly hosted Richard Jones a former Household Cavalry Musician and Magician Winner of 2016’s Britain’s Got Talent, and a Household Cavalry Veterans’ team led by former Life Guards’ Warrant Officer Neil Godson.

We are truly grateful to Lars, Hemerton’s current Captain, for choosing The Household Cavalry Foundation as Hemerton Golf Club’s Charity for this 2025-6 season.

Congratulations to Caroline Jane Munday whose book “Losing James – A Mother’s Story” was announced as the Daily Mail’s Book of The Week last Friday 3 October 2025. This was also the day that the book was launched at the Household Cavalry Museum on Horse Guards Parade with speeches by the author, and Gold Stick The Life Guards and Colonel Harry Fullerton; and endorsements by Ray Winstone, Ronnie Fox, Major Will Bartle-Jones and DHCF.

Trooper James Munday was just 21 when he was killed in Afghanistan in 2008 and only two weeks away from returning home after six months on Operation Herrick which was his first overseas tour. He was serving as a Jackal driver when his vehicle hit a roadside bomb; the explosion also injured two other soldiers. The Prince of Wales and the Duke of Sussex, who were also serving in the Household Cavalry Regiment at the time, described James as an “exceptional solder”. James had been selected to feature in HCav + RAC recruiting literature because he exemplified “Best of Both Worlds Operational and Ceremonial”: Operation Herrick and The Musical Ride. In James’s memory a Life Guard horse was named “Magpie” which was James’s nickname.

“Losing James – A Mother’s Story” (ISBN‎ 979-8316738656) is available now from:
Amazon https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0FLQP1WR7?ref_=pe_93986420_774957520
or from the Household Cavalry Museum shop [email protected] / Shop I Household Cavalry Museum
(A percentage from sales of this book will be donated to the Household Cavalry Operational Casualties’ Fund)

Congratulations to Corporal-Major James Mulholland who broke the World Record for running 10KM carrying a 20LB pack on 7 September 2025.
James was supported by Regimental Corporal-Major Mark Doran, and fellow Corporal-Majors John Crudgington, Jim Wincott and John McWhirter who shares a surname with the founders of The Guinness Book of Records.

Running for The HCav Foundation and “Head Up”, James achieved this feat at Westonbirt, Gloucestershire. This is a place with special HCav links.
It was home to a Life Guard, Sir Stewart Menzies - James Bond’s “M” - who was “Churchill’s Spymaster” during World War 2.
Menzies had more “face-time” with Churchill than anyone else.
Ian Fleming, creator of James Bond, worked for “M” and is believed to have based Bond on Royal Horse Guard David Smiley (a surname shared with John Le Carre’s hero) who led 1953’s Coronation Parade.

Congratulations to two of the Lane Fox brothers serving in the Household Cavalry for their fantastic achievements in 2025 London Marathon on the 27th April.
Charlie ran for the Household Cavalry Foundation and Geroge for the Army Benevolent Fund.
In the past 60 years six Lane Fox's have served in The Blues and Royals, and three currently are. This is believed to be unique in the Household Cavalry.