From Mrs Patricia Powell
On the day (20th July 1982) at 1pm - I was rinsing a cup at the sink in my classroom - I suddenly felt very ill and mentioned it to a colleague - saying I'd no idea why I felt so ill. On the way home I went to the music store to purchase the score of Oliver - No idea why I wanted it suddenly nor did I have any idea this was what the band was playing.
Got it - went to the bus station and saw on the placards news re the bombs in London - I knew instantly that he was dead. This was confirmed later that evening.
A bomb hidden underneath the bandstand in Regent's Park exploded during a performance of the music from Oliver! by the Royal Green Jackets band to a crowd of 120 people. The crowd was peppered by shrapnel from the iron bandstand, causing dozens of injuries amongst the audience, as well as killing or wounding the entire band. The blast was so powerful that one of the bodies was thrown onto an iron fence thirty yards away, and seven bandsmen were killed outright.
Below are photos of Keith sent by his Mum Mrs Patricia Powell
Keith didn't join the army straight into the Band - he was persuaded to join. He was a brilliant guitarist - playing anything from classical to pop. He played clarinet in the Band.
He was originally in 3LI joining at just 17.
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Footprints in the Sand
by Mary Stevenson
One night a man had a dream. He dreamed he was walking along the beach with the Lord.
Across the sky flashed scenes from his life. For each scene, he noticed two sets of footprints in the sand:
one belonging to him, and the other to the Lord. When the last scene of his life flashed before him,
he looked back at the footprints in the sand. He noticed that many times along the path of his life there was only one set of footprints.
He also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times in his life.
This really bothered him and he questioned the Lord about it. "Lord, You said that once I decided to follow you,
You'd walk with me all the way. But I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life, there is only one set of footprints.
I don't understand why when I needed you most you would leave me." The Lord replied,
"My son, My precious child, I love you and I would never leave you.
During your times of trial and suffering, when you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I Carried You."
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