Major Richard Jakeman, a scholar at Bearwood College until 1993, will be responsible for directing the firing of the 
guns marking each minute of Baroness Thatcher’s funeral procession on 17th April.
Major Jakeman, who is an active member of the Bearwood College alumni association, the Old Royal’s, was the guest speaker at the school’s Combined Cadet Force annual dinner in 2012.
He delighted the scholars with stories about his time in the CCF and serving abroad. His enthusiasm was contagious and he inspired pupils with his tales of courage and determination.
The Commanding Officer of 3 Squadron, Major Jakeman, will lead soldiers from the Honourable Artillery Company (HAC) in the firing of one shot every minute as the cortege moves from St Clement Danes Church to St Paul’s Cathedral. The HAC is the oldest regiment in the British Army having been founded in 1537 by Henry VIII.
Regiments from the HAC have fought in both world wars and in the Falklands conflict as well as more recently in Afghanistan.
Traditionally the Regiment is responsible for performing ceremonial duties in the City of London such as Guards of Honour for visiting Heads of State, firing Royal Salutes from the Tower of London and playing a major role in state occasions such as the Lord Mayor’s Show and the Remembrance Sunday procession.
On Wednesday the HAC Gun Battery will fire from the Tower of London using all three of its ceremonial 105mm Light Guns, two of which (A Sub and C Sub) were fired in anger throughout the Falklands conflict in 1982 when they belonged to 29 Commando Regiment Royal Artillery.
On Monday 15th April a full military dress rehearsal was held for the procession from the transfer of the coffin from the chapel crypt in the Palace of Westminster by car to the RAF chapel, St Clement Danes. Here, bearers lifted the coffin onto a gun carriage pulled by six horses and processed up the Strand to St Paul’s Cathedral.
The 19 minute procession has been choreographed by Major Andrew Chapburn who was responsible for last year’s Diamond Jubilee procession and the 2011 Royal Wedding procession.
The only participants who did not get to practice their role during the dress rehearsal were the Chelsea Pensioners, for whom 5.30am was a little early, and Major Jakeman’s team. The minute guns were not fired during the rehearsal and were substituted with the shout of ‘bang!’.