Bearer party announced for the funeral of Lady Thatcher
The MOD has announced the names of the bearer party who will carry the coffin of Baroness Thatcher at her funeral on Wednesday 17 April.
![Armed Forces personnel parade before dawn this morning as part of a rehearsal for Lady Thatcher's funeral procession [Picture: Sergeant Adrian Harlen, Crown copyright]](https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/image_data/file/9164/s300_LOND-2013-046-003g.jpg)
Armed Forces personnel rehearsing for Lady Thatcher's funeral procession
The bearer party is made up of 8 personnel from all 3 Services, including those from ships, units and stations notable for their service during the Falklands Campaign. They will be followed by 2 cap orderlies who will hold the caps of the 8 bearers when they carry Lady Thatcher’s coffin.
Bearer party
| Unit/Ship/Base | Name | Age | Hometown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose, Fleet Air Arm | Able Seaman Thomas Baker | 22 | Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire |
| 40 Commando Royal Marines | Corporal John Caulfield | 30 | Weymouth, Dorset |
| 4th Regiment Royal Artillery | Sergeant Jason Buffham | 30 | Grantham, Lincolnshire |
| 9 Parachute Squadron, Royal Engineers | Corporal Carl Spence | 29 | Hartlepool, County Durham |
| F Company, Scots Guards | Lance Sergeant Paul Quayle | 31 | East Kilbride, Lanarkshire |
| 3rd Battalion The Parachute Regiment | Lance Corporal James Steel | 24 | Ripon, North Yorkshire |
| Queen’s Colour Squadron RAF | Lance Corporal Adam Jones | 23 | Prestatyn, Denbighshire |
| 1st Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles | Lance Corporal Tej Pun | 31 | Ashford, Kent |
Cap orderlies
| Unit/Ship/Base | Name | Age | Hometown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Queen’s Colour Squadron RAF | Senior Aircraftman Jamie Straker | 23 | Bridlington, East Yorkshire |
| 1st Battalion Welsh Guards | Guardsman Sam Williams | 19 | Bangor, Gwynedd |
The military rehearsal of Lady Thatcher's funeral procession approaches St Paul's Cathedral [Picture: Sergeant Adrian Harlen, Crown copyright]
On the day of the funeral, Lady Thatcher’s coffin will be moved by hearse from the Palace of Westminster to St Clement Danes Church (the church of the Royal Air Force) and placed inside by the undertaker, when prayers will be said by the chaplain.
The tri-Service bearer party will then carry the coffin out of St Clement Danes Church and place it on the gun carriage of the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery. The bearer party will walk alongside the gun carriage, 4 on each side, as the funeral procession makes its way to St Paul’s Cathedral led by the Band of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines Portsmouth - ‘The Royal Band’.
The processional route will be lined by servicemen and women supported by bands, and outside the cathedral a Guard of Honour and band of the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards will be formed up. While the procession from St Clement Danes Church to St Paul’s Cathedral takes place, the Honourable Artillery Company will fire processional minute guns from Tower Wharf, Tower of London.
Positioned on the west steps of St Paul’s Cathedral will be a step-lining party made up of 18 tri-Service personnel and 16 in-pensioners of the Royal Hospital Chelsea. Senior military representatives will attend the service.