{{unreferenced, date=June 2020 Massed Bands Spin Wheel

The Spin Wheel is a British

drill A drill is a tool used for making round holes or driving fasteners. It is fitted with a bit, either a drill or driver chuck. Hand-operated types are dramatically decreasing in popularity and cordless battery-powered ones proliferating due to ...

manoeuvre. The manoeuvre is not written down, but is instead passed down from one generation of musicians to the next. The manoeuvre is performed at the

Trooping the Colour Trooping the Colour is a ceremony performed every year in London, United Kingdom, by regiments of the British Army. Similar events are held in other countries of the Commonwealth. Trooping the Colour has been a tradition of British infantry regi ...

by The Massed Bands, Corps of Drums, and Pipes and Drums of His Majesty's Guards Division, and was designed after the addition of the then newly formed Regimental Bands of the Welsh and Irish Guards to the parade. With over 400 musicians, it became impossible to turn the formation in the standard manner using a 'wheel'. As such, the Spin Wheel was required. The manoeuvre itself is extremely complex, and is coordinated by the more experienced

non-commissioned officer A non-commissioned officer (NCO) is a military officer who has not pursued a commission. Non-commissioned officers usually earn their position of authority by promotion through the enlisted ranks. (Non-officers, which includes most or all enli ...

s within the ranks. It results in the entire formation pivoting on its centre, then continuing the ceremony.

External links

Trooping the Colour Spin Manoeuvre
at The Trooping the Colour
Spin Wheel performed by the Massed Bands during rehearsal
British Army traditions Household Division (United Kingdom)