His Majesty's 1st Foot Guards 1815 ·

   "R. B. Sheridan's 'Here's to the Maiden of Bashful Fifteen' sounded lovely at Dover Castle today, echoing through the medieval tunnels.

First published in 1777, this tune became the regimental march of the 8th Foot, later the Liverpool Regiment. Part of Sheridan's comedy 'School for Scandal', it contained these bawdy words:

'Here's to the maiden of bashful fifteen;

Here's to the widow of fifty;

Here's to the flaunting extravagant queen,

And here's to the housewife that's thrifty.

Here's to the charmer whose dimples we prize; 

Now to the maid who has none, sir;

Here's to the girl with a pair of blue eyes,

And here's to the nymph with but one, sir.

CHORUS:

Let the toast pass,

Drink to the lass,

I'll warrant she'll prove an excuse for the glass.

We can just imagine the Napoleonic soldiers garrisoned at Dover Castle singing this on cold, dank days like today, trying to spread some cheer as they peered through the loopholes towards France.

We always seek more drummers & fifers. Experience of these instruments is not required; all our current players had to start somewhere. 

With thanks to English Heritage"