These words below, taken from Shakespeare's Henry V, provide the origin of the term "band of brothers". I have often called the core group of the charitable NHSCare.info Campaign as the "band of brothers - and sisters". The sister is, of course, Pamela Coughlan. These words also have a special place in my schoolday memories, since each year the head boy of my old school, St Crispin's in Wokingham, would give this speech on the Open Day. For those that want to know what St Crispin's Secondary Modern was like in the early 1960s, they should see the film "Kez", based on the book "Kestrel for a Knave" by Barry Hines. Those were the days :-) The aim of the NHSCare.info Campaign is to put pressure on the NHS and the Government to obey the law, and provide 100% funding of long term health care. Robin Lovelock. July 2006.


This day is called the feast of Crispian:
He that outlives this day, and comes safe home,
Will stand a tip-toe when the day is named,
And rouse him at the name of Crispian.
He that shall live this day, and see old age,
Will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbours,
And say 'To-morrow is Saint Crispian:'
Then will he strip his sleeve and show his scars.
And say 'These wounds I had on Crispin's day.'
Old men forget: yet all shall be forgot,
But he'll remember with advantages
What feats he did that day: then shall our names.
Familiar in his mouth as household words
Harry the king, Bedford and Exeter ,
Warwick and Talbot, Salisbury and Gloucester ,
Be in their flowing cups freshly remember'd.
This story shall the good man teach his son;
And Crispin Crispian shall ne'er go by,
From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be remember'd;
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile,
This day shall gentle his condition:
And gentlemen in England now a-bed
Shall think themselves accursed they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day.