Remembrance: A Call to Mind

Sergeant Jake Pugsley is an Assault Pioneer Platoon Commander and Bugle Major with a passion for combat infantry engineering and bugling. With operational experience in Kosovo, Afghanistan, and most recently Estonia, Jake has honed his skills in diverse and challenging environments. He has also participated in major NATO exercises in Kenya and Germany.

In 2009, Ally Musthan joined the Honourable Artillery Company. He later joined F Company, 7th Battalion The Rifles, where he participated in countless training exercises in the UK and abroad before deploying on an operational tour in Afghanistan.

In 2018, Musthan won the Inspiration of the Year award by the British Ex-Forces in Business organisation for his exemplary transition from the military into the civilian workforce. In 2021, Musthan started Matglen International Consulting, a security risk management consultancy company. He has also gone on to start a community interest company, the Matglen Veterans Hub which will be the only dedicated space designed to offer support to currently serving personnel, veterans and their families in London, Monday through Friday.

His biggest achievement to date is his role as The City of London’s Divisional Secretary for the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association (SSAFA) where he supports vulnerable service personnel, veterans, and their families with a small team of amazing volunteers. Musthan has represented SSAFA at events at 10 Downing Street and The Guards' Chapel and has been a featured speaker at the SSAFA Christmas Carol Concert.

Musthan’s participation in this remembrance celebration will include sharing his personal experiences in a no-holds-barred, inclusive way. The reality of war has many different facets, and his story will be featured within these Remembrance Day proceedings.

Jay joined the Army as a junior soldier at the age of 16 in February 1987, then joined 2RGJ (Royal Green Jackets), becoming 1RGJ in 1992.

He was promoted to Lance Corporal in 1994 whilst serving in Cyprus on a two year posting with 1RGJ and promoted up the ranks in turn to Warrant Officer Class Two.

Jay served on operational tours to Northern Ireland, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sierra Leone, Iraq and numerous other countries including Kazakhstan, Estonia and Kenya as an advisor. 

Jay finally left the regular Army in December 2011, going on to serve a further ten years in the Army Reserves with 7 Rifles based in West Ham. His boots were hung up in 2020 for the final time.

Teal Darkenwald is an interdisciplinary artist, educator, and founder of Ultra Barre with a multifaceted background. Her choreography has been featured at Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM), New York Live Arts, and the Ailey Citigroup Theatre. 

She has directed and choreographed large-scale performances including site-specific and traditional shows, visual media, and industry entertainment in London, Paris, Hong Kong, Cyprus, Canada, the Philippines, and throughout the USA. 

She is also an artistic associate and choreographer for BalaSole Dance Company in New York City, an organization devoted to providing diverse, equitable, and inclusive performance experiences for dance artists.

Darkenwald is a tenured Associate Professor of dance and biomechanics and Honors College Fellow at East Carolina University. There, she was awarded the University of North Carolina system for excellence in teaching in addition to numerous grants for her scholarship and teaching.

Darkenwald is also pursuing a PhD in Dance Science at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance. Her scholarship includes creating choreography using emerging technologies, inertial motion capture, and virtual reality. 

Whilst on research leave in the UK, Darkenwald has taught contemporary dance, served as an academic tutor and performance enhancement tutor, and held research roles at Bird College, the University of Essex, and Trinity Laban.

Darkenwald is honoured to contribute to the Call to Mind event for Remembrance Day. She will share her experience as a contributing author on Jazz Dance: A History of the Roots and Branches and will discuss the importance of vernacular and social dance in relationship to WWI and WWII. 

During the “informance” (informational performance), she will feature dancers from Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance and Bird College.

Ryan began his Royal Navy career in May 2008, joining HMS Raleigh aged just 16. He went on to train in the Warfare Branch as a Seamanship Specialist before joining the Type 42 Destroyer HMS Gloucester.

Over the next few years, he spent time on HMS Liverpool, HMS Ark Royal and HMS Daring before joining HMS Mersey in July 2010. He spent two and a half years onboard conducting Maritime Security patrols in home water.

After a brief period away from the Royal Navy, Ryan rejoined the Royal Navy Reserves in early 2015. Throughout his time in the reserves, he has spent 14 months full time with the Royal Navy Gibraltar Squadron and an 18-month mobilisation on HMS Tyne.

Ryan is passionate about supporting officer cadets and recruits across the Naval Reserves. He has proudly embarked 335 reservists onto warships all over the world through the RNR Sea Time Training Programme. 

His links with Gibraltar Squadron has enabled other sea time training overseas for reservists to develop their skills on the water. This has lead to a part time voluntary role as the Maritime Reserves Surface Warfare Afloat Training Senior Rate.

In 2020, Ryan joined the Greater London & South East Youth Engagement Team, helping students discover the range of opportunities available within the Royal Navy. He has continued to support young people through his governor role at a local secondary school.

Since May 2025, Ryan has been senior non-commissioned officer at the Leadership Institute of the Royal Navy. He has helped to established the LEadership ADvocate (LEAD) Network. This is the Royal Navy’s first strategic leadership development programme and supports leadership across all ranks and rates.

Douggie John lives on the Kent coast. He is the author of the upcoming e-book 200 Hours, a musician and professional boxing coach.  

Carl Mackenzie is an award-winning writer, producer, and director, recognised for his determination and passion for creating commercially accessible stories with a strong social commentary.

He is best known for The Interrogation of Olivia Donovan, which received the Jury Special Mention for Outstanding UK Film at the Manchester International Film Festival 2017.

In 2025, Carl released the war drama Unseen Scars, a film with a deeply personal resonance for him, inspired by witnessing first-hand the challenges faced by those suffering from PTSD and the impact on their loved ones. The film had its premiere in April 2025 at the iconic Prince Charles Cinema, Leicester Square.

Carl is a proud member of BAFTA and Directors UK, and was also the founder of the Chelmsford Film Festival.

In 2026, Carl will release his debut novel, 3 Days in Ibiza.