The Savage Report

The Role of the Band Service Recruiting and PR SNCO - Band Colour Sergeant Ian Davies

or

My, what a large "packet" you have!

A True Story by Steve Savage aged 8298 days BBP (Before Bus Pass!)

I had been in discussion with the Editor as to who I should 'do' this time round. Thankfully, we were both in agreement and we thought that it was timely to inform my faithful Reader about the Band Service Recruiting and Public Relations SNCO, a role fulfilled by one BdCSgt Ian (Taff) Davies. The next problem was how to interview him. He spends many hours on the road and I was stuck in Dartmouth. The phone was an option but my short hand is somewhat lacking. E-mail was another option but again with Ian on the road so much I couldn't guarantee contact. No sooner was the problem raised in my mind, than the problem was solved. I was seconded to the Headquarters in Portsmouth as the Special Projects Officer. "But why?" I hear my Reader enquire. Well, are you sitting comfortably? Then I'll begin…

The Band at BRNC had been deployed on HMS Invincible for 10 weeks to partake in two major exercises, Rapid Alliance and Aurora, popping into a couple of US ports on the way. As I was one of the un-chosen few, and with most of the other 'stay-behinds' having been seconded to other Bands to alleviate manpower problems, I was left with a very small Band… very, very small. In fact it consisted of myself, the Band Sec - CSgt Bugler Martin Williams, and Musn Charlie Lawson - a flautist with a broken hand, which kind of limits the gigs you can take on! And so it came to pass, Dear Reader, that I was soon winging my way to Portsmouth and therefore able to go and interview Ian personally. WRONG! Catching him in situ proved to be a difficult thing, however I managed to get a message to him asking him to write a brief history of his career and explain what he is up to in his new post. He could then pass the info on to me and I would do the rest. Oh, how happy I was when I received 30 bullet points and little else! So, it was back to my normal writing technique then; the odd factual episode interspersed with a few lies, a hint of waffle and generous helpings of ballship. (That reminds me, I must have a word with the IT bloke about my spell check).

Thinking about recruitment made me cast my mind back 26 years when I went to the Careers Office in Portsmouth and explained that I wanted to join the Band Service as a Musician. An ageing, rather rotund and facially hirsute CPO - a beardy old salad-dodger if I'm honest - kindly informed me in his dulcet southern brogue that there was no point in me bothering to try because I wouldn't get in. I rather nervously questioned his response to which he replied: "No-one from the Isle of Wight ever gets in the Band Service as a Musician." Mmmmm. So, he based my potential in the Band Service on where I lived. Surely this was a cut and dried case of 'place-ism'. Needless to say, the issue was pressed somewhat, and here I am now.

Nowadays, thankfully, things have changed dramatically in the Armed Forces Careers Offices (AFCOs). However, as the Band Service is such a unique and specialised branch of the Armed Forces, the Headquarters felt that there was a need to set up a position for a SNCO to deal with our own PR and Recruiting. This way, one of our own could go on the road and target young musicians, students, teachers, lecturers and anyone else who was interested, and promote the Band Service and inform them of the career prospects on offer. This is where Ian came in. Sorry, I'm going to have to refer to him as Taff. Calling him Ian is just a bit weird after all this time! As per normal, a wee potted history of the man in question.

Taff joined the Band Service in 1983 along with a veritable 'rogues' gallery', which includes Major Andy Thornhill, WO1s Tom Hodge and Mick Atkinson, WO2 Phil Evans, Drum Majors Grant Adams and Stu Mason, Sgt Nick Walker and Cpls Kev Baker and Dan Cooke. Having passed out of training in 1986, he was packed off to RAF Northolt to join CinC Fleet Band. Taff points out that 2 of the highlights of this particular draft were visiting Gibraltar many times and playing rugby for RAF Northolt - apparently he took up rugby as it caused less physical damage than Gibraltar! He was then seconded to HMS Fife for 12 months as the assistant VBI to one CSgt Martin Sharp. Here they happily 'Italian Festival'd themselves around the Mediterranean and the Great Lakes, amongst other places. Taff also remarks that as a means of passing time, Martin introduced him to running, a sport that Ian went on to undertake with a passion. That Martin Sharp has a lot to answer for if you ask me! A brief respite back at CinC Fleet and Taff had his bags packed and headed for Staff Band in Deal.

It was here that Taff first met the 3 greatest influences in his life. The first was Bob Simmonds, who introduced Taff to Deal Wanderers Rugby Club and something slightly more dangerous called the 'Afternoon Drinking Club', which apparently also involved activities such as pool, darts and dominoes etc. Ahhh. REAL sports! The second was Sid Davis, to whom Taff attributes his musical prowess, as Sid taught and nurtured him in the ancient art of 'flannel', and the third was Bob Graham, but he doesn't say why. Maybe that's just as well, eh? Taff's potential was soon spotted, (he should have got some cream for that), and he was soon off on his JCC. With a pass under his belt, and firmly tucked into his underpants, he was off to CinC Nav Home in Portsmouth when in 1992 he was promoted to Corporal. Having enjoyed a good two years there, he was on his way back to Deal.

It was during this draft that Taff's extraordinary skill of dealing with the public was first spotted having been put in charge of the Band Shop. I can't tell you how much profit they made. I would do, but I can't because Taff didn't put that in his bullet points, but needless to say it was, not unlike Taff himself, fairly sizeable. Taff just seemed to have what it took to get the punters to part with their money. Was it charm? Was it charisma? Was it the great smell of 'Brut' or the fact that he was 6ft 4 and was built like an outside lav door? Who knows? But believe me, Taff could sell icemakers in Alaska, blankets in the Sahara and Bibles in the Reeperbahn. He was damn good, that's for sure.

After the closure of Deal, the relocation of RMSM to Portsmouth and his success on both the SCC and the M1s course, Taff found himself in the ample bosom of Portsmouth Band once more, where he was promoted to Sergeant. Taff was to stay there until 2000 when he found himself joining RM Band Plymouth (Kosovo), under the direction of the then Captain Andy Thornhill. This was the Band that would be deployed to Kosovo (strangely enough!) for a six-month tour of duty. Taff informed me that having arrived, all was going well until day 3 when he was then detailed off to take over as Troop Sgt for over 40 personnel, including GD Marines. Never mind this "Hang on Shipmate, I'm a Bandy and I don't have a green beret!" malarkey because it just didn't wash. Taff soon found himself 'doing the business' at the sharp end. Amongst his many tasks, he had to act as the Commander of a 'packet' of 45 military vehicles, which is one hell of a big 'packet' (secondary title explained!) - and there was me thinking that a 'packet' was the collective noun for a group of penguins. If being in charge of this huge convoy wasn't daunting enough, the 'packet' had to drive from Kosovo to Greece! All this from a bloke whose last insight into the duties of a 'packet' Commander was a half-hour lecture on his SCC!

The deployment over, Taff settled back into Portsmouth Band where all was cosy until in 2003 when 'Op Telic' kicked off. Again he found himself back in the thick of it. This time Taff was the I/C of NBC Decontamination Team 1, one of the two Band Service teams that deployed, the other being led by CSgt Paul Bateman - you know, the cartoonist. They soon found themselves acting as a force protection unit for Ambulance Troop on the Al Faw peninsular, along with Commando Forward Surgical Group1 and 40 Commando, ending up in the much-televised Palace in Basra. Taff admits that it 'had its moments' and he is fiercely proud of what the guys and gals achieved out there. He went on to remark that it yet again proved the determination, skill, versatility and total professionalism of the Band Service… and so say all of us. Never was a truer word written as a bullet point.

Having safely returned to Portsmouth once more, he was offered the job of Band Service PR and Recruiting SNCO which he accepted willingly. Now he didn't know much about recruiting, but he was no stranger to PR. Ask anyone who sat next to him in the cornet section, as Taff was often to be heard 'PR' ing if he had to play anything over a top 'G'!!

Having discussed the concept of the post with the PDM, Taff was more or less given a 'free-rein' to set it all up. The initial problem was that he didn't have a desk, a computer or a phone! Unperturbed, Taff went to see The Director of Naval Recruiting (DNR) Staff and began to get them to part with their money too! Soon, Taff found himself not only with a desk, a computer, and a mobile phone but also with a fleet car and an agency card for petrol. Damn, he's good! As for guidance and the odd idea here and there, Taff is quick to point out that DNR couldn't have been more helpful. Now the hard work started.

Taff thought long and hard about who to target to get the greatest publicity and how to achieve it. Whilst the need to inform young people as to the benefits of a career in the Band Service was never in question, he realised that he could also target them through their teachers, tutors and lecturers. This way, the teachers could recognise those 'certain qualities' in their pupils that might stand them in good stead for a Band Service career. Taff then produced an hour-long presentation on all aspects of the Band Service and proceeded to take it around the country. To date he has visited over 60 schools and colleges from Aberdeen to Dover spreading the word as only he can. Not only is his presence valuable as a means of imparting information about joining the Band Service, it also serves to dispel any myths - particularly about the secondary role. As one who has seen action in both Kosovo and Iraq, there is certainly no one more qualified to do so.

Taff realised that there was a huge and talented group of musicians out there that had never been targeted directly and as such probably knew very little about the Band Service. This was the world of youth bands, County bands and Brass Bands. Again, Taff has given his presentation to many of these bands, has organised 'workshops' with the Band Service and has been involved in many competitions including the Youth Brass Band Championships. Many visits to schools and Bands have been so successful that they have requested to visit the School of Music, which again, Taff has been able to organise. And for those individuals who express real interest and a willingness to join, he has been successful in securing some work experience placements both at the School and at outlying Bands. For those young people, this is a highly valuable evolution.

Not content to sit on his laurels, which might be quite painful if nothing else, Taff wanted to promote the Band Service and ensure it gained visibility throughout the professional music world. As such, Taff has organised a major advertising campaign in such prominent musical periodicals and magazines as 'Muso', 'Music Teacher', 'The British Bandsman' and even the BBC 'Proms Guide'. He has also taken this concept one step further and has provided interviews and editorials for similar publications. As you can imagine, the PR gained by the Band Service through these campaigns alone is massive.

A combination of his work with schools and Bands has resulted in some amazingly high profile PR performances for the Band Service too. Recently Scotland Band performed in a concert in aid of the children's charity 'Wallness' at the Bridgwater Hall, Manchester, appearing with many of the cast of 'Coronation Street' and some of the players from Manchester United Football Club, whoever they are. But maybe the most valuable PR event was when a Royal Marines Fanfare Team and Corps of Drums opened the National Brass Band Championships in 2003, at the Royal Albert Hall. This has since led to a request for a Royal Marines Band to perform on stage with Black Dyke Mills brass band at the 2004 Championships - which will be the first time this has ever occurred.

This is PR and recruiting in its widest form, but Taff is also heavily involved with potential recruits on a one-to-one basis. At the major RN recruiting drives, Taff can be found on the Band Service 'stand' handing out advice to those who are interested. Also, anybody who contacts the AFCOs or calls the RN Career 'Hotline' and expresses an interest in the Band Service is automatically passed on to Taff. He explains what to expect and then guides the individual through the entire process from the day they are put in contact with him, up to and including mentoring them at their audition at the School. This is an unprecedented 'personal' service and invaluable for those individuals concerned.

Taff with the Corps of Drums on the set of Coronation Street

So, has all this time and effort made a difference? I should say so. The first audition that Taff was involved with consisted of 8 potential recruits. As I write this article he is currently mentoring 32 young people through their audition at the School. This year, the Band Service needs to recruit 40 students. 23 have already been accepted from previous auditions and who are now waiting to join in September, and Taff is confident that the remainder will be found from those attending this audition. Why is he so confident? Well, targeting the right groups of young people through his work with schools and bands has automatically meant that the standard of those reaching the audition stage has increased considerably, as Taff acts as a filter system allowing only those who are musically capable to attend auditions. Those who are not of the required standard are never just pushed to one side and ignored, though. Taff recognises that they may be recruits of the future and therefore offers advice about how to improve their standards and he recommends that they try to get to audition again once the required standards are met. This is an excellent system and the results are speaking volumes.

When this job was created, I feel sure that no one could have expected that it would prove to be so successful in both PR and recruiting terms. It has not only seen the recruiting targets and the standard of auditionees improve but it has also led to the Band Service gaining much greater visibility throughout the music world, thus creating a much higher profile. There is no doubt in my mind that Taff was born to do this job. His expertise in dealing with the public of all ages is outstanding. His commitment, determination and hard work in promoting the Band Service at the highest level and to the widest audience, is quite simply second to none. He is undoubtedly a consummate professional who has made this job his own. Long may he continue to do it.

Having just read the article through I realised that it didn't really sound like the same Taff that I first met back in the 80s. Now of course, he is a totally focused, dedicated and hard working man, the epitome of a Band Service SNCO. Back then I just remember him being a very tall and very Welsh bloke who, incidentally, still owes me a tattoo - and I ain't talking about the 'kilted' variety which takes place in Edinburgh. But that Dear Reader, is a very different story!