The Savage Report

The Life and Times of the Globe and Laurel Secretary - WO2(B) Freddy Bryson-Bassett RM

or

Working with Dinosaurs!

A True Story by Steve Savage aged 4,921 days less than his subject matter!

Secreted away in a far-flung corner of an office on an Island called 'Whale', lies the remains of one of the Band Service's oldest surviving serving members, one WO2 (B) Freddy Bryson-Bassett RM. His career spans five decades, and although he hasn't been directly involved with the Band Service for many years, his contribution has been immense and is worthy of note, especially as his career comes to an end next year. As far as Band Service longevity is concerned, he is a close second only to WO2(B) Dave Hurl RM, another man stowed away neatly somewhere on 'Whaley'whose true career length will only ever be established through the use of carbon dating, and as for his age, well, the only way that can ever be calculated is by sawing him in half and counting the rings.

Freddy is the Secretary of the journal of the Corps, the Globe and Laurel. This top quality publication keeps us all informed as to what is going on throughout the Corps and also gives the Corps an insight into what has been happening within the Band Service. Freddy took up post in August 1988 and has been there ever since. Having had such a distinguished, and lets face it, long career, I hope that my literary meanderings will combine a 'Personality Parade' style article with an insight into his role as the Secretary. I should point out that for Freddy's benefit, I am writing this article slowly just in case his reading isn't as fast as it used to be; he's at that age see. As per normal, I shall begin by giving you a look at the Service history of the man himself. So make yourself a flask of coffee, pull up a chair and settle back Dear Reader as this could take some time.

Freddy as a 14 year old Junior Musician, this is the photo from his paybook

Freddy joined the Corps as a Junior Musician in January 1963, playing Bass and String Bass. On completion of Junior Training he was drafted to the RM Band at BRNC Dartmouth. From there he was drafted for service with the RM Band based at HMS Pembroke, where Freddy reports that during his first overseas tour, Musn Albert Hill attempted to sell him to some 'Ladies of the Night' in Puerto Rico! Freddy's subsequent tours of duty included drafts to the Royal Marines School of Music, HMS Drake and HQ 3 Commando Brigade RM in Singapore. Whilst Freddy enjoyed a fairly 'leisurely' lifestyle along with the likes of 'Knocker' White (Percussion), Dave Hurl (the pre-eminent third cornet), Steve Salmon and Syd Richardson, he had fortunately become a married man prior to being drafted overseas and was therefore spared from the many delights of life in the Far East or so he says! The Bandmaster at the time, 'Bandy' Borrington, was obviously impressed with Freddy's prodigious talent as he was 'asked' to leave his bass in its case - a blessing for music lovers - and play the cymbals in the marching band. He also remembers being ordered to stow his string bass away because it would not be required whilst he was in the Band - another blessing for music lovers! All was well until the Band was asked to supply an orchestra for the local Civil Service Operatic Society's production of Gilbert and Sullivan's 'Iolanthe'. Freddy went to unpack his bass only to find that it had completely collapsed due to the tropical heat - could it get any better for music lovers now?! It is believed that the Brigade CQMS sent it to Deal via 'sea mail', wrapped in several large sheets of brown paper. Needless to say it resembled an 'Airfix' string bass kit by the time it arrived back!

Returning from Singapore in 1971, Freddy joined the CINCNAVHOME Band at HMS Excellent under the baton of Lt Ray Woodfield and the ever-careful eye of Drum Majors Matt Dillon and Joe Croft. Following its disbandment he joined the Portsmouth Group Band (renamed CINCNAVHOME Band in 1973) initially awaiting discharge, as Freddy had been selected from a cast of thousands for redundancy. However, Musn Jack Rolfe decided that he had had enough and so he and Freddy 'swapped'. Freddy is eager to point out that Civvy Street's loss was the Band Service's gain! Shortly after his arrival at Portsmouth Group Band, he was selected for Royal Yacht service and joined HMY Britannia for HM The Queen's State Visit to Australia and New Zealand in 1974. During this tour both he and the mild-mannered Alan Upton got banned from the Engine Room… he doesn't say why though. (There's one for his top table, Alan!) Also during this tour the Band participated in the 1974 Commonwealth Games (Freddy did the long jump so he tells me!) and he also visited Norfolk Island, Tonga, the New Hebrides, Bali, Jakarta and Singapore.

In 1978 Freddy was invited to become an instructor at the… Royal Marines School of Music. Having been warmly welcomed by DOM (T), Captain Graham Hoskins, he then made his way to the bass lobby where he was to find his pupils waiting for him - all none of them! He did get two trombone players for an hour each per week prior to them attending a professor's lesson, but they didn't count. By the summer the recruiters had found him some pupils, I know, because I joined up with them all in the September! As this massive influx of pupils (I think it was 4) had been foisted upon the already overworked Instructor, 'Drafty' thought he should send him some help. That's when Ben Robinson arrived. Within days the awful pong that emanated from Ben's pipe got too much, so in a desperate bid to get away from the stinky dreadfulness, Freddy signed up for a Senior Command Course and the M1s. Promotion to Band Sergeant was soon forthcoming, as was a draft to HMS Norfolk as the Volunteer Band Instructor. Having joined the ship at 0900 hrs he sailed for a 10-month Far East deployment at 1030 hrs! His crocodile tears wiped away, Freddy sailed from Portsmouth and proceeded to make the most of his sojourn with 'Jack' aboard Grey Funnel Taxis! The tour included a happy return to Gibraltar, Turkey, Egypt, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Singapore (Again!) and Greece.

Pat Hill (left) and Freddy in the Sgts Mess. Freddy already knew the Admiral as he was the VBI on HMS Norfolk when the Admiral was FOF3.

Having returned to RM Eastney in 1980, Freddy was selected for the 1982 Bandmaster's Course, on completion of which he returned to the CINCNAVHOME Band once more. Selected for more Royal Yacht service, the Band, under Captain Peter Hemming, accompanied HM The Queen on her 1983 state visit to Mexico, the USA and Canada. On returning from Canada, Freddy took up another Volunteer Band post, this time at HMS Nelson. He lists two moments of sanity during this draft. The first being when he was invited to assist the Portsmouth Band as Road Manager whilst they where performing in Berlin, although it turned out to be a posh title for 'truck driver', and the second was performing as a third cornet player during the commissioning of a new P&O liner. This was a particularly difficult evolution as Freddy had to cope with the weight of the cornet without the aid of a bass strap. Miraculously, he did escape any permanent damage! After promotion to Band Colour Sergeant the escape committee held an extraordinary meeting and he returned to the Band at - yes, you've guessed it, Eastney!
Seeking a new direction, he jumped at the chance to take up an appointment within the Department of the Commandant General Royal Marines in London. But why, I thought, had he made this change? Why go from the comfort zone of a Band to the IT-filled world of the office? Then it came to me. Freddy had obviously realised that at this stage of his career his 'Bach' really was worse than his 'Byte'! Having had a comprehensive handover from his predecessor, 'Rivs' Howgill, he managed the Royal Marines Concert Office for three consecutive Mountbatten Festivals of Music and organised Beating Retreat 1988, as well as taking part in the ill-fated Defence School of Music project.

Initially offered an eighteen-month prolongation of service in London, he applied for the post as the Secretary of The Globe & Laurel (G&L) with what he considered to be little real hope of securing the post. However, realising that interview technique might stand him in good stead for the future - well, grovelling actually - Freddy decided to give it his best shot. Much to his surprise he was offered the position, which was at that time in the G&L offices at, surprise, surprise, Eastney. Following appointment he was instrumental in implementing a computerisation programme of the journal, including its management, production and distribution systems. There you go, 'Bandy' Borrington, Freddy has been 'instrumental' at least once in his career!! Following the closure of RM Eastney, Freddy found himself back at HMS Excellent, Whale Island, where, despite the fact that HQRM was formed and subsequently 'de-formed', the G&L offices have remained.

With 6 editions of the G&L published every year, the team is kept extremely busy. Prior to the 'close copy' date, the offices become awash with articles, features and photographs sent in from all elements of the Corps wherever they may be serving. All written articles then have to be proof read for suitability. At the same time, Freddy negotiates direct advertising, as required by the Editor, and liaises with advertising agents to ensure that their advertisements are accurate and appropriate for inclusion. Freddy then assists the Editor with the selection of articles, photos, features and advertisements that are subsequently shortlisted for inclusion in the next edition. Freddy's next job is to reproduce all the photographs to production quality and then design and produce all required graphics and line art. These, combined with the selected written articles, features and advertisements are then page managed, creating all the page layouts. Thus, he sub-edits the draft magazine. To be able to achieve this, Freddy must be fluent in 4 different software programmes; QuarkExpress, Photoshop, Omnipage and Wordperfect, which as you can imagine is no mean feat. Once the draft copy of the magazine has been produced, it is presented to the Editor for a final check and proof read. Once Freddy has made any final tweaks required by the Editor, he must then ensure that the draft magazine is in the correct format and layout to present to the printers.

Through liaison with the printing company, Freddy then organises the magazine production timetables and all the printing and delivery orders. Once produced, the magazine is then quality checked, the order amount is checked and subsequent collection is arranged. Having received the finished product, Freddy is then responsible for its sale and distribution. This involves much liaison with the Directorate of Corporate Communications (Navy), the Directorate of Naval Recruiting, Branches of the Royal Marines Association, Royal Marines Cadet Units, RSMs, CSMs and Sgts' Messes throughout the Corps, including those of deployed troops, and any local selling outlets. This obviously goes hand in hand with the next phase, which is the distribution. Freddy is responsible for the distribution of 13,500 copies per edition. These are sent all over the world to subscribers as far afield as the Antipodes, the Falklands, South America, Scandinavia, Europe, Hong Kong and Freddy's beloved Singapore. Obviously this is a time consuming evolution and therefore Freddy has to ensure close liaison with the Post Office and he also needs to ensure that the subscription listings are up to date at all times. He is also responsible for all the accounting procedures. This includes receiving all cash, cheques and postal orders and maintaining all cash books, payment records, subscription and postage accounts. On top of this, credit control must be maintained and bank reconciliations must to be produced. All stock records - including items such as diaries, Christmas cards and binders - must be checked and maintained, and all accounting procedures prepared for audit when required, thus proving the point that bass players CAN count! On a day to day basis, Freddy is also responsible for the running of all office routines, the maintenance of the computer systems and the training of the remaining staff, 1 Marine and 1 civilian typist in all aspects of IT software required in the production of the magazine. He's been a busy boy, hasn't he?

Freddy as he is today; shorter of hair, wider of waist, happy as ever

But what of the future? The position of Secretary of the Globe and Laurel is to be taken up by another great bastion of Fleet DRM, CSgt Jan Zawada - whose surname, incidentally, comes up on my spell check as 'Seaweed'. But what's Freddy going to do with himself once he's popped to the NAAFI one last time to cancel his subscription to 'People's Friend', cancelled his bulk order of Werther's Originals and finally handed in his ID parchment? According to Freddy, work definitely does not enter the equation, as he's spent his considerable years avoiding it like the plague! He's actually in the process of buying a place in Spain and following his lovely wife Betty's retirement, they plan to put their feet up in the sun and toast the world with Sangria. Well, after such an auspicious career, who can blame him? As Freddy pointed out, "When the Corps RSM advises you that you should not consider any form of hard work when you leave, it's bloody rude to ignore him!" Argue with that if you can!

I think I should conclude this article using Freddy's own words. This I do for two reasons; firstly, this is an opportunity for Freddy to express his personal feelings about impending retirement after 42 years' service, and secondly, because it saves me having to write any more. Over to you Freddy:
"The first issue of the Globe and Laurel that I worked on was July/August 1988 and I shall have seen over one hundred editions published when I retire finally from the Corps on 1 June 2005. My particular thanks go to Captain John Hillier MBE, the Editor, Trudy Clarke, my Assistant Secretary, for all her help, patience and co-operation, Cpl 'Snowie' Robinson for making me smile and former WO2 Peter Mawer for being a true friend.

So, have I enjoyed my time in the Corps? Well, of course I have! I believe I have in fact had two separate careers: Twenty-five years in the Band Service and almost seventeen years with the Globe & Laurel where I have had a bird's eye view of the many changes that have occurred as the Corps has continued to evolve. During my forty-two years' service I achieved my goal of being promoted to the rank of Bandmaster. I have also become a Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Stationers and Newspaper Makers, I have been made a Freeman of the City of London and more recently appointed a Yeoman of the Queen's Bodyguard of the Yeoman of the Guard (Men in Tights!). Additionally, I became a Freemason in 1978, became the Worshipful Master of The Royal Marines Portsmouth Lodge in 1988 and was appointed a Grand Officer of the United Grand Lodge of England in 2002. This happy association has brought me a great deal of satisfaction, interest and friendships. Finally, I have had the great pleasure to have known and worked with so many truly wonderful people both within the Band Service and the wider Corps and I shall leave the Royal Marines with no regrets but many, many happy memories."

No regrets, eh? Just wait until he's read this article!