Band of HM Royal Marines Britannia Royal Naval College
Captain J Ridley BMus(Hons) MMus(Perf) LRSM AMusTCL Royal Marines
Following our adventures in Cyprus and ‘Down South’ in the Falklands earlier this year, it was inevitable that we should pick up some of what my old Instructor would have described as ‘bread and butter’ gigs; and, not wishing to sound negative, they didn’t come more ‘bread and butter’ than the Devon Schools Music Day at Westpoint Showground. We began the day by performing a marching display to about 500 children in a rather gloomy cattle shed. This was followed by a chance for some of our string players to augment the County Youth Orchestra for a workshop/concert. As it turned out we provided most of the orchestra and sight-read Holst’s Planets Suite for the concert. For the afternoon’s windband concert showcase we found ourselves tucked away in a little corner, behind the toilets, and conducted by our new Bandmaster, WO1 Sid Davis. We played several favourites including Star Wars and the cornet section feature, Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy to an enthusiastic but cramped audience. After the concert we packed up the kit and, as we returned to the transport, we had to pass through the main stage arena (a good place to put a Royal Marines Band!) where a Native American (actually, I think that he was from Totnes!) was coming to the end of his hour long rain dance!
We went on to perform a range of gigs around the country including a marching display on the lawn in front of St. John’s College at Cambridge University. This was a wonderful setting for the ceremony of Beating Retreat. We were even accommodated in the Master's lodgings overlooking the quadrangle – a real Hogwarts experience for the Dartmouth Band.
We also provided musical support for several events at Shrivenham, including another of Musn Karl Westlake’s outdoor extravaganzas. I must just mention, by way of penance, my walk of shame at the rehearsal. I had been trusted (3rd cornet player, what was the Boss thinking!) to play a short antiphonal ditty on my trumpet in one of the better known musical selections. Just at the vital moment my memory completely deserted me and an indescribable noise erupted from my trumpet, to which the Band were very encouraging and an almighty cheer ensued - leaving me to shuffle back to my seat, red faced. However, I felt vindicated on a Divisions rehearsal back at Dartmouth, when one of the solo cornet players (no names, no pack drill!) admitted that the 2nd cornet part to Salute No.3 is, ‘not as easy as it looks’! The concert was a rousing success and we just managed to finish the last chord of the 1812 Overture when the heavens opened with the worst storm of the summer.
Collar and Tie Campers
We have been lucky enough to have taken part in two Royal Regattas this year. The first was at the lovely Cornish town of Fowey. On the first evening we put out a small concert band on the lawn of ‘The Place’, which is a stately home overlooking the estuary. We finished the evening by Beating the Retreat as the sun set. This event had been organised to mark the 25th Anniversary of the Falklands War and by special request the programme included High on a Hill, which proved to be a poignant and popular highlight of the evening.
Most of the Band returned to Dartmouth with the exception of three of the Band’s elder statesmen, who had somehow managed to get permission to set up a tent in the vicar’s garden for the night. Can you imagine what was going through the Vicar’s children’s minds as three strange looking gentlemen in jacket, collar and Corps ties proceeded to erect a tent in their back garden? If that wasn’t enough to tip them over the edge, when they woke up in the morning, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang had landed in the front garden! Childhood has never been so exciting.
During the following evening we led the Carnival procession along a tortuous route through the narrow streets of the town. They have a tradition at Fowey that their own town band ‘sets off’ half an hour before the rest of the Carnival to clear the way. During their march they stop for a pint in every pub. Needless to say, we steamed past them halfway around the route. And boy - were they steaming!
As usual we took full part in our own Royal Regatta at Dartmouth. The Concert and Dance Bands opened the event at the ‘Black Tie’ opening night ‘Party in the Park’. And whilst the Marching Band ‘Beat the Retreat’ on the Esplanade, the Jazz Combo supported the cocktail party onboard the Guard Ship. Musn Kev Marsh entered the 5K Road Race and ran it in full marching order, raising money for the Royal British Legion.
Pimp My Bone
Our Drum Major of the last two years has sadly come to the end of his career. Grant Adams will be remembered by us for his intricate marching displays. In the past he has had us producing the shapes of ships, Christmas trees (with fairy lights), anchors, stars and even a 007. Very impressive when you consider that he usually has just 24 people to bend into all of these shapes. The theme for this year’s Wardroom Summer Ball was ‘A Night at the Circus’, so Grant popped his thinking hat on, jumped onto his unicycle and hatched a plan. He came up with a circus themed marching display which culminated with the outside ranks and files of the Band rotating around the remaining central block to the Skater’s waltz. Sound effects were produced by the horns, whistles and kazoos that BSgt Darren Pattison had managed to secure to his trombone.
Drum Major Grant Adams on his last gig
Wembley Way
Without doubt, the highlight of the summer was when we became the first Royal Marines Band to perform at the ‘New’ Wembley Stadium for the Rugby League Challenge Cup Final, between St Helens and the Catalonian Dragons and in front of a capacity crowd. This was to be a bitter sweet moment for Drum Major Grant Adams as, after a career of 24 years, this was the last time that he would march in front of a Royal Marines Band and, for such a committed sports fan (although he does support Liverpool!), this was a fitting end to his time in the Royal Marines. We wish Grant all the best for his new career as an electrician.
BRNC Band: the first RM Band to perform at the new Wembley Stadium
The Band has also been performing charity concerts for the ‘Royal Star and Garter Homes’ in Solihull and on the Isle of Wight helping to raise funds for this hard working service charity. Simon Weston OBE is an active fund raiser for the ‘Star and Garter’ and, as well as making a heartfelt appeal for the continued public support of the Armed Forces, he also took the opportunity to indulge in a little inter-service rivalry by engaging the Band in some light-hearted banter on stage. However, he met his match with the ‘rapier like wit’ of Danny Duncum! This was not to be the last we saw of Simon as he was also present at the unveiling of the Falklands War Memorial Stone in Cardiff. All three Services were represented at this poignant outdoor service which marked the last of our tributes to the 25th anniversary of the conflict.
Escape from Colditz
Our Operations Co-ordinator (new name for Band Secretary!), CSgt Bungy Williams, talked me into going on a Summer Mountain Leader’s Course with him for our Adventurous Training this year. Never mind the mountaineering, it was the thought of doing another course with ‘the super swept up’ Bungy that worried me! And so on a Sunday evening in September we arrived at the Joint Service Mountain Training Centre on Anglesey. This is a rather austere looking establishment called ‘Indefatigable’ with stunning views across to the mountains. Settling into our accommodation felt like a cross between embarking on a Junior Command Course and being incarcerated in Colditz Castle, (for two shiny badge pins I would have jumped back into the car and driven home). But we persevered and after an excellent week trekking over the mountains we qualified as Summer MLs. The standard of this leadership course was set high, beginning with a micro navigation exercise without the use of a compass. Very quickly we were able to unlearn our ‘pusser’s’ map reading techniques and start to employ some more effective methods which got us navigating with pinpoint accuracy. The course also included a day's rope work, which tested our mettle on some of Snowdonia’s gnarly crags, had us abseiling without harnesses and practising lowering each other over cliffs - all gritty stuff. I can thoroughly recommend this course to anyone who enjoys hill walking and who would wish to be able to lead global expeditions in the future. I wish that I had done it years ago.
CSgt Bug Bungy Williams prepares to climb
CSgt Rich Tilley hanging around
Bavarian Surprise
Sunday 9th September saw five lucky volunteers from BRNC set off on a monster journey (22 hours to be precise) to Germany, to take part in Exercise Bavarian Surprise. This Level 2 AT package comprised activities such as mountain biking, kayaking, kiettersteging, climbing and, last but not least, canyoning. We arrived at the Dover Ferry Terminal and had no idea as to which of the other passengers would be our colleagues for the week. Once we were in France it all became clear and to our surprise they turned out to be a very decent, if not mixed bunch, from 29 Commando, HMS Ocean, HMS Nottingham and HMS Collingwood.
We finally arrived at our destination at lunchtime the next day and were accommodated in a lovely little ski lodge, which was surrounded by mountains and had views to die for. We were given a brief by the PTIs who, as well as outlining the activities of the coming week, informed us that beer was only going to cost 2 Euros a bottle (1 at happy hour!) and that a local festival would be starting the next evening. Hic!
The next few days were absolutely fantastic, waking up, getting out and taking part in the activities - stretching us beyond what we had thought was possible. The highlight of the week for most of us was to be the canyoning, which included abseiling down waterfalls and leaps of faith down natural made water shoots. These tested us all to the limit.
During the week a brilliant time was had by all. It’s always good to get out meeting, working and socialising with people from other Services regardless of ranks and ages. We all appreciated the efforts of the Staff who made this a memorable and worthwhile experience and I would recommend the package to everyone.
Last but not least, a big well done has to be said to Bug Dave Birt (if I do say so myself!) for representing the Band Service and winning the Exercise Bavarian Surprise Sumo Wrestling competition (well no one else really stood a chance).
Bug Dave Birt
Parish Notices
This term has once again seen big changes to our nominal role - the ink wasn’t even dry from the last lot!
Firstly, we’d like to say goodbye to CSgt Tom Finnigan, who leaves us after 22 years in the Band Service. We would like to thank him for all his hard work and wish him good luck on his teacher-training course. Also leaving the Band Service is Musn Steve Beasley, who we congratulate on becoming a qualified electrician (the swat got 100% in his final exam!) and wish him luck in his new line of work.
Other Old Dartmothians going off to the wider Band Service include WO1 Gav Martin (Plymouth), Musn Natalie Yates (Scotland), Musn Laura David (Portsmouth) and lastly to CSgt Rich Harvey, whom we congratulate on his Commission and new command North of the Border.
We would like to give a warm West Country welcome to WO1 Sid Davis, Drum Major ‘Flash’ Gordon, Musns Sarah Walker (now Hope), Becky Mackey, John Reed, Becky Beasley (to replace her husband!), James Moehle, Claire Cooper, Jamie (staple) Gunn, Hannah Bennett, Caitlin O’Malley, and Musn (I hate being called Smudge) Smith. We also welcomed BdCpl Steve Green but sent him straight to Portsmouth on his M1s Course!
Love is in the air at BRNC Band as we congratulate Capt Jon Ridley and Laura, Cpl Steve Green and Amy and Musn Sarah Walker and Richard Hope on their weddings this summer.
Adding to the Band Service baby boom are Musn Trevor Naughton and partner Carolynne, with the birth of their son, Harry James, and BdCpl Matthew Harding and wife Nicola, with the birth of their third(!) child, Mollie Jane.
Congratulations to you all. That is all from the finest Band in the South Hams, see you all in the counter march.
Rich T & Sarah Hope
BRNC Corps of Drums
This has been the term of the Corps of Drums’ gigs, with Dartmouth’s unsung heroes slipping off quietly and uncomplaining, whilst the Band enjoys days off, to perform all around the country. Most notably, Cpl Sean Donoghue, Bug Gill Forde and myself went to the National Arboretum in Staffordshire to play at the dedication of the Armed Forces Memorial. This newly built monument lists, for the first time, all of the names of those who have died as a result of war or terrorism since the end of World War II, including, of course, those who lost their lives at Deal in 1989. The three of us did the Corps proud, playing a perfect Last Post and Reveille live on television (we even had a chuck up from RAF Central Band!), and in front of senior members of Government and the Royal Family headed by Her Majesty The Queen.
In between a string of Trafalgar and Corps Birthday Mess Beatings, Cpl Tim Needham and I went away for a few days on HMS Ledbury to the Scilly Isles. I, in particular, suffered quite badly from seasickness during the trip out and was delighted when we stopped in rolling seas for a memorial service. However, we made the most of our day off the following day, spending a few hours in St Mary’s three public houses.
At close of copy, the Corps of Drums are about to go away again, this time to Glasgow for the Good Food Show, before returning to rejoin the Band again for the Lord Mayor’s Show.
This term we welcomed Gill Forde from Plymouth Band and Drum Major ‘Flash’ Gordon from the School of Music. The latter replaced Drum Major Grant Adams who left the service in style, leading the Band out in the new Wembley Stadium for the Rugby League Challenge Cup Final in August. The Corps of Drums and the rest of the Band would like to wish him all the best for the future.
Bugler Chris Mace
Last updated May 2008
