Band of HM Royal Marines Scotland

Director of Music Captain J Ridley BMus(Hons) MMus(Perf) LRSM AMusTCL Royal Marines

Upon returning to the rigours of Band Service life, after a refreshing and sanity-restoring week-long break following our involvement in the Edinburgh Military Tattoo 2008, the Band of HM Royal Marines Scotland launched immediately into an arduous succession of concerts, school workshops and parades.
Under the new direction of Capt Jon Ridley RM, who joined the Band in September and is extremely welcome, Scotland Band’s programme has seen concert performances in the magnificent Perth Concert Hall, Inverness, Bridlington, Belfast and Carnegie Hall, Dunfermline.

Musn Adi Breen and CSgt Miles Bolton during Children of the Sanchez at the Edinburgh Military Tattoo

In traditional Royal Marines Band format, all of the afore mentioned engagements exhibited the Band’s versatility, providing a feast of precision drill and drumming excellence from our Corps of Drums, they also showcased the dexterity and musical maturity of our soloists with performances by Musns Natalie Yates Artie Shaw's Clarinet Concerto and Richie Burton's Send in the Clowns, got feet tapping along to the Big Band and introduced our audiences to perhaps lesser known contemporary works. In addition, there was light relief (for whom, I am not sure?!) with the inclusion of Ray Woodfield's First World War Medley, sung beautifully (a matter of opinion) by BdCpl Brian Lloyd and, taking centre stage once again, Richie Burton, whose reasoning, I can only think, must have been, “Well, if I can’t woo them in the first half with a stirring and sensitive rendition of Sondheim’s Send in the Clowns, performed thoughtfully on my flugelhorn, I’ll ‘knock ‘em dead with- It’s A Long Way to Tipperary and Roses are Shining in Picardy!

The Band has also been actively involved in public relations and recruitment events during the last couple of months, spending a week in both South Yorkshire & Northern Ireland schools, showcasing the diverse genres of music we perform, making young people aware of the many career opportunities available to them in the Royal Navy, Royal Marines Commandos and Royal Marines Band Service, whilst also highlighting the additional benefits we as service personnel enjoy.

A mention at this point should go to another new addition to Scotland Band: BdCSgt Tim Watson who, due to unfortunate and unforeseen circumstances, helmed, with no notice, the Northern Ireland trip (18th – 23rd September 08). Being nothing other than professional and adept, in less than a day he got to grips quickly with the entire programme of music for all of the engagements, smiling, sometimes manically, throughout. He also had a quite unique, though seemingly effective way (I guess only time will tell) of enthusing the school children of Bally Mony during a lunchtime PR/Recruitment concert. Zealously taking to the stage with a ‘Price is Right’ style run which started from the back of the hall, he welcomed audience participation by encouraging them to observe and then copy the movements of the Corps of Drums during their display. This spectacle proved to be priceless entertainment for the Band, though, judging by the crimson faces of Sgt Bug Cooper and his team, less so for the Buglers as four hundred riotous school children, fuelled on a disappointing diet of turkey twizzlers and raspberry slush puppies, mimicked them, all in good humour!

A week later and Scotland Band ranks teamed up once again with the affable RM Band PR/Recruiting guru, WO2 Ian Davies, this time in the form of a Dance Band, for a tour of South Yorkshire schools.

Dance Band goes South

It all began on a crisp, autumnal, Sunday evening. Six hours later and we had arrived at our destination; a hotel in Sheffield. The week essentially took the form of PR presentations followed by a fifty minute spot by the Band and then a workshop; or any of the above in another order! Without elaborating too much, we found the difference between some of the schools we visited, separated by just a few miles, quite extraordinary. Some were a pleasure to visit: the children were keen, polite and receptive; the teachers and facilities excellent. In others we quite literally feared for our own safety; chicken wire would not have gone amiss! We were taunted in the dinner hall; Richard Barriball was unexpectedly and embarrassingly whoopee cushioned as he merely offered musical advice to the less than enthusiastic youngsters; savage brawls took place during a performance of a Scouting for Girls’ song accompanied by cries of “Elvis IS… dead!”. We found ourselves repeatedly erasing expletives and phallic symbols that had, unbeknown to us, been etched onto our dirty van as it rested innocently in the playground. It was an experience that was an eye opener for us all and left us agreeing that teachers should get paid whatever they jolly well ask for!

Whilst some of us have been braving the schools, others in the Band, along with approximately thirty of their counterparts from across the Band Service have been preparing for an operational tour of duty in Afghanistan. Scotland ranks include:- BdCSgt. Joss Tiley, Cpl Bug Stevenson and Musns Warren Lyndsay and John Park who, after months of arduous training, have now joined 3 Commando Brigade at Camp Bastion, Helmand Province to offer medical and logistical support. We wish them all a successful tour and safe return.

With regular drafting procedures it is inevitable Scotland Band has welcomed an influx of new joiners; some - familiar faces, some - fresh from Training. Fearful of mistakenly omitting a name or two I will mention none but it is safe to say that all have settled in nicely and have been made very welcome. Many have also moved on to pastures new and we wish them equally well.

As the nights draw in and temperatures drop, reminding me of cold walks to and from school as a boy when people use to say to me, “OI.. YOU! Get out my garden!”, Scotland Band’s rugby enthusiasts, many of whom play regularly with local side, Rosyth RFC, have been eagerly preparing for two RM Band rugby fixtures ‘South of the Border’. To relay all of the drama I hand you over to the extremely capable, witty and ever so slightly odd BdSgt Nigel Jones.

Until the next time…

Andy Mears

Holland Bowl Rugby 7’s Tournament HMS Raleigh 1st October

Eleven intrepid individuals set forth from Scotland band room on a wet and windy Tuesday morning. Spirits were high, for at least the first few hours in the minibus! Nine and a half hours later we arrived at Stonehouse Barracks in Plymouth, all as fresh as a daisy (just a regular jaunt for Scotland Band ranks really!) After a quick spruce up we ventured forth (five metres outside the main gate) into the Artillery Arms Pub for a team building meal and some fluid replacement.

After an early night we awoke to a sunny day (how unusual!) ready for the challenge that lay ahead of us. The aim of the day was to re-invent the Holland Bowl as a Rugby 7s Tournament and also to use the day as preparation for the forthcoming RMBS vs. Deal Memorial rugby match. Therefore the morning involved some light training/coaching followed by a meeting of the RMBS Rugby Club.

The 7s tournament consisted of all five teams playing each other, with the top two teams playing in the final. The Scotland Band team arrived with eleven players but was quickly reduced to ten in the first game against CTCRM when BdCpl Adi Breen tore his achilles tendon. During his thirty second contribution he managed to avoid all contact with both the opposition players and the ball. Well done Adi and get well soon! Unfortunately, we narrowly lost the match 19-12 but, in true Scotland Band fashion, we re-grouped and subsequently beat both the RMSoM and Plymouth Bands. Our last match of the initial phase was against Portsmouth, the only unbeaten side left in the tournament. A close struggle ensued and we led 5-0 for the majority of the match. However, with the seconds ticking down Portsmouth scored a converted try. The referee blew for full time and agonisingly we had lost 5-7!

Portsmouth went on to beat CTC Band in the final and we could only dream of what might have been. There followed the obligatory post match festivities which took place at the Carbeile Inn, Torpoint, a brief stroll from HMS Raleigh. The whole day was a resounding success and definitely made the long journey worthwhile. We returned north with a casualty count of two ranks on crutches and one slight concussion. The team would like to thank the Drum Major and Musn Smith for driving the minibus.

BdSgt Nigel Jones

RMBS vs. Deal Memorial Rugby Match 12th October

The teams line up before the game

No sooner had we arrived back in Rosyth following the 7s, a select few once again embarked on yet another epic journey south, this time to Portsmouth for the Memorial rugby match versus Deal RFC. For the first time since its inception, the match coincided with the Band Service Reunion Weekend.

Images from the game...

The match consisted of four quarters of twenty minutes with rolling substitutes, which was a blessing considering the average age of both teams and the unseasonably warm weather! The Band Service Team (which included five ranks from Scotland Band) ran out eventual winners 31-5. It was nice to have the opportunity to reacquaint ourselves with some old friends from Deal, whilst enjoying the subsequent post match refreshments. Once more, our thanks go to Buster and Smudge for driving the minibus.

Band Service Rugby is thankfully revitalised and despite our remote geographical position Scotland Band has played an integral role in its success.

RMBS winning team

Last updated April 2009