Royal Marines School of Music Training Company

Director of Music: Major MP Dowrick RM
Bandmaster: WO1 MP Grace LRSM AMusTCLRM
Drum Major: Sgt Bug G Scollick RM

Welcome to another instalment of the goings on here at the Royal Marines School of Music (RMSoM) and as the winter nights draw in, and the trees begin their annual dumping of leaves on the RMSoM parade ground, the sun has at long last decided to make an appearance, after perhaps the wettest summer leave in living memory. There have been many changes to training this term, but we’ve managed to maintain the usual concerts and sporting events.

This year’s Open Day was held on July 27 with Brigadier A Salmon OBE ADC, Commandant Commando Training Centre Royal Marines (CTCRM), officiating as the Guest of Honour. In addition, as the RMSoM is a satellite wing of CTCRM, this year’s Open Day was an ideal situation for Brigadier Salmon to assess the standard of Musicians and Buglers under training.

Open Day gave the School an opportunity to feature the four main ensembles that one would expect from any Royal Marines Band, namely the orchestra, big band, concert band and marching band. It also gave the families a chance to see what their offspring are actually getting up to. The concert opened with the orchestra and the march Cockleshell Heroes, followed by the Overture to a Costume Comedy. For many of the trainees orchestral string instruments are second study instruments and the prospect of performing for the first time in public can be extremely daunting. However, much dedicated hard work by both civilian and military staff over the preceding months hopefully alleviated many of these worries. Perhaps the highpoint of this orchestral section was the trombone solo, Bess You is My Women from Gershwin’s Porgy & Bess played expertly by Musn Rachel Botham who incidentally is the niece of WO1 G Botham MBE RM, who is the Regimental Sergeant Major at CTCRM. The RMSoM Big Band under the direction of Mr Gordon Campbell, who, amongst many other accolades is principal trombone of the BBC Big Band, brought the first half to its climax.
The second half of the concert featured the concert Military Band under the direction of Maj Mick Dowrick, Director of Music (Training). One of the pieces featured in the concert was from the pen of DOM(T) himself; the Fanfare Corporate was first used at this year’s Mountbatten Festival of Music in February, and is dedicated to those who fought to liberate the Falkland Islands twenty-five years ago. The music was performed poignantly against a backdrop of images and footage from battles that raged in the South Atlantic.

The Band also performed the challenging modern overture Shine as the Light by British composer Peter Graham and no concert would be complete without the Corps of Drums, led this year by Cpl Bug Phil Hawkins. The concert was brought to a foot-tapping finale with another piece by Graham, Gaelforce, featuring our own ceilidh ensemble of Musns Platt, Booth and Wilman, and then the march Barnum and Bailey’s Favourites, which was taken at a very lively tempo, much to the amusement of the Corps of Drums. The finale to the afternoon’s events was the Beat Retreat in the Guildhall Square under the direction of WO1 Bandmaster Martin Grace, and led by Drum Major Graham Scollick, both of whom had only recently joined the School.
As I mentioned earlier, this term has seen a slight restructuring in the School and the way in which training is delivered. A major part of this is the reintroduction of Eagle House into the Training Company house system alongside the two current houses Gloucester and Neptune. Each house now represents a year, or phase, of training within the three year M3 course:

All exams take now take place in the summer term and successful trainees are allowed to move into the next house. This gives the opportunity for ranks that merit it, a chance to move straight into Eagle house from Neptune, so therefore effectively passing out of training a year early. This system not only places ranks in houses with respect to their status in training, but also gives the Director of Music guidance as what to expect from individuals in regards to their relative experience. Incidentally Buglers move over to Eagle House in their final B3 term; I wonder if we shall ever see the reintroduction of Barham House?
For those who remember Eagle House and for those who didn’t know it existed, here’s some history… at the time of the relocation of the School of Music from Burford to Deal (1950) it was decided that like many civilian academic institutions the School should run a house system, with each house having its own name, house colours, and in those days separate accommodations blocks:

Barham                                              ‘M’ Block     Blue         
Neptune                                             ‘P’ Block     Red         
Gloucester                                         ’N’ Block     Green       
Eagle                                                 ‘O’ Block     Yellow      

World war II was still fresh in the memory of many of the instructors and staff at the School, so it was no surprise that the names taken were from ships that had been sunk during the War, and on which many members of the Band Service lost their lives. It is assumed that Eagle House was dropped from the system as the number of recruits in training declined in the late 1950s.

A Musical Note

This term has once again seen the RMSoM Concert Band continue its tour of local parish churches with a recent concert at St Faith’s Church in Havant, where the Band managed to shoe-horn themselves around the pews to play in front of a full house. This gave the Director of Music a chance to try his vast repertoire of jokes on a fresh audience; apparently he was very funny, and for many new members of the Band this was a chance to carry out their first concert band engagement. The Parade Band has also given its first public display of the term, performing Beat Retreat on the Saturday night of the annual Band Service Reunion weekend. For many, playing in front of such an understanding, yet quietly critical audience can be extremely nerve-racking, but the methodical and persuasive teaching of the Drum Major made sure all ranks were honed to perfection. The performance was very warmly received, belying the fact that the Band had only been together for just over a month, as we had waved goodbye to the more experienced players at the end of the summer term.

Also, following their success on Open Day the fanfare team has also been allowed out of the School. The first occasion was to perform a fanfare for a cheque presentation by the Principal Director of Music, Lt Col CJ Davis OBE, to former Director of Music (Training), Maj (Rtd) Pete Best of the Mary Rose School in Portsmouth. The money was raised from a bucket collection following a spring concert and donations from the Blue Band Magazine Fund and will hopefully help fund the Specialist Sports College status. The second was the official re-opening by the First Sea Lord of the Royal Maritime Club, which was once the Royal Sailors Home Club. Both engagements were directed by BdSgt Ivan Hutchinson, and, even though short in duration, proved valuable experience for the trainees. At the time of writing we are into the usual round of Trafalgar Night dinners (complete with communal singing, which is always an interesting experience), and are looking forward to putting the current M1 Course through their paces in their final conducting exams, which will take place in the church just over the hill from Portsmouth in Denmead.

The parade band doing their bit for Children In Need

On the Sporting Front

Once again it has been a busy term for the sporting men and women of RMSoM, with ranks kicking, running and hitting their way to glory. For the second year running the School sent two teams to the West Country for the annual Lympstone to Poole Race. Following last year’s success by RMSoM it was deemed that members from the School should run as part CTCRM, as the engraver didn’t fancy engraving Royal Marines School of Music on the winners' cane once again, (it’s ever such a small plaque!) Team 1 consisted of Musns Scrivenor, Millar and Wedlock with the experience of ex-RMSoM PTI CSgt Martin Yardley urging them forward. Team 1 competed the course in third place overall which is an excellent effort especially as Musn Wedlock decided to trip over a twig in the woods and damage her knee, coupled with a lengthy detour that put some extra miles on the race; I wonder who was doing the map reading? Team 2 consisted of Musns Hall, Scott, Lownds and Gore, and it seems they too need to brush up on their map reading skills as they managed to see the more picturesque areas of the countryside with a lengthy detour. After a huge effort they managed to get back on track but unfortunately ended up in last place, some time behind their School of Music counterparts; better luck next year! Congratulations to all those that took part in what is a truly difficult and competitive race, and a big thank you to the safety drivers.

The Lympstone to Poole runners

The School also participated in the Fleet Rowing Championships held in HMS Nelson in October. Once again success was to be found with Musn Allender coming first in the women’s competition, and the female A team being crowned overall women’s champions. The men’s team wasn’t so successful as they only managed to come fourth, though Musn Burn came second in the junior section. Congratulations must go to Musn Booth who exchanged his liquorice stick for a hockey stick, playing in goal for the Royal Navy in the Tri-Services Ice Hockey Championships, brave man. Finally, well done to Musns Perry, Button, Carter and Bug Trowbridge who recently represented RM Poole in football, handsomely beating HMS Nelson 6-2.

Movers & Shakers

Drafty has been busy this term with many changes to the staff here at the School, and we say a fond farewell and good luck to two stalwarts of the School, as they take that big leap into Civvy Street.
BdSgt Fred Miller is almost part of the fixtures and fittings as he has been here at the School since its relocation from Deal all those years ago, passing on his enthusiasm for music making and the Band Service to many a willing trainee in the way that only he can. Fred has had a long, colourful and varied career but more of him in the next issue; he says he has plenty of dits, which is no surprise. Fred passes on the Flute Instructor’s baton to his future wife BdCpl Ann Jonassen who joins us from the Portsmouth Band.
We’ve also waved goodbye to BdCpl Teresa Annett who was the second longest serving Instructor next to Fred. Teresa held many important positions here at the School and for many years was the only female Instructor. She has now taken her mentoring skills ‘outside’ and is busy teaching the piano in various schools around the local area. We wish both Fred and Teresa every success in the future.

We must also say goodbye to four other Instructors: Sgt Bug Paul Annett leaves us to join the Corps of Drums over the road in Portsmouth Band, and joining him early next term is BdCpl John Lether (and his amazing moustache). BdCpl Duncan Newman makes his way back home to Cornwall, joining RM Band Plymouth, and for myself, BdSgt Colin Friend, I must reacquaint myself with the long journey north of the border, as I am to join Scotland Band in January. We welcome into the fold CSgt Bug A J Piner with his new role as Bugle Major Training and BdCpl Helen Thompson who is the new Piano Instructor. We wish them every success during their time here.

Well the festive season of mince pies and dry sherry is nearly upon us, so on behalf of everyone at RMSoM, may I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year.

Last updated May 2008