RN Volunteer Band HMS Drake (Devonport Naval Base)

BdCSgt T Watson MA BMus(Hons) FLCM LRSM LGSM(Hons) ARCM AMusTCL RM

Summer greetings from the hottest, sunniest, happiest, busiest, smartest and most musical Volunteer Band in Devon! Yes, I have moved from HMS Heron, Yeovilton and now reside with the Volunteer Band in HMS Drake, Plymouth.

Receiving a draft to HMS Drake came as a little bit of a shock but, having made some really great friends at Heron, it meant I would definitely see them all again for future engagements, lessons and social events. Joining the Band in HMS Drake on 16th May 2011 has meant I have made even more acquaintances and now have even more opportunities to continually make wonderful music! After saying a fond farewell to CSgt Mick Buxton, who has packed his bags and moved to HMS Collingwood as the principal pianist, I made inroads into forthcoming engagements.

Having left RNAS Yeovilton, I thought my Royal engagements with Volunteer Bands were going to be all over for this year, but my very first dinner at Stonehouse Barracks for The Friends of Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery was to have HRH The Duke of Edinburgh KG KT as the main guest of honour. The Band were in place and began with Roast Beef; however, I could not believe my eyes as, just prior to The Duke of Edinburgh’s entry into the dining hall, in sauntered Andy Bennett (alias Drum Major and flute player) in full Scottish attire. With good food, fine wines and exquisite music, Andy and all the other guests seemed to have an enjoyable evening.

A few days later, the Band was playing at a Centenary Birthday Celebration Dinner to commemorate Captain RF Scott RN. The dinner concluded a whole weekend of events, and with a full dining hall in HMS Drake’s Wardroom the guests listened to melodic lines from film and theatre, interspersed with reflective and easy listening harmonic passages from the pen of Ronald Binge (Elizabethan Serenade) and Ivor Slaney (Georgian Rhumba). Prior to the Wind Ensemble playing from the minstrels’ gallery, the guests had lined the wardroom reception area and wound around the stairs and balcony to try and get a view of the Corps of Drums’ Mess Beatings; a fine pre dinner accompaniment!

Our Corps of Drums were supposed to be in action again on the 12th June, leading Royal Naval Association Standards and marching squads in a post church service march past and salute. After rearranging work schedules and some fine tuning in rehearsals they waited at the form up point just outside St Andrew’s Church in Plymouth. The heavens opened and it began to rain cats and dogs (Corps of Drums tend to over-exaggerate most things!) and, although they were adamant that their skin was semi-permeable and that their uniforms would dry off, the command decision came at the last minute that the rain was TOO heavy and the parade would unfortunately have to be cancelled.

With Armed Forces Week approaching, the Band began rehearsals with the Plymouth Youth Concert Band and their Musical Director, Barrie Mills (ex Royal Marines Director of Music) for a joint concert that was to be given in St Andrew’s Church, Plymouth on 25th June 2011. The concert was to be broken into different sections, starting with the Big Band, then Plymouth Youth Concert Band followed by HMS Drake Volunteer Band and then an amalgamated finale involving everyone. The programme was varied, complementing each musical genre and concluded in true Naval tradition with the evening hymn (Crimond), Sunset (played on solo Bugle by Steve Benwell, who had also performed at the HMS Drake Summer Ball only days prior to this concert), Rule Britannia and Heart of Oak.

Armed Forces Day in Plymouth

The concert was extremely well attended and the Band had the honour of playing to the Lord Lieutenant, Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress of Plymouth, Admiral and Lady Stanhope and many other distinguished guests. The highlight of the evening had to be when the whole audience raised the roof with whistling and vocal accompaniment to Eric Idle's Always look on the Bright Side of Life.

I will conclude now, as a University Wardroom Dinner beckons this evening (6th June) and then a charity auction event at The Royal Western Yacht Club in Plymouth tomorrow. Who said a Volunteer Band Instructor’s job was easy?!

Tim Watson

Last updated 14 December 2011