RN Volunteer Band HMS Drake (Devonport Naval Base)

BdCSgt M Buxton RM

As some readers may be aware I have now moved further westward from CTCRM, now firmly ensconced in HMS Drake as the new Volunteer Band Instructor. I must thank my predecessor Bd Sgt Mark Phillips for a comprehensive handover to my new position. I was also extremely impressed that Mark had the forethought to purchase a brand new full size Roland keyboard for me to practise during any lonely hours I may have. Well done! Mark had many useful anecdotes for me including, “As a VBI don’t expect a call from the Band Service unless they want something”. True to form, the phone rang on my first Monday in the job. It was CTCRM Band asking for me to “fill a gap” on piano. As a result, my first job as a VBI was back at the Exmouth Pavilion with CTCRM Band! It was unnerving to see my ex-colleagues so soon after leaving, although if I am honest the deja vu experience was a pleasant one.

The Devonport Volunteer Band had a busy time last term supporting a number of engagements for the Naval Base, notably the usual round of Trafalgar Night Dinners and what has been described as a very successful Pickle Night in the Warrant Officer and Senior Rates Mess at HMS Drake. The Corps of Drums also performed a very well received Mess Beatings at RM Stonehouse for the Corps Birthday. A great deal of effort was put into this display and featured each member of the Corps of Drums in period Royal Marines uniform reflecting our long history. The Band were involved in two Remembrance Festivals at Saltash and Torpoint in November, before two very successful concerts in December. The Band performed a Christmas Concert at St Nicholas Church, HMS Drake and raised £200 each for the RNLI and Limb Power charities. We also joined forces with ex Director of Music Major Barrie Mills and his wind band from Plymouth Youth Music Service to put on a joint Christmas concert at Plymouth Guildhall. The concert was a big success and raised in excess of £2600 for Help for Heroes. On behalf of Mark and I a big thank you is to be extended to Barrie and all the musicians that gave up their time and effort to raise a fantastic amount of money for charity over the Christmas period.
I now look forward to the challenge of running a volunteer band and the diary is filling up nicely with band engagements for 2010. My baton doesn’t know what’s hit it with the sudden amount of rehearsing I now do, something I’m looking forward to getting stuck into. The downside of that means that my cornet is now dormant in the instrument store and looks decidedly neglected. As the saying goes - worse things happen at sea!

Mick Buxton

Egor

Last updated 10 August 2010