RN Volunteer Band HMS Nelson

BdCSgt D Scott BMus(Hons) PGDip ARCM CTABRSM RM

Welcome from the Nelson Band, since our last article it has been a relatively quiet period for the band as two of our main engagements were cancelled, one because of the weather and the other from lack of ticket sales.
Back in July the band was involved in the ‘Meet Your Navy’ event in the Portsmouth Naval Base. It was a glorious weekend for the event with many thousands of people attending. Unfortunately for the Band not many of them got to see us as we were performing at St Ann’s Church which was a bit off the beaten track, and despite the best efforts of the Church we had more people in the Band than in the audience at times.
Just before summer leave I was asked to put together a Band for Sultan Divisions and I would just like to thank all of the musicians from the different Bands who turned out for it.  A special thanks must go to BdCSgt Tim Carter who travelled up from Heron to play the Bass Drum, it was his very first time playing it on parade and I think the whole of Sultan heard it. Well done Tim!

As I mentioned in my intro we had a couple of gigs cancelled. This included the HMS Nelson Summer Fayre due to a waterlogged HMS Temeraire; this was very disappointing as I was part of the committee which put a lot time and effort into organising the fayre.

We have had our share of Trafalgar Night Dinners this year, including HMS King Alfred at HMS Excellent; the guest of honour at the dinner was the former CGRM, Lieutenant General Dutton CBE. He told me afterwards that he was so impressed with the Volunteer Band that he wanted us to come out to Kabul, Afghanistan next year to play at a dinner out there!

We have our usual amount of Carol concerts now in the run up to Christmas but before they all start I have one more dinner to do. It’s a Mine Warfare dinner; the reason why I mention it is because it’s the one and only time the band gets to play I’m For ever Blowing Bubbles, as most of the guests are divers and the whole event can become a bit messy!

Leavers and Joiners

We’ve had a few new joiners to the Band over the last few months; we welcome Heather Yeomans on Tenor Sax and Melanie Overton on Euph.

It’s a big thank you and a very sad farewell to Lt Susie Jemmeson who has not only left the Band but also the Royal Navy to have a baby. Susie played the oboe and more importantly she was the Band Officer here at Nelson; she was a great help not just to me but to the Band as well.

Stepping into Susie’s shoes as the new Band Officer is my very quiet bass trombone player, Cdr Bug Wrightson.

Last updated April 2009