RN Volunteer Band HMS Nelson

BdCSgt S Nicholls BMus(Hons) DipABRSM AMusTCL RM

Sitting here slowly cooling down after playing for the homecoming of HMS Brocklesby I have time to look back on what has been a very busy few months for Nelson Band (or as has been said the "other" Royal Band in the Naval Base… but more of that later).

The term started with a number of engagements around the Naval Base including our Corps of Drums performing mess beatings onboard HMS Victory and playing the final ceremonial Sunset for RFA Bayleaf before her decommissioning. This was particularly well received by all connected with the Royal Fleet Auxiliary and elevated an otherwise mundane routine into a fitting ceremony for all concerned.

As the Band was playing for RFA Bayleaf the Corps of Drums were on a coach travelling to Royal Tunbridge Wells for the annual Lords' Taverners Charity Luncheon. They have been particularly busy this term, providing a spectacular opening to the luncheon proving their high professional standards. The following week, ably assisted by the brass players from the Band, they opened the Lord Mayor of Portsmouth’s Gala Concert at the Kings Theatre in Southsea. Playing to a capacity house the Band provided some pomp and ceremony for a very entertaining and varied revue show that helped to raise a large amount for the Lord Mayor’s selected charities.

The re-dedication of Emsworth’s War Memorial (yes the one cunningly disguised as a bus shelter) provided the Band with its first outing on Parade this year. It was a particularly hot morning with a large number of Korean War veterans present, each of whom was presented the "Emsworth Rose" by the mayor. If the weather wasn’t hot enough our resident Green Fairy got even hotter under the collar watching the fine young men from the Royal Engineers based at Thorney Island who provided the guard for the occasion.
A number of Wardroom dinners have kept us busy throughout the term playing in HMS Excellent, HMS Nelson, HMS Warrior and on South Parade Pier for the ex Royal Navy Boxers dinner. We should at this point publicly thank Bd Sgt Trev Naughton who kindly stepped in for our Bandy whilst he was recovering from surgery, he even brought his own very talented solo cornet player with him…

Speaking of guests we have been fortunate enough to have had the company of a well known Bassoon player masquerading as a solo Saxophonist. Making his debut at the Royal Marines Museum playing during the commissioning dinner for HMS Protector the said double reeder willingly and ably performed not only his first engagement as a single reed woodwind player but even played a very accomplished jazz solo!
Whilst on the subject of personnel we should mention and say a very big hello to our new joiners this term. Surgeon Captain James Campbell returns on Sax and RPO Jeanette Wilcox, AB DN Debbie Imm and Elliot Carr join us on Clarinet. Unfortunately we have had to say farewell to our Band Officer Lt Katie Steele who leaves us to take up her new appointment on HMS Enterprise. Thank you Katie for all your work not only as a Clarinet player but for everything you have done as our Band Officer; you will be very sorely missed.
Our major focus this term, however, was our own Charity Concert in Portsmouth Cathedral that we organised to help raise money for Cancer Research and the Race for Life event.

After weeks of hectic rehearsals, putting up posters and selling tickets to everyone we knew, the concert was a huge success. Ably assisted by a number of old friends from other Volunteer Bands, past and present VBIs, former and serving RM musicians and not forgetting the excellent Royal Naval Piping Society Pipes and Drums the Band were able to raise £1000 for the charity, which we hope to present later this year. Thank you to everyone who helped in any way from playing to designing posters, folding programmes to providing valuable advice and expertise. It was a fantastic night and even though the skirl of the Pipes lasted until midnight in the pub, everyone thoroughly enjoyed the social in The Dolphin in Old Portsmouth almost as much as the gig itself.

And so back to the comment earlier regarding our "royal" status. We were very honoured to have been invited to play for the opening of the new Trafalgar Gate Link Road. Named Princess Royal Way the road was opened by HRH Princess Anne herself. With grateful support from our friends from HMS Collingwood Volunteer Band we positioned ourselves right in the middle of the new access route as we played for the waiting crowd of school children, the Lord Mayor of Portsmouth, and the Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire, Admiral Sir Jonathon Band. The Band, as always, performed exceptionally well and received many favourable comments from all those present. This, together with the playing in of HMS Brocklesby, again supported by members of Collingwood Volunteer Band, this morning sum up very nicely everything that Volunteer Banding is all about and are an indication of the important role all the Volunteer Bands play supporting the RN and the local communities.

So as this article closes we leave you with the words of HRH The Princess Royal, "You do play in the strangest of places…"

Last updated 14 December 2011