RN Volunteer Band HMS Seahawk

BdCSgt D Clarkson BMus(Hons) MA PGDipLTCL AMusTCL ATC LLCM Royal Marines

Dynnargh dhis!

They say time flies when you’re having fun and there is no exception to that in Cornwall and so it is that we continue the tales of everyone’s favourite Volunteer Band named Seahawk! This season has run from the Band Festival right into the middle of November and we have seen weather come and go that would make you wonder which month we are in! Naturally this has an inevitable effect on many events, but here is a summary of what we did manage to do.

Portsmouth was once again the venue for this year’s Band Festival. The morning was fine and the Band performed well with a fairly crisp marching display which pleased us all. An attempt at a fancy manoeuvre left us slightly off centre, which left us with a bit to do to iron out, but we gave it our best shot and that’s what it’s all about! The afternoon concert also went well including Mr and Mrs Rooke playing a rousing rendition of ‘Sing! Sing! Sing!’ which we have been working on for several months. Our efforts were not enough to bring us any trophies this year, and our congratulations go to those who took prizes home. The social event was held in the Senior Rates' Mess with our theme being ‘Noah’s Ark’. Bandy dressed as Noah himself and everyone else came as a pair of animals – no easy feat without some forethought! We all had a great evening ending with drummer Harry Lane celebrating his birthday at midnight despite not being able to remember that the next day!
The port of Falmouth celebrates Sea Sunday every year and once again we were invited to lead the parade through the main street. Marching with us were a multitude of sea-faring associations including Sea Scouts, Cadets and the Royal Naval Reserve. As there are many veterans marching in this parade it is always taken at a slightly more leisurely pace, which does nothing to detract from the ceremonious feel of the day and ensures that no-one misses out. As usual the Royal British Legion provided not only smartly turned out standard bearers but also refreshments for those not involved in the church service. Yes – the bar was open!

In July the emergency services hold an annual ball at Falmouth’s Pendennis Castle and this year we had been booked to provide music as the guests arrived and while they ate their buffet meal. The event is black tie, with the ladies wearing ball gowns and cocktail dresses and is attended by members of the civilian 999 services as well as the search and rescue squadrons. There was a Sea King fly-past, which nearly took the champagne gazebo with it and later the guests enjoyed a disco in the keep of the castle itself.

This year’s Airday proved to be a complete washout as far as flying displays were concerned with only a few passes made under the fog and rain. The crowds still attended in good numbers though and so provided a large audience for the Band to entertain in a hangar, where we were joined by a pipe band that had travelled from Devon.

The annual parade at Madron, near Penzance, to celebrate the life and death of Nelson was once again a fulfilling event with a good turnout from the Band. We marched though the village without drums due to illness and also missed having a drum major, but hey’ this is Seahawk and we are used to last minute changes! Dougie gave commands from the bass drum, where he was just visible beneath the huge tiger skin! The small church is a fitting arena for the service, and hymns provided by the Band always sound and feel special. The Nelson prayer was as usual read by Sarah Watson and the Last Post provided by CPO Mark Rooke. The march-past is literally a parade around the block and the salute was taken by HMS Seahawk’s commanding officer Captain Mackay RN followed by refreshments in the village hall.

Close on the heels of the Madron parade comes Trafalgar night at the Ward Room. The band aired a few new numbers during the evening and these seemed to go down very well. The celebrations are usually rowdy; however, there was some decorum when the beef was paraded around the room, carried aloft by cadets led by snare drummer Rick Allen.

Remembrance Day is always commemorated on the quarterdeck of HMS Seahawk with a static band, guard of honour and a wreath laying ceremony. Despite threatening rain and being cold and windy, the service went to plan with a couple of hymns, the National Anthem and CPO Mark Rooke playing the Last Post. Once again, piper AET Dave Gallie provided a fitting lament during the wreath laying.

There will always be a time in your Volunteer Band career when other things call you away and joining the Army Band Service is one such moment. So it has come to pass that one of our youngest members has packed up his drum sticks and set off on his new journey. Harry Lane joined Seahawk when he was only 16 and has reliably turned up at every rehearsal and gig possible thanks to his dad, Harry senior. They live many miles from Helston and have made every effort to attend regularly – never once letting the Band down. Imagine our surprise then, when having arranged card, cake and present for his last rehearsal with us, the only thing missing was Harry! All that can be said was the cake was lovely and we will catch up with you when you are home on leave Harry!!

At the time of writing, we are all on tenterhooks awaiting news of the arrival of baby Rooke (previously advertised as being due in September – my mistake!). Jo looks fantastically healthy, if rather large as her due date is imminent! By the time this article is published there will be an addition to the family and doubtless those of you who are Facebook friends with the Rookes will already know the outcome! Congratulations to you both and let’s get the baby’s head wet in true Seahawk style!!

So ends another instalment of our Volunteer Band journal and with Christmas on the way it only remains to dust off the carol books and prepare the panto music! Until our paths cross again…

Dyw genowgh ha chons da!

Last updated 08 April 2010