RN Volunteer Band HMS Seahawk

BdCSgt D Prentice BMus(Hons) DipABRSM Royal Marines

A Year on!
Well, here I am, a year and 3 months down the line and well and truly initiated into the shady world of the Volunteer Band. Listen up all you closet VBIs (and I know there are loads of you out there!). It could be you next!
When my predecessor, Paul Nolan, gave me the handover I was quite aghast as to how he actually spent most of his time, as way up here in W62 (which, for those of you who have never visited RNAS Culdrose, is about as far as you can be away from the main site) nothing seems to happen! People pretty much
leave you to your own devices, which I suppose in a way is nice but you do tend to feel ‘forgotten’. The hours are normally whiled away writing out music on Sibelius, photocopying or transcribing. I do get a bit of stick from certain members of the Band for not being in my office very regularly as I am either playing squash in the league or doing circuits three times a week! Fitness levels have gone through the roof!

Anyway, on with the article.
I took over from Paul around mid April 2006. This is actually quite a nice time to take the reins as the Band are building up to the busy period; the summer months mainly consist of parades and garden parties and fetes etc. Fortunately for me I haven’t suffered a really bad fade in or out – yet! I guess I’m very lucky to inherit some stalwarts of the Volunteer Band world who ‘know how it goes’. Talking of the stalwarts, I have to mention at this point there are some very professional volunteers who would put a lot of us to shame with their commitment and pride. It really is quite humbling to know that these guys and girls really do enjoy music for the love of it and not to boost their pay packet. On the other hand, there are some real characters that I was luckily
enough to meet during my first trip to Cologne. What a trip! Not necessarily the most gifted musicians but they are attentive, proud and boy can they party! And yes they do still turn up on time, looking smart, and are all keen to impress with their own contributions, whatever they maybe!

My own musical prowess seems to be coming on nicely with a Beat Retreat on tuba (Musn Dan Duncum would’ve died with laughter!), a parade through Cologne on euphonium, cornet, baritone and even out the front as Drum Major. It’s all in a day’s work as a VBI you know! Added to this are the clarinet lessons I am giving to a retired old lady from the local village, although I nearly had to call in paramedics as she started to get dizzy, (probably due to the fact I gave her a 3 reed to start!) I am following recently retired SNCO BdSgt Paddy Macro’s old adage about always being one page in front of your pupil in the tune-a-day book! Thanks Paddy, it works. She even thinks I play the thing! I’ve also had to sound the alert at a RN School of Flight Deck ops pass out rehearsal. That was erhhm… interesting!

During the quiet months of January to April, it does get quite depressing as attendance seems to drop off and you are always trying to find new things to play to keep everyone interested, although this gave me a chance to ride in a black hawk jet while on a bombing run over the Atlantic. That was awesome, especially the near vertical climb after bombing an RFA ship (and yes, I was a little sick in the back but it was in the paper bag, honest; at 650 mph and 6G who wouldn’t be!) Not to mention my midday dance at the Flora Day with Caroline the Mess Manager. It is a real privilege to dance at the Flora Day and, due to a bit of networking, I managed to get myself a dance. It was a fantastic day and I was honoured to be part of it.

Moving on, at last, we are now into June and looking forward to defending our titles at the RNVBA Festival in July as well as the normal gigs around Cornwall. In fact I had my first engagement as a bandmaster with royalty last week. HRH Duke of Kent was Guest of Honour at a veteran’s parade in Lostwithiel, The Band did me and themselves proud, apart from a slight fade out and then in again for which I’ll share half the blame!

As I come to the end of my first article as bandy, I would like to thank the Band so far for their utmost professionalism, good humour and commitment. As I said previously, it is really humbling to know the members travel far and wide and give it their all in the name of music and fun. I guess I’m really lucky because I have inherited a band that is committed, talented, fun to be with and most of all they like a good social! Regards to all you closet VBIs and remember, “It could be you next!” Seahawk Band at Longleat

Seahawk.

Last updated December 2007