RN Volunteer Band HMS Seahawk

BdCSgt N DednumBMus(Hons) AMusTCL Royal Marines

Greetings once more to those of you who are not lucky enough to live in sunny Cornwall. It’s around this time of year that we often spend a short time in Band rehearsals praying that one day God may correct this for you, but until then, it’s more likely that we will just continue to laugh at your misfortune as we head off to the beach again!

After our exploits in Cologne as HMS Party Band, the RNAS Culdrose command found an ingenious way of shaking off our hangovers, by deciding that due to accommodation shortages the Bandroom was to move lock, stock, and two smoking barrels to… the ground floor of a near identical block 50 yards away! Bandy has never had so much fun, and even gave the near biblical command of ‘Pick up thy stand and walk’! After all the excitement of locating people (Prentice!) who had ‘ditched’ equipment in our facility during the past 20 years, and disposing of the rest, the useful stuff was transported the huge distance to start a new life. The new Bandroom is gradually taking shape though, and thanks must go to the support staff at RNAS Culdrose who have already given, or are in the process of giving us everything we have asked for. The day Bandy spent hanging 28 pairs of noise-absorbing full-length curtains will remain with him for some time to come. Home furnishings was never part of the Warrant Officer Bandmaster course, nor should it be!

Those avid readers of our epistles will remember the time in Falmouth where our Bandmaster and Drum Major found themselves saluting an ice-cream machine during the Last Post and Reveille. Well, during March we found ourselves back in the same spot for the final visit of the now de-commissioned HMS Campbeltown, but not wanting to be caught out a second time, we were positioned so we could salute the VIP seagulls instead. The wonders of the Royal Navy drill instructors even managed to position the Band at the rear of the parade for the march back through the town. This was much to our amusement as we saw the Formula One Army Regiment disappear into the distance in double-quick time, before having the Campbeltown’s gun salute join us perfectly in time for the Heart of Oak march past as she sailed into the distance for one last time.
We must also put on record our thanks for CPO Rooke’s attendance at the sunset ceremony onboard HMS Campbeltown the night before; sadly no-one had informed us that he was no longer required. Oh well, think of the free wine Rookie!

Rookie was indeed required four weeks later though when he made his way onto one of his old Ships to sound Sunset for HMS Cornwall’s final visit to the County. This engagement also saw the first Mess Beatings by the HMS Seahawk Corps of Drums for quite some time, and thanks go to Rick Allen and his team for all their hard work in preparation for this, and for controlling Rookie’s tears and emotional state during it.

Normal service was resumed with an 824NAS Wings Parade, before members of the Band made their way to the inaugural Royal Naval Band workshop weekend, which had been expertly organised by CSgt Mick Buxton RM. The opportunity to form part of an 80 piece Military Band, under the direction of the legendary Wind Band composer Guy Woolfenden, was of great enjoyment to all concerned, and provided everyone with a huge amount of inspiration and encouragement. It is worth remembering though that when catching the transport into Torpoint, always get the first bus. Waiting with Band General Dickie Horn does not constitute a booking; in fact it often leads to an ignorant refusal!

Bandy’s cunning acrostic technique returned for the ‘Sink The Bismarck’ dinner in the presence of the First Sea Lord, Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope RN. Sadly though, despite the great playing of the Band, the mood of the evening dictated that it became the ‘Sink The Bismrack’ dinner! Greater sadness was to follow though when Bandy’s port failed to appear – he was not a happy bunny!

Many members of the Band currently work at 824NAS, so it was particularly nice to thank the Squadron for its support of the Band by playing for lunch during their families day. Had it not been for the Punch and Judy man though, we may never have been able to stop playing in order to get our free pasties!

Thursday 23rd June saw a major event in the Station calendar with the annual Freedom of Helston parade. This event is always very well supported by the Royal Navy and the general public, unlike Lou A’Barrow’s trousers which due to her recent weight-loss looked like they were on hire from Coco the Clown, minus the hula-hoop waistband!

The action of the town conferring upon the Royal Naval Air Station ‘Freedom of entry with swords drawn, bayonets fixed, drums beating, bands playing and Colours flying’ dates back to the times when fortress walls were necessary to protect the town’s inhabitants from the incursions of outlaw bands and the attacks of feudal Lords. Luckily, the HMS Seahawk Volunteer Band has yet to be outlawed (despite the actions of Williams and Watson) and once again the Band did a fine job of leading the parade through the streets, receiving great applause as they did so. Pasties and free beer completed the parade, and I’m sure I’m not the only one who can see a pattern starting to develop here.

The Band march past during the Freedom of Helston Parade

During the evening the Station Reception took place to thank the local businesses, land owners and dignitaries for their support, and the Band performed throughout the reception, before closing it with a Ceremonial Sunset display in front of the Lord Lieutenant of Cornwall Lady Mary Holborow. The Lord Lieutenant then took her place for one of her last official duties at the St. Austell Armed Forces Day, where again the Band was leading the proceedings. However, just before the step-off we found ourselves somewhat lacking in the Tuba department, and a quick visit was made to the Championship Section St. Austell Town Band who were following behind. When Bandy asked to borrow one of their four Tubas they kindly presented him with a lacquered sovereign model, but seemed quite surprised when he explained that he could really do with the player who is normally behind it as well! Our newly-borrowed Tuba, now with Beverley behind it, did an admirable job until the last downhill section when her lyre fell to bits and we again found ourselves lacking in the Tuba department! In a very bizarre day of events, our afternoon concert was accompanied by ambulance sirens as paramedics came to the aid of an elderly gentleman who had collapsed behind our Trumpet section (I didn’t think they were that bad!) and during the second parade we halted to find the marching platoons had turned into a church. (Now, that’s magic!) The life of a VBI is never dull!

Seahawk Band after the Station Reception

Before we go, I must just thank some of our players who are sadly leaving us. Firstly, AET Natasha Ferrari who has sadly left the Royal Navy, and whose career contained a number of years with the Band. Such was her dedication, commitment, and playing standard, she was a joy to have in the Band, and someone whose work I have always appreciated; she leaves us with a hard to fill gap in our Cornet section.

Georgie Blackburn also leaves her seat in our Flute section, as her husband Lt Cdr Andrew Blackburn clearly feels it is more important for him to further his career and promotional aspirations by taking up a new position in Bristol, rather than worrying about Bandy’s needs. Very selfish I’m sure you will agree, but we’ll miss them both and wish them and their family well.

Big Kev Strachan, (yes that’s him in the skirt) has also left the Band, and ‘unfortunately’ so have the dulcet tones of his Bagpipes. Many are the times when he has been permitted to play in one of the airfield hangars to help scare the birds away, but sadly it also seemed to scare away most of the aircraft, pilots, navigators, and engineers! On a more serious note, Kev was a great bloke to have around the Band; always up for a social, and a great help with our recent move. Enjoy the hip flask and bottle of Jock-Juice fella!

It’s not all leavers though, and we welcome Sally-Ann Martyn and Catherine Treneer to the Band, and STD Tom Reed and LAET Dan Macedo as new learners.

Anyway that’s all from us, but as a note of warning if you are coming to Cornwall for your holidays, please beware of a slightly over-zealous paramedic screaming around the county on a big white motorbike. Following Pitbull Watson’s recent success on her acquaint course, she may also feature on the TV programme Emergency Bikers; and it’ll be a nice change for all of us to see her clad in leather on a Sky TV channel that isn’t in the early 900’s!

Last updated 14 December 2011