Au revoir Major Barrie Mills BA(Hons) LRAM ARCM Royal Marines

It was almost inevitable that Barrie Mills was destined for a career in the Services. Both his father and stepfather had served in the Welsh Guards, his stepfather completing his career as Drum Major of the South Wales Borderers and his brother having already joined the Royal Air Force by the time Barrie came to consider his career plans at the tender age of 15 years 6 months. He owes a debt of gratitude to his careers master at Southlands Secondary Modern School in New Romney, Kent for it was he who suggested that Barrie audition at the Royal Marines School of Music some 40 miles away at Deal.

Barrie played the euphonium at school but, due to an apparent surfeit of euphonium players at RMSM, he was ‘persuaded’ to try woodwind instruments. Ultimately, he was offered a place as an oboist and thus began his career as a Royal Marines Junior Musician in January 1969. As it was such a small squad, (only 4 musicians and buglers) they were combined with a squad of Junior Marines for most of the basic training except for rifle drill, when he and his fellow New Entries escaped to the refuge of East Barracks for some welcome musical training. This was an interesting time, there being over 350 musicians and buglers under training and nearly 1000 Junior Marines and Recruits. The RM Depot Deal was still, then, a thriving military establishment.
The oboe class, at that time, had a clarinettist as its instructor, Bd Cpl John Cowdrey who was a supportive and understanding NCO despite his lack of expertise on the oboe. Likewise there was no oboe professor. Harry Eden, the flute professor, taught the oboe although he didn’t play it, which didn’t bode well for Barrie’s progress in the early stages. Fortunately, Bandmaster Keith Sharpe, a fine instrumentalist, was seconded to RMSM whilst awaiting his commission and he gave the oboe class a much needed boost. Whilst under training Barrie trod the boards for the first time as a member of the chorus of ‘Yeomen of The Guard’ in the newly-formed Depot Operatic and Dramatic Society. This made a great impact on him, ‘the smell of the crowd, the roar of the greasepaint’ and he has been actively involved in amateur dramatics ever since with notable success. Barrie went on to be a Cassel prize finalist and Section Commander before successfully passing out in March 1971 and joining the Staff Band at Deal.

This was a very busy band with frequent radio and TV work and a testing series of winter and spring orchestral concerts directed by the Principal Director of Music, Lieutenant Colonel Paul Neville. Major works were a key part of the concerts and this gave Barrie an early and comprehensive introduction to many major orchestral pieces including piano concerti and symphonies by Sibelius, Vaughan Williams and Beethoven. Barrie also enjoyed a fair amount of travel including visits to Canada and a memorable trip to the Seychelles Islands. Among many happy memories, he recalls John Noakes, of Blue Peter fame, (Get Down Shep!) visiting Deal to spend a day learning to be a Royal Marines Drum Major. He also met and married Christine, the daughter of a Royal Marines commando who was not initially pleased that she was marrying a ‘Bandy’. Happily, he has since forgiven Barrie and after their 29 years of happy marriage, is now a proud grandfather to their two children, Roger and Sally.

Barrie moved to the West Country in 1976, briefly joining Flag Officer Plymouth Band before crossing the Tamar and settling in as a member of the Commando Forces Band at Stonehouse Barracks. This was a much travelled band with regular trips to Malta, Cyprus and also a very dodgy trip to Pre-Revolutionary Iran which was culturally fascinating but clearly a country on the brink of revolution. Happily, the horrors of Iran were offset the following year by a superb trip to Oman with the band accommodated in a very fine hotel and enjoying some wonderful sightseeing experiences. By now a Band Corporal, Barrie was selected for the 1980 Bandmasters Course and joined the Depot once again with eminent colleagues, John Hillier, Roger Jones, Steve Saunders and Brian Allen, not forgetting Tim (I always thump the table when I’m doing aural!) Smye Rumsby together with 4 foreign students, 2 from Oman and 2 from Kenya. Despite a busy year Barrie maintained his drama links and, after completing the course and becoming Oboe Instructor for a few months, appeared in ‘Move Over Mrs Markham’, a trouser-dropping farce if ever there was one! Manadon Royal Naval Engineering College beckoned and Barrie joined as their first Volunteer Band Instructor. Highlights and memories include beating the hot favourites, HMS Daedalus band to win the concert section of the RN Volunteer Band Festival at the first attempt. Being outranked by virtually every member of the band! Lord High Admiral’s Divisions, the band’s first Royal gig, when HRH Prince Phillip asked if the band were actually playing or ‘Is there a tape recorder under the chair?’

In 1984 Barrie moved to BRNC Dartmouth as Band Colour Sergeant. Colours, Divisions, Wardrooms, Colours, Divisions, Wardrooms and so it went on. But, a memorable escape was made to Jersey during which, at one point, the RAF Central Band marched around the band’s hotel pool, in full ceremonials, playing prior to presenting him with a plaque. Style, gentlemen!

Promotion to Warrant Officer saw Barrie move back to Deal as Training Company Sergeant Major having completed the Advanced Command Course. This was a strange course with lots of socialising and not a lot of work! A swift move to CINC Fleet followed. This was the premier post for a WO2 Bandmaster and Barrie relished the challenge. One major highlight was a 4 month deployment to Australia and the Far East taking in every major city in OZ beginning with a week in Hong Kong. (It’s a tough job etc). A particular highlight was playing for Procedure Alpha into Sydney harbour and spotting the bridge and Opera House coming in to view. Fleet Band offered plenty of opportunities for travel and lots of Cabaret Marching Displays in London, one of the most notable being at the Natural History Museum for Michael Jackson’s entourage. The band played an arrangement of ‘Bad’ and Michael J actually got up and danced, very weird! He recalls another CMD where, as the band were marching off, Little and Large were about to go on. ‘How do you expect us to follow that?’ was Eddy Large’s riposte! A brief return to Deal as Chief Instructor preceded the high point and low point of Barrie’s career. His second visit to the Admiralty Interview Board resulted in his being selected for a commission on the very day of the terrible bombing at Deal. He recalls the sheer numbness he felt as he flew over the site, having scrounged a lift back from Portsmouth in the General’s (MGRM Ross) helicopter.

Barrie began his Officer Training at CTCRM in January 1990 and, having successfully completed the course, was then despatched to Salford College in Manchester as the first RM student to take the BA (Hons) in Band Musicianship. Becoming a student at 39 was an interesting experience. In the first few days he was mistaken, more than once, for a lecturer. So dressing down was essential although he didn’t succumb to the temptation to wear an earring or grow a ponytail! Having completed his second degree, the now, Lieutenant Mills, was appointed to Flag Officer Scotland and Northern Ireland RM Band which made perfect sense as he, living in Manchester, was already half way there!

There followed a most successful 3 years which included a very challenging visit to the West Indies on HMS Fearless, directing an International Tattoo in Toronto, Canada and the band almost receiving the Freedom of the City of Dunfermline. This was thwarted at the last hurdle due to a technicality but it served to illustrate how highly the band were, and are, regarded by the people of Dunfermline. Success with his continuing love for amateur dramatics also continued with his direction of the show ‘Pardon Me Is This Planet Taken’. This virtually swept the board at the 1993 Royal Navy Drama Festival. He also found time to take up the noble sport of fly-fishing which was the only viable alternative to golf up there!

All good things must come to an end and it was with some sadness that he left the band in 1995 to become Project Officer at RMSM Deal for closure of the barracks and the move to Portsmouth. This was a very different and challenging post that culminated in some 48 pantechnicon loads of equipment having to be moved to Portsmouth, a marathon task which required careful co-ordination. Disaster nearly loomed with the unexpected arrival of several loads at the same time causing some concern for Captain Neil Wilson at the new Band Service Headquarters. Happily, all was resolved and the remainder arrived as planned. Like all of us, Barrie felt particularly saddened by the closure and the particular loss of the wonderful Globe Theatre that had seen so many successful productions.

A desk job awaited Barrie at the new Band Service Headquarters as Supply Officer (Music). This was a time of considerable change in the Band Service and SO(M) department was no exception but the new staff quickly established themselves in the as yet incomplete facilities. Further study followed for Barrie with the Director of Music examination passed prior to his selection for promotion in 1999 to Captain and a few months later to Major as the Band Service adjusted its officers’ rank structure in tandem with the wider Corps. Major Mills was appointed as Director of Music of the Plymouth RM Band in October 1999 and was fortunate to serve with this outstanding band until he retired in October 2003. Highlights of a marvellously enjoyable tenure included visits to Russia, the USA, Sweden and Malaysia, close work with BBC South West on a number of projects including Friday Night Is Music Night’ live from Plymouth Hoe and a memorable Beat Retreat on Millennium eve that was broadcast around the world live and estimated to have been seen by over 2 billion people! As the end of his career approached he managed to fit in one further trip to the USA to conduct the Long Beach Municipal Band, a renowned band consisting of Hollywood studio musicians who performed a series of concerts in parks all over Long Beach, California. He also had the honour of returning to Sweden as Guest Director for the Ystad Military Tattoo which the Plymouth Band had performed at some 2 years earlier.

Far from slipping gently into retirement, Barrie is currently embarked on a Graduate Teacher Training Course in Devon and plans to become a Secondary School music teacher, having settled with his family in Cornwall. His 34 years in the Band Service have been very rewarding, challenging, daunting and full of fun. He believes that the RMBS is a very worthwhile career for those joining today and wishes them all, and the Royal Marines Band Service, every success for the future.