The Life and Times of Lt Col R A Waterer

OBE MVO Hon.DMus MMus Hon.FLCM LRAM RM
Commandant Royal Marines School of Music & Principal Director of Music Royal Marines

by Marcher

On Friday 29 June 2002 Colonel Richard Waterer was ceremonially escorted from HMS Nelson after 38 years service in the Royal Marines Band Service. The following article is comprised of memories from many of his influential friends and admirers. It begins with his mother, Mrs Eileen Waterer, who writes:
He was born in 1949 and we lived in Shepton Mallet. His father had been in the RAF for over twelve years and I had been in the Women's Land Army. He started music at a very early age with the local Town Band playing soprano cornet, his fingerless piece being 'Cherry Ripe'. From a very early age he loved music and bands. He loved the Beatles and the big band sound. I feel so proud that he has got as far as he has today.

On completion of training he was awarded the Commandant General's Certificate of Merit, the predecessor of the present Prince's Badge. His first draft was to the Portsmouth Group Band but he was soon back at Deal in the Staff Band.

Lieutenant Colonel Paul Neville OBE MVO LRAM remembers: I first met Junior Musician Richard Waterer in 1966 on taking up the appointment of Director of Music, Junior Training. Richard was one of an exceptionally talented trombone class, all taught under the watchful eye of Jack Dacombe. I remember that both Richard and a youthful Graham Harvey did particularly well in the Cassell Prize competition. When I became Principal Director of Music in 1968, Musician Richard Waterer was already an established member of the RMSM Band and one of a fine trombone section that included Michael Eastbrook and Frank Wyldbore. He was promoted to Band Corporal in the early 1970's and, as a reward, became the Band Librarian! An early important responsibility was the organising of the music for our visit to the Canadian National Exhibition in Toronto.

In 1974 Richard was drafted to HMS Ark Royal returning to Deal as a Band Sergeant. To mark the 25th Anniversary of HRH The Duke of Edinburgh assuming the appointment of Captain General, Lt Col Neville organised a march competition. 'Royal Salute' by BdSgt Richard Waterer was the joint winner and this march has remained very popular.

Colonel Neville also recalls: For eight of my ten years as Principal Director of Music Richard was a member of the band at Deal. During those years we had a busy time with many concerts, broadcasts, recordings and, during the winter months, plenty of in-depth work with the orchestra. I hope Richard found that period of his life helpful as far as his musical development was concerned and that he enjoyed the wide variety of musical challenges we faced. Always a quiet, thoughtful person, of the highest integrity, it was a great pleasure having him in the band and later, watching his inevitable progress to the important 'top job'.

Promotion to BdCSgt followed in 1979 and to WOII (Bandmaster) in 1980 at which time he won the Silver Medal of the Worshipful Company of Musicians. He was appointed Director of Music of the Band of CTCRM in 1982. More importantly, this was the year in which he married Sue his charming wife who has been such a great support both to him and the Royal Marines Band Service.

Lieutenant Colonel Graham Hoskins OBE MVO ARAM recalls: Even though a young officer he was seen to have the ability to be comfortable in the company of senior officers and to have planning expertise well beyond his years.

In 1984 Richard Waterer was one of the first to undertake a year of advanced training at Goldsmiths College. Richard returned to Deal and the appointment of Assistant to the Principal Director of Music. He returned to the West Country as Director of Music at Britannia Royal Naval College in 1989 following which he went back to Deal as Director of Music Training, an appointment which he held until 1992 when he became the last Director of Music of the Commander-in-Chief Fleet Band. In 1994 he was promoted Major and, as a preparation for becoming Principal Director of Music, he undertook a six month Sabbatical with 'The President's Own' United States Marine Band. Richard is very proud to have been elected to the Board of Directors of the Sousa Foundation - a very great honour for a musician from outside the United States.

Upon his return he was promoted Lieutenant Colonel and appointed Principal Director of Music. The new Commandant of the Royal Marines School of Music and Richard, working as a team, faced a daunting task.

Lieutenant Colonel Phil Wilson MBE remembers: I was appointed Commandant just thirteen months before the closure of the Barracks at Deal. This was an extremely emotionally charged time for the people of Deal and for Royal Marines, serving and retired, who had long and fond associations with the town. I was sent with the brief to close the Barracks. However, no official announcement had been made by the time I arrived - it was an appointment that I approached with a degree of trepidation. During my first meeting with Richard I knew that together we would be able to effect the closure with the sensitivity that was required. Richard had been the PDM for a year and had quite clear plans for the move to Portsmouth and some very good ideas for the last twelve months at Deal.

I was given only two hours' notice of the Ministerial announcement of the closure and it coincided with a dinner at the Officers' Mess. My prepared speech was discarded and, after a hurried discussion with Richard, a new one written outlining the programme of events that would take place over the next few months to ensure that it would be a year to remember. During that special period at Deal I appreciated the qualities required of a Principal Director of Music; Richard has them in abundance and he exemplifies all that is special about the finest military band service in the world. I wish Richard and Sue every happiness in a long retirement together.

As the Royal Marines School of Music moved from Deal to Portsmouth Richard was given the additional responsibility of becoming its Commandant.
Major-General David Pennefather, Commandant General at the time recalls: In 1996 Richard was invited to execute what would have been a few years previously, the unthinkable. Not only did he have to move the Headquarters of the Royal Marines Band Service and School of Music from Deal, its home of almost fifty years but he had to shoe-horn it into the, by then, empty Royal Naval Detention Quarters in HMS Nelson, Portsmouth.

It is a matter of historical fact that the RMBS was firmly imbedded at Deal. The town did not want to lose its Royal Marines and Band Service links. Most of the RMBS members, training staff and families did not want to leave. The prospects for the future in Portsmouth appeared to most a retrograde step - bleak accommodation, a crowded Naval establishment, tighter control by Headquarters Royal Marines and serious family upheavals.
Richard achieved the move seamlessly, efficiently and with the absolute minimum of complaint and fuss. Every difficulty had a solution and every reversal (there were many) a way forward. It is a great tribute to Richard's considerable diplomatic skills, his leadership and his boundless energy that he managed to achieve such success. It is a greater tribute to him that the Beating Retreat by the Massed Bands on Horse Guards Parade that same year was one of the best ever and the RMBS programme one of the fullest.

Someone whose own promotion had allowed the contact between himself and Richard to be maintained and develop shared the views of the Commandant General.
Admiral Sir Jock Slater GCB LVO DL recalls: I have known Richard for a number of years not least when he was the Director of Music of the Commander-in-Chief Fleet's Band during my time as the Commander-in-Chief and subsequently as Principal Director of Music when I was the First Sea Lord. There is no doubt that the quality of musicianship during his tenure as the PDM has gone from strength to strength and the highlights of this period have undoubtedly been the Mountbatten Concerts. Moreover, he has been the most successful Principal Director of a series of high profile tri-service musical events including two Edinburgh tattoos, the final Royal Tournament, the Royal Military Tattoo 2000 on Horseguards and the musical mastermind of the memorable pageant to celebrate Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother's 100th Birthday. It is most fitting that his distinguished career should end on the highest note directing the musical aspects of the Queen's Golden Jubilee visit to the Armed Forces in Portsmouth this summer.
Behind the scenes Richard has been most effective in his administration of the Royal Marines Band Service. I was particularly impressed how he achieved the move of the Royal Marines School of Music from Deal to Portsmouth, handling the many associated and sometimes sensitive problems with quiet efficiency, whilst at the same time running the full range of musical events at home and abroad. He thoroughly deserved the award of an OBE.

Colonel Hoskins continues the story: Richard's clever alignment of the Royal Marines School of Music with the University of Portsmouth has shown the greatest benefit. One result has been that recognised civilian musical degrees are now available and earned by Royal Marines students in the course of their normal careers. Perhaps Richard's greatest achievement, in my opinion, has been his ability to take on the role of Senior Director of Music of the three Services with aplomb. This has allowed the Royal Navy to bask in the undeniable glow of knowing that their man has been at the front to carry their flag, with intense diplomacy and recognised ability, for major tri-service ceremonial events over recent years. They culminate this year with the Queen's Golden Jubilee. Richard will retire leaving a better organisation than he inherited and will for many years be a role model for those who follow. He has achieved all with a total lack of self-promotion and is admired as an officer and a gentleman whose early promise blossomed into a maturity much to the benefit of all he has represented.

The Tri-Service events of recent years have been a success for all three Services. Richard has taken the lead in many of these events but he would be the first to admit that a lot of the success is due to the team that he has formed within the Royal Marines Band Service. They are capable of dealing with all aspects of a major parade or concert. Under his direction it has been shown that Tri-Service events are possible without any sacrifice of tradition or custom.

Lieutenant Colonel Philip Hills ARCM psm Grenadier Guards writes: The Royal Military Tattoo 2000 was run completely from the computer and once it started it could not be stopped. Richard was having to conduct the music at the correct tempo of the click track, which could not be relied upon, whilst at the same time endeavouring to cue various units on the ground to move position. We eventually ended up with the Senior Principal Director of Music (Richard) being directed by the second Principal Director of Music (Wing Commander Rob Wiffin) with the aid of a microphone with which he could talk to Richard and cue him whilst the Senior Director of Music, Guard Division, read the cues from the score and passed them on to Rob etc. Rob and I were of course in the control box.
RMT 2000 like many of the big events would not have been the great success that it was without the integral part played by the bands and their Directors of Music. Richard brought all of them onside from the outset with his friendly no-nonsense approach and the detailed planning beforehand which made the rehearsals easier and the performance that much more effective.

Today Richard is a Freeman of the City of London, a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Musicians, was awarded the OBE in 1999 and has just been awarded the MVO.

He has, without doubt, built up his own following of supporters like young Tom Brigstocke, son of retired Second Sea Lord Adm Sir John Brigstocke: I first heard of Richard through Major General David Pennefather, former Commandant General of the Royal Marines. David first invited me to the Mountbatten Festival of Music 1997 and Richard has been a major influence on my life ever since. At my school I used to receive a few letters from Richard telling me all his news because he knows I am his greatest fan - apart from Sue his wife! Richard is retiring from the Band Service in June of this year, unfortunately, but I hope that he has an enjoyable retirement. Many people have sung his praises recently to me including Captain Paul Canter Royal Navy who had the job of working with Richard at the International Festival of the Sea 1998 and 2001. Paul sends his best regards.

So this is my final farewell to Richard; I send you the best regards ever and hope that you get a very good job. The Band Service and all your many friends will miss you.

Perhaps his one-time Commandant General, David Pennefather, has the right to almost the last word!
General David Pennefather: Richard has my unqualified respect. I could not have been more privileged to have such a talented musician, capable leader and good friend as Principal Director of Music during my time as Commandant General. He could not have wished for a more supportive and popular wife than Sue.

However, the very last word comes from his mother.

Mrs Eileen Waterer: I am sure that his retirement will include music and people and I would like to thank all the many people in the Royal Marines Band Service who helped him achieve what he has done. It has not been easy for him but he has had a wonderful wife to support him through his long time with music. I am so proud of him and all in the RMBS.

Lt Col Richard Waterer and Sue with Sir Vivian Dunn