Drum Major C Brown RM

Drum Major ‘Buster’Brown was born and grew up in Chippenham, Wiltshire. He joined the Royal Marines Band Service in September 1992 at the age of 17.

On completion of his training he was initially drafted to the Staff Band of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines in Deal for the summer of 1994. In September 1994 he joined the Band of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines Scotland based in Rosyth, where he was to spend the next three years.

For promotion to Corporal and Sergeant within the Royal Marines Band Service, all ranks must attend both musical and military courses. Buster undertook the first step towards this in 1996 by passing the B2 course in the newly opened Royal Marines School of Music in Portsmouth.

January 1998 saw a move to sunny Devon when Buster joined The Band of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines Dartmouth. It was here he spent the next seven years, enjoying the early morning Divisions Parade at Britannia Royal Naval College (BRNC).

In 2000 he attended the Junior Command Course (Band) at Commando Training Centre Royal Marines, Lympstone, Devon (CTCRM). He gained a Superior Pass and was now eligible for promotion.

In 2004 Buster attended the Drum Major Course in HMS Raleigh, Torpoint. After spending the best part of four weeks marching up and down the parade ground he attained a Superior Pass.

Later in 2004 saw the Band from BRNC deploy for three months to the United States of America. Initially the Band was on board HMS Invincible followed by the RFA Argus with a brief spell for the Corps of Drums on HMS Cornwall. During the deployment, the ship called in on New York, Boston and Mayport.

Buster was promoted to Corporal Bugler in May 2005 and in August that year the Band from BRNC, along with Plymouth and Scotland Band, paraded on the esplanade of Edinburgh Castle for the Edinburgh Tattoo, celebrating the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar. On completion of the Tattoo Buster rejoined the Band in Scotland this time as assistant Drum Major. It was in Scotland where he was to gain valuable experience as a Corporal Bugler within the Corps of Drums.

September 2006 saw a move to the Band of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines Portsmouth (Royal Band) where Buster was a Cpl Bug within the Corps of Drums as well as the Assistant Drum Major. He attended the 12 week B1 course in January 2007 and successfully passed.

June 2007 saw him attend the Senior Command Course (Band), with a training period in Portsmouth followed by an assessment phase at CTCRM. On passing the course he packed up and headed north again where on the 10th of July 2007 took the appointment of Drum Major to the Band of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines Scotland.
As Drum Major of The Band of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines Scotland ‘Buster’ has led the band on many occasions including trips to Copenhagen, Denmark and to Oslo, Norway where the Band participated in the Norwegian Military Tattoo 2008.

Having performed in the Edinburgh Military Tattoo on several occasions as a bugler it was a great privilege for Buster to be a Drum Major in front of the Massed Bands on the esplanade of Edinburgh Castle for the Edinburgh Military Tattoo 2008, a thoroughly enjoyable few weeks although a Scottish summer meant that the Bands were wet through on most nights!

One of the highlights of 2009 for Buster was the Massed Bands performance on Horseguards Parade in London, although involved with all rehearsals he did not get the opportunity to March down Birdcage walk in front of the Massed Bands but gained valuable experience in preparation for the next time the Massed Bands perform on Horseguards.

2010 has been a busy year of travelling for Buster with Military Tattoos in Sydney, Australia and Voorthuizen, Holland. Performances during this year also include Northern Ireland for Veterans day and at the Tynwald ceremony in the Isle of Man.

Buster was married to Abbie on the 24th July 2010 in Dunfermline Abbey followed by a Safari in Kenya.

Last updated 16 May 2011