Warrant Officer 2 Bandmaster A J Williams BMus(Hons) LRSM AMusTCL RM

Warrant Officer 2 Bandmaster Ashley Williams began his musical life at the age of seven, studying the violin with John Britten. He was later awarded a musical scholarship to attend the Southwell Minster School which afforded many musical opportunities both within the school and Cathedral.

Following a successful audition, Ashley joined the Royal Marines Band Service in September 1992 as a Clarinet and Violin player studying the violin with Eric Sokell and the clarinet with Bill Kenchington. His initial assignment was to the Royal Marines Band in Plymouth, where he was given the responsibility of leading the orchestra. Selection for Royal Yacht duty saw him posted to the Royal Marines Band in Portsmouth and subsequently to Her Majesty’s Royal Yacht Britannia in January 1997 where again he led the orchestra on what was to be the final deployment culminating in the handing over of Hong Kong.

A return to Portsmouth saw selection for the Junior Command Course held at the Commando Training Centre Royal Marines, with promotion to Band Corporal following soon afterwards. Further selection to the Senior Command Course and M1 course followed in 2002, with the following year seeing him attend the Warrant Officer Bandmasters’ Course at the Royal Marines School of Music. Having successfully passed the year long course, Ashley was then given the opportunity to temporarily manage the Royal Naval Volunteer Bands in both Gibraltar and HMS Collingwood.

Ashley was then drafted to the Royal Marines Band in Scotland where he again led the orchestra. Promotion to Band Colour Sergeant came during this assignment with subsequent promotion to Warrant Officer 2 Bandmaster in June 2007. Since promoted to Warrant Officer Bandmaster, he has had the honour of being Bandmaster for both the Portsmouth and Collingwood Bands. In 2009, he then undertook successfully passed the WO1s Board. His most recent appointment has been to Chief Instructor within Higher Training where he is responsible for delivering training to both the Bandmasters and M1 specialisation courses. Ashley lives in Portchester with his wife Beth and two daughters, Grace and Cerys May. His spare time is spent enjoying his role as Chairman of Governors at Castle Primary School.

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Last updated: 25 November 2011