Warrant Officer 2 Bandmaster A P Lomas LRSM AMusTCL ATCL RM

Andrew began playing the violin at the age of nine. After initially playing with the Truro Youth Orchestra he progressed to the Cornwall County Youth Orchestra and it was here that he learnt a substantial amount of orchestral repertoire.

Having successfully passed an audition, Andrew joined the Royal Marines Band Service as a Clarinet and Violin player in September 1989. On completion of his training Andrew joined Flag Officer Plymouth Band. After two years in the Plymouth Band he was drafted to Lympstone where he led the orchestra for nine years. During this time Andrew was involved in some memorable foreign trips including Bermuda, Washington, Langkawi, Singapore and many European countries. Promotion to Corporal came in April 2000 and in July 2001 Andrew successfully passed the Trinity College performers diploma on the clarinet. Andrew was part of the Casualty Handling team on the hospital ship RFA Argus when it deployed to Iraq as part of Operation Telic in January 2003. On returning from operational duties, Andrew spent a further two years in the Plymouth Band where he again led the orchestra. One of the highlights of his career was when he led the orchestra in a performance of Vaughan-Williams’ Sea Symphony at Plymouth Pavilions.

A very keen sportsman Andrew can turn his hand, or foot, to most sports, however football and golf is where he has been most successful. With a modest handicap of 2, he won the Royal Navy Championships in 2008 and has won the Royal Marines Golf Championship three times. Andrew has also represented the Royal Navy at football and in 2002 he was part of the Inter-Service winning teams in both sports.

In 2006, Andrew passed the Warrant Officer Bandmaster course and with it gaining the LRSM and AMusTCL diplomas. He was promoted to Colour Sergeant in 2007 and following a brief spell as the Volunteer Band Instructor at HMS Sultan he was appointed as the Academic Instructor at Higher Training, RMSoM.

Andrew was promoted to Warrant Officer 2 in May 2008 and the appointment of Bandmaster, CTCRM Band. In October 2009 he was part of the Khumbu Challenge and reaching Base Camp of Mount Everest.
Andrew has two boys, Finley and Oliver and lives in Ashburton.

Andrew is much more likely to respond to the name 'Freddie', a nickname that has remained with him from the very first week he joined the Band Service.

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Last updated: 07 June 2011