Where are they now?
Musician Roger Hollingworth
RMB 4092 Musician Roger Hollingworth joined the RM Band Service
in January 1965 as a percussionist. He underwent training
in the company of such notables as Merv Hyatt, Taff Davies,
Sid Hale and the present Corps Bandmaster WOI Bob Metcalf.
On completion of training he was drafted to Staff Band in
Deal before two further appointments saw him in HMS Eagle
and HMS Ganges. Roger describes the time he spent in HMS Eagle
as the highlight of his Service career. Reflecting back he
says "Obviously being so young it was the first time
I had travelled abroad and to be involved in Carrier operations
was something that I probably didn¹t really appreciate at
the time. However, it was a fantastic and memorable experience,
especially from the aviation aspect. Indeed my first ever
flight was in a Wessex Mk 5 helicopter which I obviously remember
quite vividly. We performed at many memorable venues under
the baton of Bandmaster Dennis Brown, other members of the
Band being Jon Yates (now professor of Trumpet at RMSM) the
unforgettable Bert Parton, Phil (Feet) Stevens, Pip Philips,
Mick Bromley and last but by no means least my Sea Daddy Stan
Putrell". Roger also clearly remembers drawing his first
Tot at sea but confesses he can¹t remember anything at all
afterwards!
Having become quietly confident, both musically and in himself,
he left the Band Service in 1973 to pursue a civilian musical
career. The next eleven years provided Roger with dual opportunities
to work on the Mecca Band circuit in the Midlands during evenings
while gaining a thorough grounding in Car Sales and Dealership
with Rolls Royce and Lotus during the day. He also found time
to develop an interest that was sparked off by that first
helicopter flight from HMS Eagle and having gained his Private
Pilots Licence in 1974 flew extensively in Europe, Scandinavia
and the UK.
Eventually the day time job took over and Roger set up his
own Sports Car dealership which he ran successfully until
1998.
Selling the business he was then able to pursue his love
of flying gaining hours and experience in his log. More recently
he has just taken a one year course at the Oxford Air Training
School where he gained his Air Transport Pilots Licence which
qualifies him as a Commercial Pilot. Ultimately he hopes to
become a First Officer with a commercial airline so listen
out for the name of the pilot introducing the flight next
time you are flying abroad!
For now though he is back with fast cars having just accepted
an appointment as Sales Executive with the Evans Halshaw¹s
Ferrari Dealership in Aston.
Roger still finds time for charity work, as
well as playing various musical instruments, and has very
warm memories of his time in the Band Service. As he says:
"I experienced a unique and
unforgettable period of my life meeting people who have now
become life long friends. As time progresses I feel I have
been privileged to have been a tiny cog in such a great Band
Service family".
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