ISSN2050-4926 INTERNATIONAL MILITARY MUSIC SOCIETY (FOUNDER) BRANCH Journal

No. 115 SPRING 2018

INTERNATIONAL MILITARY MUSIC SOCIETY UNITED KINGDOM (FOUNDER) BRANCH

Founder President: Lt-Col Sir Vivian Dunn KCVO OBE (1908-1995) Branch President: Lt-Col (Rtd) Geoff Kingston Honorary Vice-Presidents: Mrs J E Alford, P T Higgins, P Mather, Miss E Pearson

INTERNATIONAL VICE- CHAIRMAN’S CALL PRESIDENT: I hope that it not too late to wish every who decide not to renew their Major (Rtd) Roger Swift one of you a “Guid New Year” and if membership. Why are they leaving? CHAIRMAN: any of you were having a Dry January Are we not providing what they want Alan Purdie, 5 Hemming Close, then I trust that all went to plan. from their membership? Is cost of Hampton, Middlesex TW12 2JD. Tel: The year ahead promises to be an membership an issue? 020 8941 1416. E-mail: [email protected] interesting one for the UK Branch All these issues will be considered, with several visits to Bands already in although we all appreciate that there HON. SECRETARY: the pipeline. Inevitably some of the is no easy answer or ‘fast fix’ to the Jim Davies, Amberstone, Pyrford Road, visits tend to be arranged at short Pyrford, Surrey GU22 8UP. situation.I personally believe that we notice due to the contingencies of the Tel: 01932 355135. E-mail: offer good value for money, [email protected] forces but our hard-working Secretary especially compared to some other does his best to get the information to membership organisations, and in my HON. TREASURER you as soon as he can. humble opinion the Branch Journal & MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY: Guy Morris, 32 Claremont Avenue, If you have an email address but do and Band International are both Hersham, Surrey KT12 4NS. not yet receive Jim’s Newsbriefs then exceptional magazines and worthy of Tel: 0870 904 6453. E-mail please contact him to be added to his your membership. [email protected] mailing list so that you can be kept May I take this opportunity to thank JOURNAL EDITOR: fully informed of forthcoming events all of you who continue to contribute Mike Boxall, 38 Hortensia House, and concerts. articles, concert reviews and Hortensia Road, SW10 0QP. Rumours continue to abound about photographs. Remember that the E-mail: the future of the Corps of Army Music Journal is your magazine and our [email protected] as well as the possible closure of Editor would welcome any more COMMITTEE MEMBERS: Kneller Hall, but no firm information contributions to future issues. John Crisford CBE, Charles Gray, Brian is available as yet. As a precaution I Finally, please remember that your Hill, Rodney Illsley and Ron Shooter have already been exploring possible Committee are trying to provide the ADVISORY PANEL: alternative venues for the Branch best experience they can for you, the John Curtis, Colin Dean, Quarterly Meetings should the members and any ideas for the way Dr Graham Jones MBE, Philip Mather, proposed closure of Kneller Hall go ahead would be welcome. Major (Rtd) Richard Powell, and Major ahead but if any members have ideas, With all best wishes. Alan Purdie (Rtd) Gordon Turner MBE please let me know. REGIONAL ORGANISER By the time you receive this Journal North East: Ivor Shirley, 9 Hurst your Committee will have had an all- FRONT COVER: The Band of the Grove, Darlington, Co Durham DL1 day meeting to address the ongoing , conducted by 4NX problem of Branch membership. Not Major Craig Hallatt, playing at WEBMASTER: only must we look at how we can Friary Court, St. James’s Palace, on Ron Rose, Flat 4, Kingsholm House, 7 recruit new members, but we also 5th January 2018. Twickenham Close, Swindon, Wiltshire have concerns about those members (Photo:Colin Dean.) SN3 3FF. E-mail: [email protected] The IMMS UK Branch Journal is published four times a year. The respective closing dates Website: www.imms-uk.org.uk for copy in 2018 are 2nd February, 25th May, 31st August and 16th November. Contributions for the Journal from members are always welcome. The annual membership subscription, due on 1st January, is £25 of which the UK Branch retains £8 to help finance local activities. Members receive in addition to the UK Branch Journal three editions each year of Band Follow us on Facebook International, which is sent to all members worldwide. Further details about the Society and its activities are available from the UK Branch Secretary. Enquiries and correspondence Follow us on Facebook about the Society’s meetings should be addressed to the Branch Secretary and not to Kneller Hall. The contents of the UK Branch Journal are copyright and no part of it may be reproduced without permission. Opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of

the President, the UK Branch Committee or the Society’s membership as a whole.

2 IMMS UK (Founder) Branch Journal – Spring 2018

BRANCH SECRETARY’S NOTES

Branch meetings providing appropriate music with a Visits to bands With the kind permission of the suitable Irish flavour for The branch's visit to the Band of the recently-appointed Commandant, consideration for the parade; he had to Household Cavalry will be on Friday Colonel Victoria Reid OBE, and with deal with the additional pressure that 23 March. In due course will be the support of her team there, our the selection process in the Guards circulating full details to those who meetings take place at The Royal Chapel was filmed by the BBC for have booked to go on this visit. inclusion in their coverage of the Military School of Music, Kneller Provisionally, we have a visit to the parade itself. Much of the music he Hall, Twickenham TW2 7DU. This Band of The Rifles on Thursday 15 prepared is included in a new CD year’s meetings will be on Saturdays March. Details to follow. 3 March (with the Branch AGM held Blue Plume The Music of the Irish at 11 00), 16 June, 22 September and Guards (see pages 15 and 16 for an The Queen's Birthday Parade 8 December, starting at 14 00. account of the production process and and the Reviews a review of this CD). When attending meetings, you’ll need The Major General's Review of the to allow time to complete the security Bruce was a good friend of our Queen's Birthday Parade will take procedures at the School. If you travel Society during his service and was place on Horse Guards Parade, by public transport or on foot, notify instrumental in welcoming our London, on Saturday 26 May and The me in advance. If travelling by car for members from around the world Colonel's Review on Saturday 2 June the first time, notify me of your when the UK Branch hosted an in preparation for the actual parade on vehicle’s registration number. International Gathering in June 2014. Saturday 9 June. The Colour to be Members’ details are held at the We wish him well for his future trooped will be that of 1st Bn. Guardroom for subsequent visits. activities; Bruce has now taken up the Coldstream Guards. Remember to carry your IMMS appointment as Director of Music to Members' attention is drawn to the membership card as proof of identity. the Band of the Honourable Artillery Lost membership cards can be Company, in succession to Major important change in the application replaced on request. Glen Jones. and payment process for tickets for the Reviews and the Parade, December meeting AGM following the Household Division's Our guest speaker at our Saturday 9 The Annual General Meeting of the move to a Ministry of Defence- December meeting at Kneller Hall International Military Music Society's approved electronic ticketing had retired from the Army just a UK (Founder) Branch will take place system. Tickets for the Major couple of days earlier! We were very at The Royal Military School of delighted, therefore, to welcome Music, Kneller Hall, Twickenham General's Review on Saturday 26 Major Bruce Miller who, in a lively, TW2 7DU on Saturday 3 March May will cost £5 each and £10 each informative and entertaining commencing at 11 00. The AGM is for the Colonel's Review on presentation, told us about his members' opportunity to receive Saturday 2 June. Tickets can now distinguished career in military reports from, and put questions to, the only be purchased online from music, enlisting in 1989 as a clarinet Branch officers about our activities www.qbp.army.mod.uk. player in the Band of the Royal Army over the past year and future plans – We regret that because of these new Ordnance Corps and culminating on as well as receiving the financial arrangements we will be unable to retirement as Director of Music Irish report. secure and distribute tickets for the Guards. Members at the AGM also confirm Major General's Review as we have Officers' appointments and elect done hitherto. Tickets for the members to serve on the Branch's Queen's Birthday Parade itself will committee. Our Chairman, Alan be allocated by public ballot. Purdie, having been elected at the Applications can be made until 28 2017 AGM, has completed the first of February, after which the ballot his three-year term. The Committee will close. appoints your Secretary, Treasurer and Journal Editor. Committee For further information, refer to member Ron Shooter's three-year the website shown above or to term expires at the AGM and we hope www.householddivision.org.uk. he will stand for re-election. The Finally Major Bruce Miller with Nigel Ellis at the other elected members of your I still have some copies of the 2017 December meeting (Photo: Jim Davies) committee (Messrs John Crisford issue of Fanfare for sale at £9 CBE, Charles Gray, Brian Hill and It was fascinating also to gain an (inclusive of p&p). Cheques should Rodney Illsley) are in mid-term. insight into some of the pressures and be made payable to IMMS UK demands faced by the Director of We are delighted to be able to Branch and sent to me at Amberstone. Music of the due to troop its announce that our speaker at the Pyrford Road, Pyrford GU22 8UP. Colour at The Queen's Birthday afternoon meeting on the 3 March We offer our congratulations to Major Parade. Last year it had been the turn will be Colonel Kevin David Barringer on his appointment of 1st Bn. Irish Guards to troop their Roberts, Principal Director of Music as MBE in the New Year Honours. Colour so Bruce was duly tasked with (Army). Jim Davies

IMMS UK (Founder) Branch Journal – Spring 2018 3 A RETIREMENT TRIBUTE

Lieutenant Colonel Nick Grace was the Principal Director of Service opening sequence of marching displays which Music, Royal Marines from 2009 – 2017 a period of eight and included the Royal British Legion Standards. a half years. He quickly established himself as a most Nick had a ‘can-do’ attitude and was always prepared to help competent and polished conductor and director of bands. the production of the Festival in any way he could. He I knew Nick as a performing musician in the Band Service supplied string musicians to augment the Countess of during my time as a Director of Music, as our paths crossed Wessex’s String Orchestra and the RAF strings for the stage at various times over the years. However, I’ve got to know band, supplied the solo bugler for the Last Post and the Nick really well during my time as the musical director for Buglers of The Corps of Drums for Sunset. the Royal British Legion, being responsible for the music On behalf of The Royal British Legion, the BBC team of performed at the annual Festival of Remembrance held at The Executive Producer Claire Popplewell, Producer Rosheen Royal Albert Hall. Archer and myself, I would like to thank Nick Grace most Nick performed eight times with the Band of HM Royal sincerely for his most valuable contribution to the success of Marines, Portsmouth. Not only was he responsible for the the Festival of Remembrance and wish him well for the brilliant displays performed by the Royal Marines Band and future. The Corps of Drums each year, but he was prominent along David Cole with the Corps Drum Major Colin ‘Buster’ Brown and Corps (Note: David’s article on The Festival of Remembrance 2017 Bugle Major Alan Piner for producing and designing the Tri- is on page 9.)

OBITUARY

Godfrey ‘Geoff’ Broom (1937-2017) We are sad to report the passing of Godfrey ‘Geoff’ Broom One of the cornet players came over to chat and asked what on 17th November 2017, shortly after passing his eightieth Chick Webb had put out for Geoff, suggesting that he should birthday. Geoff learnt the cornet with the Salvation Army and look at the solo part in The Bamboula by Coleridge Taylor, joined the in 1958 when National telling him that the boss liked that one. Geoff took the advice Service beckoned. He served through to 1981, becoming and began playing it Assistant Band Sergeant Major, and for most He was soon to be interrupted by a gentleman of his service was the principal cornet, playing wearing a string vest and army trousers. “That solos in numerous concerts and broadcasts sounds very nice,” said the gentleman and with a wonderfully sweet tone. Geoff replied that he had been told that “He The following extract from ‘Jiggs’: A likes this one”. The gentleman queried, “Who Biography of Jaeger OBE likes it?” to which the reply was along the lines tells how he came to join the Guards: of “The boss”. “You mean the Director of Music?” and as Geoff mumbled something like “National Service was still compulsory and “Probably” he announced that “I’m the Geoff Broom recalls how this was looming for Director of Music; my name is Major Jaeger – him in October 1958 while he was a part-time I assume you know yours?” student at the Guildhall. His trumpet professor So much for creating a good impression - but was Bernard Brown who had served with the Irish Guards Jiggs went on to confirm that he did indeed like that piece and Band and he explained to Geoff the benefits of joining a asked Geoff to play it again. After a few more pieces Jiggs Guards Band, in that they generally only worked in the said he had heard enough and told him to come in the office. mornings, which would give him plenty of opportunity to Geoff followed him, somewhat dejected, assuming he had continue his studies as well as doing a bit of teaching and failed, only to hear the Band Secretary, Norman Madden, playing outside. After much persuasion he eventually being told, “I’m having him – take his details.” Not only that convinced Geoff that this was the right move and contacted but Norman, the only man in the band at that time with a car, the band office to arrange an audition for him. was told to give Geoff a lift back to Victoria station.” This was arranged for 12 o’clock and Geoff arrived at Chelsea After retiring, Geoff became the conductor of the Guards Barracks in good time and was taken to the practice room, Association Band, formed in 1981, and led them in concerts lined all around with empty instrument cases as the Band was in the Royal Parks, Eastbourne and the Chelsea Flower Show out on (an hour earlier in those days). Jiggs’s amongst other venues, as well as making an excellent CD orderly, Chick Webb, had put some cornet music out for with them on the SRC label. He also conducted the Essex Geoff to look at and he began warming up, soon to be Police Band and the Eastbourne Silver Band for many years. interrupted by an invasion of musicians returning from He will be remembered as a fine musician and a real Guard, packing their instruments into the cases and making a gentleman. quick exit within a few minutes. Colin Dean

4 IMMS UK (Founder) Branch Journal – Spring 2018 APPOINTMENTS 2018

The appointments for 2018, as at 1st January, are listed below. Changes from the 2017 list are shown in bold. Amendments and future changes will be notified in later editions of the Journal

Royal Marines Principal Director of Music, Royal Marines: Lieutenant Colonel Jon Ridley

Band of the Royal Marines Portsmouth Captain Andy Gregory WO1 Dave Prentice Band of the Royal Marines Plymouth Major Hugh Williams WO2 Jules Cook Band of the Royal Marines Collingwood Major Ian Davis WO2 Tim Carter Band of the Royal Marines Captain Matt Weites WO2 Nev Dednum Band of the Royal Marines Commando Training Centre Captain Sam Hairsine WO2 Karl Long Army Principal Director of Music (Army): Lieutenant Colonel Kevin Roberts Senior Director of Music, Household Division: Lieutenant Colonel Darren Wolfendale

Band of the Household Cavalry Major Craig Hallatt WO2 Ben Ruffer Captain James Marshall Band of the Captain Brendan Wheeler S/Sgt Paul Mason Band of the Royal Artillery Captain Neil Skipper S/Sgt Simon Lindley Band of the Royal Engineers Captain Oliver Jeans S/Sgt Joe Barrett Band of the Royal Corps of Signals Major Mark Aldridge S/Sgt Mathias Anderson Band of the Grenadier Guards Major Michael Smith WO1 Sarah Marinescu Band of the Coldstream Guards Major Simon Haw, MBE WO1 Laura Stead Major Ian Johnson WO1 Robert Smith Band of the Irish Guards Lt. Col. Darren Wolfendale WO1 Andrew Porter Band of the Major Kevin Davies WO2 David Hatton Band of the Royal Regiment of Scotland Major David Barringer, MBE C/Sgt Evatt Gibson Band of the Queen’s Division Captain Ben Mason C/Sgt Alex Nixon Band of the King’s Division Major Stewart Halliday WO2 Dan Shave Band of the Prince of ’s Division Vacant Vacant Band of The Rifles Major Jason Griffiths Vacant Band of the Brigade of Gurkhas Major Tony Adams Captain Basudev Gurung Band of The Parachute Regiment Captain Matt Simons WO2 Jonathan Rockey Band of the Army Air Corps - WO2 Jonathan Rockey Band of the Royal Logistic Corps Major Lauren Petritz-Watts WO2 Jonathan Spencer Band of the Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical - WO1 Barry Young Engineers Band of the Adjutant General’s Corps - WO2 Jeremy Ansell The Countess of Wessex’s String Orchestra Major David Hammond WO2 Claire Lawrence Band of the Royal Gibraltar Regiment WO1 Richard Burton Director of Army Bagpipe Music and Highland Drumming: Major Gordon Rowan, The Royal Regiment of Scotland Army School of Ceremonial, Drumming Wing: WO1 Simon Towe, Royal Anglian Regt., Senior Drum Major, Army Royal Air Force Principal Director of Music, Royal Air Force: Wing Commander Piers Morell

Central Band of the Royal Air Force Flight Lieutenant Chris l’Anson WO Terry Gardner Band of the Royal Air Force College Squadron Leader Richard Murray WO Ian Laidler Band of the Royal Air Force Regiment Flight Lieutenant Tom Rodda WO Paul Craggs

IMMS UK (Founder) Branch Journal – Spring 2018 5 PROFILE: THE PRINCIPAL DIRECTORS OF MUSIC Lt Col John Ridley RM His first appointment, as Bandmaster 1 Royal Tank Lieutenant Colonel Jon Ridley BMus(Hons), MMus(Perf), Regiment, came in 1994 and later that year he took over as LRSM, AMusTCL, RM, was appointed Principal Director of Bandmaster of the newly-formed Cambrai Band in Germany. Music, Royal Marines, in October 2017. In 1977 he was appointed Bandmaster, Band of the Irish Guards, from where he was selected 18 months later for the Born in 1971 and raised in Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire. staff post of Student Bandmaster at RMSM Kneller Hall. His initial musical education was gained at school, as well as After completing his Advanced Certificate in Music (psm) he at weekend workshops at the Leicestershire School of Music. was commissioned into the Corps of Army Music in 2000 and After successful completion of his examinations, he decided subsequently appointed Director of Music, Normandy Band to join the Royal Marines Band Service in 1989. of the Queen's Division. After three years studying as a In 2003 he commanded his unit on operational deployment in bassoonist at the Royal Marines Iraq working alongside 34 School of Music, Jon completed Field Hospital. On return he training, gaining awards for the was chosen to join the staff best bassoonist and also for the of the Defence Forces best woodwind player under School of Music in training. Three years were , also undertaking a spent as principal bassoonist of study of the Australian the Royal Marines band then Army Band Corps. He was based in London, before a appointed Director of further two years with the band Music, Band of the Army at Plymouth. There followed an Air Corps, in 2006. The appointment as the bassoon (Photo: MOD/Crown following year he was (Photo: David Llewellyn-Jones) instructor at the Royal Marines Copyright) promoted to Major and appointed Chief Instructor at the School of Music and with it came promotion to Band Royal Military School of Music, responsible for the design Corporal. 18 months later he became principal bassoonist of and delivery of musical training. the Band of her Majesty's Royal Marines Portsmouth, and further promotion ensued. In January 2010 he was appointed Director of Music, Band of the Grenadier Guards, and in 2011 joined the British Military In October 2006 Jon became the Director of Music of The Advisory Training Team in Jordan to develop the musical Band of Her Majesty's Royal Marines Britannia Royal Naval capabilities of the Jordanian Armed Forces. His appointment College at Dartmouth. After 18 months there he then spent as Director of Music, Band of the Welsh Guards, followed in some time in a staff appointment at Headquarters Band November 2013 and in March 2015 he was appointed Senior Service before taking up the appointment of Director of Director of Music, Household Division, responsible for Music of The Band of Her Majesty's Royal Marines Scotland. coordinating and directing musical support for State After promotion to Major in 2010 Jon was appointed the Staff Ceremonial in London. Officer RM Band Service with Headquarters Band Service, He has also worked as a Lecturer for Surrey University and followed by an appointment as Director of Music Training at as musical director and adjudicator for numerous the Royal Marines School of Music. He then spent two organisations and events. fabulous years in the position of Director of Music of The Band of Her Majesty's Royal Marines Collingwood. NOTE: This Profile appeared in Journal 110 and has been repeated here for new members, and for completeness. He was hugely proud to have been selected for promotion to Lieutenant Colonel and to the prestigious post of Principal Wg Cdr Piers Morrell RAF Director of Music, Royal Marines. Wing Commander Piers L Morrell FRSM LRSM LTCL Lt Col Kevin Roberts CAMUS DipTCL RAF, was appointed as the Principal Director of Lieutenant Colonel Kevin Roberts MMus, FLCM, FNCM, Music Royal Air Force in May 2017. FTCM, LRSM, psm, CAMUS, took up the appointment as Born in Bishop Auckland in 1971, educated at Simon Balle Principal Director of Music (Army) in September 2017. School, Hertford, and East Herts College, Hitchin, in 1990 he Educated at the Queen Elizabeth School in Manchester, the attended Trinity College of Music, London, graduating in London College of Music and Media and The Royal Military 1994 with diplomas in Music Performance on trombone. School of Music (RMSM), Kneller Hall, his military service From 1994 to 1997 he worked as a peripatetic music teacher began with the Band of the Parachute Regiment where he in East Hertfordshire and as a freelance musician before qualified as a military parachutist. In 1990 he was selected to joining the Royal Air Force in 1997. Following Basic Recruit attend the three-year Bandmaster Course at Kneller Hall and Training at Royal Air Force Halton, he was posted to the graduated in 1993 winning seven awards, including the Band of the Royal Air Force Regiment as a Musician. Barsotti Award for the best British Student Bandmaster. Medical training was undertaken in 1998 and ceremonial

6 IMMS UK (Founder) Branch Journal – Spring 2018 duties continued with a posting to the Central Band of the of instruments and equipment, trade training, manning and Royal Air Force in 2000. recruitment for Royal Air Force Music Services. In 2006 he was selected In 2014 he completed the Intermediate Command and Staff for Initial Officer Course (Air) at the United Kingdom Defence Academy prior Training, graduating in to promotion to Squadron Leader in 2015 and attained a 2007 as a Flying Fellowship from the Associated Board of the Royal Schools Officer. He remained at of Music. He oversaw the re-brigade of Royal Air Force Royal Air Force Music Services which was completed in March 2015. College Cranwell He returned to the Central Band of the Royal Air Force in taking command of the May 2015 for a short tour during which he attained a Master Band of the Royal Air of Science degree in Leadership and Management from the Force Regiment until University of Portsmouth and attained a Fellowship from the 2008, when he was Institute of Leadership and Management. In August 2016 he posted to the Central was posted back to the Headquarters and later that year was (Photo: www.raf.mod.uk/rafmusic Band of the Royal Air awarded Chartered Manager status with the Chartered under Open Government Licence) Force. Management Institute. In May 2017 he was promoted to the Promoted to Flight Lieutenant in 2009 he was the deputy rank of Wing Commander and appointed Principal Director conductor for the Edinburgh Military Tattoo and remained of Music Royal Air Force. with the Central Band of the Royal Air Force when they A keen sportsman, he has run the London Marathon for the relocated to Royal Air Force Northolt in 2010. In May 2010 Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund and the British Scoliosis he led the Central Band of the Royal Air Force’s involvement Research Foundation. He has also cycled from London to in the 65th Victory Day Parade held on Red Square, Moscow. in 24 hours raising money for Scope. His studies in Having completed the Junior Officer Development Shotokan Karate led to him representing the Royal Air Force Programme in 2012 he was posted to Headquarters Music at Tri-Service level and have brought success in competition Services taking responsibility for implementing policy, at Association level. management planning, engagement allocations, procurement

OLD FRIEND, NEW JOB

Lt Col Darren Wolfendale

After taking up the appointment of Director of Music, Irish Guards, and Senior Director of Music, Household Division, Lieutenant Colonel Wolfendale made a timely appearance to lead the band on Public Duties for the first time on the morning of 22nd December 2017. Our intrepid photographer was on hand to record the occasion. (Photos: Colin Dean)

IMMS UK (Founder) Branch Journal – Spring 2018 7 BANDS GO WEST The Royal Artillery Band On Wednesday 1st November The Royal Artillery Band’s It was great to see the diverse capability of the band contemporary brass ensemble provided musical support to performing great music to two very appreciative and Poppy Day, now in its third year. The band, with generous crowds. (Videos from both performances can be occasional help from poppy collecting celebrities like Aled viewed on my YouTube channel – Military Bands Jones, performed outside Cardiff Central Library and inside Everywhere!) the St David’s Shopping Centre with its powerful acoustics. Joe Elliott

The Band of the Welsh Guards On Wednesday 22nd November, The Band of the Welsh Guards performed a concert at The Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in Cardiff. The band had visited my school the month before and I had then visited them in London for their Open Day, so it was great to see them again! After the National Anthem, the band opened the concert with Gregson’s Battle Music and Hymn, which begins with two timpanists playing in sync. For this concert the band was joined by music students from the RWCMD who had only had two hours of rehearsals that afternoon prior to the evening’s concert! Aled Jones adds some collecting-box percussion to the Royal A violinist from The Countess of Wessex’s String Orchestra Artillery Band brass ensemble in Cardiff. (Photo: Joe Elliot) also joined the band as a soloist to play Nigel Hess’ Fantasy The varied programme of music included modern pop songs for Violin, which was magnificently played! The majority of by Michael Jackson, Taylor Swift, Earth Wind and Fire and the concert was conducted by the then Senior Director of American indie rock band Pompeii, and a very good and Music Household Division, Lieutenant Colonel Kevin lively arrangement of the Bon Jovi classic Living on a Prayer. Roberts. This was to be his last concert with the band before The following day the full Royal Artillery Band performed a becoming Principal Director of Music (Army). one-hour set inside the Bristol shopping centre, Cabot Circus. The next section of the concert was conducted by Bandmaster This time the band was supporting Bristol Poppy Day, now WO2 David Hatton who was conducting his first concert with in its fourth year. the Welsh Guards band. He conducted Gordon Goodwin’s Hunting Wabbits, a lively and exciting piece originally composed for Big Band. This featured some superb jazz solos by Sgt Mercer (trombone), L/Sgt Wilcox (tenor saxophone) and the band’s newest member, Musn Jacobs (bass guitar). To conclude the first half, the band performed one of my favourite wind band pieces, the New London Pictures suite by Nigel Hess, complete with traffic lights and inventive percussion sound effects during the third movement Congestion Charge! Beginning the second half, the band dramatically assembled on stage section by section, playing (from memory) Paul Lovatt Cooper’s When Thunder Calls. The Bandmaster told us that this was the public premier of the wind band arrangement of this brass band piece, originally written for the Black Dyke Band. Two stunning solos were to follow. The full Royal Artillery Band in Bristol (Photo: Joe Elliot) First L/Cpl Natalie White on clarinet and then an entertaining rendition of Eire Time, a series of traditional Irish melodies, Under the direction of Director of Music Captain Neil by L/Sgt Jonathan Sprule on euphonium. Skipper, and Bandmaster S/Sgt Simon Lindley, the band performed a wonderful and varied programme of music. This To conclude the concert the band, again under the direction included The Great Escape and Colonel Bogey marches, and of Lieutenant Colonel Kevin Roberts, performed Friedman’s also Sing Sing, Sing, Downtown, Thriller and a superb impressive Slavonic Rhapsody No.2. Watching the concert arrangement of songs from Lord of the Dance, featuring the confirmed my ambition to join this particular band as soon as band’s piccolo player. Also in their set was the ever popular I’m old enough. I’m highly anticipating the next time I can and widely played ABBA Gold medley and Michael a Michael get to see them on parade or in concert! Jackson medley. Joe Elliot

8 IMMS UK (Founder) Branch Journal – Spring 2018 THE FESTIVAL OF REMEMBRANCE 2017

Music is fundamental Highlights of the Royal British Legion Festival of Award BAFTA give out every year. The programme was Remembrance, including special guest artists, military bands nominated for it against very stiff competition from the likes and the drumhead service, were broadcast on BBC TV and of Ant and Dec and Strictly Come Dancing. So it was a great radio on the evening of Saturday 11th November 2017. Here, honour when we won it, and a great way to commend the writing before the concert, David Cole MVO, the Legion’s relationship the Legion has built with the BBC to create a Director of Music, describes his part in the occasion: thoroughly professional, hugely popular event that brings the true spirit of Remembrance into millions of homes around the “I was proud to be a Royal Marine Musician. Moving up the world. ranks through Lieutenant and Captain, I began to be given responsibility for the performances of others, not just my For this year's event we're not resting on our laurels; I've been own. It's where I learned my skills at arranging music, so working on this since January to ensure we keep up the high crucial for the Festival of Remembrance. A piece of film standards we've set. We'll be honouring the 75th anniversary music won't have a score for a military of the founding of the RAF Regiment, band, and that's where I arrange scores among other things, and 100 years of that allow us to play modern music. women officially working in the It's a way to engage younger Armed Forces; these are themes that audiences, surprising them with up- will inform the way the music is to-date material, in addition to the arranged and performed. traditional music we never want to Music is fundamental to the work the lose. Legion does. No Remembrance service would be as effective without In terms of musical performance, the it, because music stirs up our Festival of Remembrance has emotions, it transmits how much we changed in recent years. Previously, care to the bereaved, it's so uplifting the Guards Bands would play the for everyone who hears it. But even at music for the service, then along a grass-roots level, it's important: would come a variety of military David and the Central Band stand for some well- deserved applause. (Photo: Legion magazine) playing the Last Post is a vital bands, each doing their own musical connection between the Legion and the community.” thing. But it's grown into the complex event, live on BBC TV, that we see today. The scale of the thing is the biggest change: David Cole no longer a series of individual acts stepping out to do their David’s work to “arrange scores that allow us to play modern bit, but a structured programme. music” was thoroughly tested this year. Pop music We now have an opening fanfare; then the choir sings (and contributions to the Festival included Melanie C singing You what a fantastic one we have this year: the 120-voice Bach Raise Me Up (Løvland/Graham), Tom Odell singing True Choir, making their first Festival appearance), then the Colours (Kelly/Steinberg) and Emeli Sandé singing Read All Standards are brought in to the background of another piece About It by English ‘rapper’ Professor Green. of music. One after another, the pieces of music are linked; As if this wasn’t enough, David also produced the choral parts even if a piece of film is to be shown in the arena, the BBC for the Bach Choir and the score for Alfie Boe’s performance producer will ask for 20 seconds of music from me, to of Vera Lynn classics. It’s perhaps no surprise that ‘late underscore the visuals. entries’ had him scoring and re-scoring late in October! The key focus for me, always, is the audience in the Royal Our thanks to David and to the editor of The Royal British Albert Hall. If I get the music right for them, I know it will Legion member magazine, Legion, for permission to re- translate well for the millions watching and listening at home. produce this excerpt from a fuller article which also described We work well together, the Legion and the BBC; last year's how David began as a Salvation Army tuba player and his Festival even won an award, the prestigious Production subsequent Royal Marines career. Mike Boxall REVIEWS

Birmingham International Tattoo The 29th Birmingham International Tattoo, produced by performance music in the foyer by Adest Musica from Norman Rogerson MBE, took place at the Arena, Sassenheim in The Netherlands, whom we were to see later Birmingham, on Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th November. I in the show. went to the Sunday afternoon performance, the first time I had Bands taking part included the Household Cavalry, The been to the Tattoo, and was hugely impressed by the fast- Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment, the Warsaw Police moving and slickly presented programme of over 3½ hours. Band from Poland, Adeste Musica, the National Youth The Arena, with an estimated audience of over 5,000, seemed , the remarkable Royal British Legion Band gratifyingly full, while the atmosphere had been set with pre- & Corps of Drums, Romford, and massed pipes and drums.

IMMS UK (Founder) Branch Journal – Spring 2018 9 Non-musical acts included a Field Gun competition During the interval the stage was cleared of stands and chairs (reminiscent of Earl’s Court!) and the UK Freestyle Disco so that following Prelude from Holberg Suite (Edward Greig) Display Team. (The latter were not quite my favourite, but played by the CWSO, we heard (and saw) the Household nevertheless made a colourful and energetic contribution to Division Saxophone section who performed Tango Virtuoso the proceedings!) (Thierry Escatch); the quartet's brilliant footwork – highly effective if difficult for this reviewer to describe – was one of The Warsaw Police Band was founded in 1968 and represents the concert's highlights. the Polish Police both in Poland and abroad, performing regularly in Denmark, , Czech Republic, Russia, The saxophones were followed by another highlight, Bolero Belarus and Hungary. The Adest Musica Drum and (Ravel); from a single side drum start the piece continued Showband was founded on 1952. Today its 60 musicians with more and more brass joining the stage to end in a perform at tattoos, parades and flower parades in their native dramatic and exciting fortissimo conclusion. Great stuff! Holland and at tattoos, like this one, abroad Guest soloist Ben Godfrey (HAC Band, cornet) and the dramatic and descriptive finale Windows of the World (Peter The RBL Romford Band's performance was particularly Graham) wound up a splendid evening, suitably closed with notable; seeing their musicianship and discipline it was Horatio Nicholls' When the Guards are on Parade, always difficult to believe that this fine band is a youth organisation. played by our Guards bands with a tremendous swagger and Their Drum Major certainly had the audience spellbound with pride. “oooh”s and “aaaah”s as he threw high his mace and duly caught it effortlessly each time. I was very pleased to see Lance Corporal David Wong of the Grenadier Guards band, who spoke to us and played his clarinet for us at our September meeting, occupying his Principal Clarinet chair. Majors Mike Smith (Director of Music, Grenadier Guards), Simon Haw MBE (Coldstream Guards), Ian Johnson (Scots Guards) and David Hammond (CWSO) shared the conducting with Colonel Roberts. Jim Davies RM School of Music Christmas Concert My military musical year 2017 closed with another highlight – the Christmas Concert by the Band of the Royal Marines School of Music at St Mary's Church, Fratton. Held on Thursday 21st December, it took place under the direction of Major Pete Curtis MBE, RM, Director of Music Training and a good friend of our IMMS branch.

Major Pete brings a particular vitality and lively musicianship The Royal British Legion Band & Corps of Drums, Romford to his concerts which, coupled with his dry humour, meant (Photo: Jim Davies) we were assured of a splendid evening of music and, dare I The entire company assembled for the very impressive finale, say, entertainment. Luckily, St Mary's Church is the size of a for which the massed bands were conducted by Captain small cathedral so could accommodate the very large James Marshall of the Household Cavalry. On my way back audience. to New Street Station I reflected on what had been a most As is customary, the Christmas concert programme included enjoyable afternoon and wondered why I hadn't made it to special arrangements of four well-known carols set as part of any of the previous 28 Birmingham International Tattoos! the Bandmasters' training programme. I enjoyed immensely Jim Davies this cleverly-written work by Band Sergeants Page, Bowditch, Hall and Gunn. Scarlet and Gold In his last engagement before taking up his new appointment at Kneller Hall as Principal Director of Music (Army), Lieutenant-Colonel Kevin Roberts led musicians of the bands of the and the Countess of Wessex's String Orchestra in a very enjoyable programme of highly varied music aptly dubbed Scarlet and Gold. The concerts, at the Cadogan Hall on 6th and 7th December, were compered by Alasdair Hutton TD, OBE, known to millions as 'the Voice of the Edinburgh Tattoo.' The first part of the programme opened, perhaps appropriately, with Malcolm Arnold's fine march HRH The Duke of Cambridge and included solos by Musician Stephen Shepheard (of the Scots Guards Band) and Corporal James Sandalls (CWSO). The intriguing final piece before the interval, New London Suite by Nigel Hess, depicted in both music and a well-shot video the Millennium Bridge, the RM School of Music Buglers at Fratton (Photo: Jim Davies) London Eye and the Congestion Charge! Major Simon Haw By request, the first part of the programme concluded with MBE (Director of Music, Coldstream Guards) conducted us the Director of Music's Twelve Days of Christmas, a through this well-crafted piece! customarily chaotic rendering enjoyed by all. The finale

10 IMMS UK (Founder) Branch Journal – Spring 2018 sequence included Major Curtis' own arrangement for wind For the finale of this concert all the trombonists assembled, band of the brilliant march Celebration, written by Major augmented by a percussionist on drum-kit, for Eric Clapton’s Leslie Condon for the Salvation Army's 150th anniversary. rock classic Leyla arranged by , Professor of As I have noted before in these columns, and as Pete Curtis Trombone at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. It himself said in his closing remarks that evening, outstanding provided a fitting end to a concert which had shown not only performances by their School of Music would seem to ensure, the diversity of musical styles this instrument can encompass, as for as possible in these challenging times, the future but also the superb skills of RAF Music Services’ success of the bands of the Royal Marines. trombonists. Jim Davies Mike Boxall Royal Air Force Music Services Trombone Countess of Wessex’s String Orchestra Ensemble Having found this event on Ron Rose’s events list, I joined The inclusion of Wing Commander Piers Morrell, Principal the capacity audience on Friday 26th January in the library of Director of Music, RAF Music Services, and Squadron Charlton House, South East London, to hear an ensemble Leader Matthew Little, Director of Music, HQ Music consisting of 14 members of the Countess of Wessex’s String Services, among the 15 musicians taking part left us in no Orchestra (arguably 13 Orchestra musicians plus one Irish doubt that RAF Music Services had ‘scrambled’ its finest Guard, as the pianist was in Guards uniform), under their trombonists for this concert. Director of Music Major David Hammond. The concert was Organised by SAC Gordon McLaughlin of the Band of the part of a series hosted by the Royal Greenwich Heritage Royal Air Force Regiment and conducted by Byron Fulcher, Trust. Proceedings were opened by the organiser apologising principal trombonist of the Philharmonia Orchestra and the for the lights in the library having to be switched off as they , the RAF’s trombonists took the large and had reflected on the iPads the musicians use to show their appreciative audience at the Regent Hall in Oxford Street, scores! London, on 5th January 2018, through a nicely varied The recital began with Telemann’s Overture in C major ‘La programme of music. This began with Mini Overture by Bouffonne’. This was followed by The Carman’s Whistle James Kazik, a U.S. Army Band resident composer. With 10 (Byrd arr. Bantock). Major Hammond explained that this was trombonists on stage, this piece was bright enough, and mini a Tudor piece, written when carmen was the term for carters, enough, to get us off to a good start. but arranged in the early 20th Century. The next piece, which Gabrieli’s Canzon per Sonar Septimi e Octavi Toni a 12 (arr. featured a superb solo on the cello by Lance Corporal Adrian R Walter and M LaFratta) followed. With four players on Calef, was Bantock’s own Hamabdil: Hebrew Melody in G stage and two groups of four either side of the balcony at the Minor for Cello and Strings. back of the hall, it took us back to 1597 and the transition Next, we had a contemporary Waltz, Iris and Lavender from Renaissance to Baroque idioms. This placing of (Wilson), again played superbly by the ensemble. This was instruments, and the use of Gabrieli’s music, continued in the followed by Bernstein’s Tonight from West Side Story, which next piece, Sonata Pian e Forte (arr. M Bale). One of the contrasted with the somewhat sinister tones of earliest compositions to include dynamic markings, the Shostakovich’s Waltz No 2 from his Suite for Variety Stage ‘piano’ and the ‘forte’ came across nicely from the three Orchestra which followed. The piece was immediately separate quartets of trombones. familiar and featured some impressive pizzicato work. The Blue Bells of Scotland brought 12 players to the stage to The next piece threw up a question which we were told was provide a dramatic change of pace and style. An 1899 troubling the Orchestra. It was Goossens’ rarely played By the trombone arrangement by Arthur Pryor, a member of the Tarn: A Sketch, Op 15, No 1. Major Hammond told us that it Sousa Band, of the song Bluebells of Scotland, it featured five had been assumed that the ‘Tarn’ in the title referred to the soloists. With sections of demanding triplets, syncopated River in South-West France as Goossens was Belgian so may sixteenth-eighth note rhythms and a three and a half octave well have known the river. However, he said, some in the range, the piece is limited to the best trombonists. Needless Orchestra thought that instead it related to the word for a to say, these RAF trombonists flew through it to great effect small mountain lake as found in the Lake District, which and appreciative applause. Goossens had visited. During the performance of this piece Originally written for tuba, Enrique Crespo’s Bruckner Etude whilst looking into the Orchestra it was possible to see who provided a pleasant contrast. This Etude pays tribute to a had put forward this idea - I will say no more! composer who gave tuba players a leading role in orchestral This then lead to the final piece which was Farkas’ Partita performances. It proved no less effective as a trombone piece. all’ungarresca in six movements. The applause of the The next item, BBC Symphony Orchestra trombonist Dan audience showed their appreciation for the superb Jenkins’ Riff’em and Blue ‘did what it said on the tin’ – performances given by the musicians, a number of whom, providing a repeated and elaborated riff with a middle together with Major Hammond, made their way to the exit to jazz/blues section. chat with the audience as they left. The Finale from Saint-Saëns’ Symphony No. 3 in C minor, I’ve subsequently learned that the whole concert was popularly known as the Organ Symphony, in an arrangement recorded, and clips will shortly be available on The Countess by freelance trombonist, the late John Challis, again provided of Wessex’s String Orchestra’s Facebook page. a change of pace and some wonderful musicality. Steve Mason

IMMS UK (Founder) Branch Journal – Spring 2018 11 50 YEARS AGO

The Royal Tournament 1968 Those of us soon to be approaching middle age (hmm) often Next came the Russian Cavalry of the Steppes, wonderfully start to ask ourselves where the time has gone, so it seems odd arranged as a full-length march by Ray Woodfield, during to realise that this year marks fifty years since one of the which the tenor drummers took tambourines from boxes fixed particularly musically memorable Royal Tournaments. to the side of their drums to giving added effect. The massed bands halted and were joined by the Trumpeters to play the The reason was that this marked the retirement of Lieutenant fanfare For a Royal Birthday (Dunn) and then Sunset, with Colonel F. Vivian Dunn, CVO, OBE, FRAM, RM after a additional Buglers appearing over the arena doors. The Sir career spanning 38 years as a Director of Music in the Royal Malcolm Sargent setting of Rule, Britannia! and the National Marines, fifteen of them as Principal Director of Anthem brought the display to a close. Music. According to his biography, Fiddler on the March, Colonel Dunn had first suggested this concept for the Royal There was, of course, no shortage of other fine music. In Marines’ Tercentenary in 1964 but, in the event, it was held those days the Royal Tournament was normally opened with over to 1968. It was only the second Royal Tournament to a fanfare from Trumpeters of The King’s Troop, Royal Horse appear as a long-playing record. Artillery. The Resident Band was from the Corps of Royal Engineers (Aldershot) under Captain Gerry Horabin who The Royal Marines display opened with fourteen trumpeters took over as Director of Music, Irish Guards, straight at the Warwick Road end of the arena, sounding the fanfare afterwards. The Royal Tournament, composed by Colonel Dunn. Impressive as always was the display by the Band and Bugles The main arena doors opened and in marched a fifty-strong of the 2nd King Edward VII’s Own Gurkha Rifles (The Corps of Drums, headed by two Bugle Majors and playing a Sirmoor Rifles), with representative Pipes and Drums from march appropriately entitled Bugles and Drums, again from the other units of the Brigade of Gurkhas. They marched in the Dunn pen. They halted, those who had been playing at rifle pace to Atholl Highlanders, then the pipes and drums bugles took up sticks, and Ceremonial Tattoo was beaten; for slowed it down for Dear Old Donegal followed by the Band me this was far better than the over-complex flashy ‘drum and Bugles with the Regimental March, Lutzow’s Wild Hunt, statics’ we hear today but there again, I am approaching extended with Sirmoor Rifles, a composition by the Director middle age. They marched out to Bugles Bells with an of Music, Major E.J. H. (Dinty) Moore MBE, ARCM, psm. effective carillon effect. In 1997 the IMMS visited the Gurkha Band at Church This all took place under spotlights as, out of sight, a large Crookham and we were treated to a fascinating talk by Major stage was being erected in front of the arena doors. As the J. J. Burlison, formerly 2nd KEO Gurkhas, who had Corps of Drums marched away, the main lights came on to commanded the Gurkha contingent in 1968. He told us about reveal a full Royal Marines Symphony Orchestra. Colonel the Kukri Dance and described it as an ancient Gurkha Dunn, resplendent in mess dress, raised his baton and we were tradition - invented for the 1968 Royal Tournament! It treated to one of the great classical pieces selected from six certainly added a new dimension to the display that continues shown in the programme. The evening that I attended we had fifty years on; the Gurkhas danced to the music of Ayo the William Tell Overture, while at the performance recorded Gurkhali (arr. Moore), the title being their battle-cry – The for the LP it was the Finale from Dvorak’s New World Gurkhas are Coming! Symphony. The pipes re-joined the bands in Caber Feidh and The Black Back to the opposite end of the arena, and mounted on the Bear and then the pace quickened to over 150 paces to the rear of two vehicles appeared the Royal Marines Oceanaires minute as they marched out playing Steamboat, a pipe tune Dance Orchestra under Bandmaster D.A. Drake, who had normally credited to that prolific composer ‘Trad.’ but written all the arrangements. On the LP we had How About actually one of the dances from Pipe Major Tchaikowsky’s You, Girl from Ipanima, Lara's Theme from Doctor Zhivago ballet, The Nutcracker. and Zorba’s Dance but, as with the full orchestra, the Another musical highlight was the Corps of Drums of the 2nd selections changed between performances. Battalion Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, in The whole display was an exercise in logistics. While the scarlet tunics and white helmets, along with a drill Oceanaires were in action, the orchestra was hastily swapping team. Although described as a Corps of Drums it was from bowing to blowing, donning pouch belts and helmets so actually a brass band and my memory of them was that the that, as Bandmaster Drake took his bows, from the opposite brass instruments all pointed forward, including the tubas end, in marched the Massed Bands of the Royal Marines. Two which rested on the shoulders. They marched into the arena hundred strong and led by five Drum Majors, they entered in slow time singing The Maple Leaf Forever and continued playing A Tribute to Alford, put together by his one-time their display with tunes such as Red River Valley, marching contemporary, Colonel Dunn, and comprising extracts from out to their regimental march, based on the songs Has Anyone The Standard of St. George, The Thin Red Line, Colonel Seen the Colonel/Tipperary/Mademoiselle from Armentières Bogey, On the Quarter Deck and Old Panama. from the Great War.

12 IMMS UK (Founder) Branch Journal – Spring 2018 Amongst the other displays, the fiftieth anniversary of the After a further eight years, Sir Vivian became the first Royal Air Force was celebrated with a historic look back at President of the IMMS and, not content to be simply ‘a name its history. on the headed paper’, he took an active involvement in the Returning to the Royal Marines, the display had been a superb Society’s development and progress until shortly before his farewell for Colonel Dunn and enabled him to really make the death. He remains the only man to be knighted for services point that the musicians who had been rendering the finest to military music. from the classics could reappear a few minutes later as the Colin Dean massed bands. Note: The second of the double CD ‘The Splendour of The Prior to the march off, the commentator reflected: “Standing March’ features the Corps of Drums and Fanfare Trumpets before you now is the greatest military musician of all time, and the HM Royal Colonel Vivian Dunn, the Principal Director of Music of the Marines Massed Royal Marines for as long as I can remember, and this year Bands from the he retires”. He continued by asking the audience to remain 1968 Royal standing after the National Anthem as the massed bands Tournament. marched out, as a token of appreciation for Colonel Dunn. Re-mastered and At the end of 1968, Colonel Dunn was appointed a Knight released in 2005 Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (KCVO), the by the Eastney personal award of Her Majesty The Queen, given to the man Collection, which who had served her since she was about six years of age is run by Sir aboard the Royal Yachts There was a happy coincidence as Vivian's son, the announcement coincided with the showing of the first Major 'Paddy' episode of a television programme, The Life and Times of Dunn MBE, the Lord Mountbatten, which for the opening credits used the Preobrajensky March in what The Duke of Edinburgh was double CD costs £12 inclusive of post and packaging. It can be ordered from the Eastney Collection website at reported to have described as “The Dunned-up Version”. As http://www.eastneycollection.com or by post from Eastney the Daily Mirror reported, it was “with impeccable timing, Collection, 60 Mayford Road, London SW12 8SN. worthy indeed of his own music”.

This part of the Royal Marines page from the Royal Tournament 1968 programme makes interesting reading. What changes 50 years have brought!

IMMS UK (Founder) Branch Journal – Spring 2018 13

WHAT’S NEW

A New Bandstand in Windsor

As part of the opening programme for the new bandstand in Windsor’s Alexandra Gardens, on 17th September 2017 the Band of The Household Cavalry played a two-part programme of music. Designed to celebrate the special, long-standing links between the Queen, the Armed Forces and Windsor, the new bandstand replicates the park’s original Edwardian bandstand which was removed in the 1950s. The first part of the programme, was conducted by Bandmaster WO2 Ben Ruffer, while for part two Captain James Marshall (shown here) took up the baton. In addition to several Show, Film and Pop medleys, music included Barnard Castle (Goff Richards), Attila (Julius Fucik) and War March and Battle Hymn of the Vikings (Alfred Reed). The programme concluded with the march composed for the 50th anniversary of NATO: Alliance of the Free (James L. Hosay). (Photo: Phil Havell)

A New Kneller Hall Book

This book, The Royal Military School of Music, Kneller Hall 1857 – 2017, was written at the request of the Principal Director of Music (Army) as a memento for members of the Kneller Hall Club to mark 160 years since the Military Music Class opened in 1857. It will not be generally offered for sale, but a limited number of copies are available for purchase by IMMS members. The book is in A4 size with about 200 pages. Chapters include the founding and history of the school, the building and grounds, the summer concerts and the musicians who have trained there, notably those who have graduated as the top student, those who made their names as composers and those who returned to the school as Directors of Music, Chief Instructors etc. There are numerous photographs taken from the Kneller Hall archives and new pictures of the building commissioned specially for the book. The aim was to span the generations so as to be of equal interest to students who graduated in the 1950s and to those of today. A limited number of copies are available from the School Bandmaster, RMSM, Kneller Hall, Twickenham, TW2 7DU at £25 each (inclusive of postage and packing). Cheques should be made payable to: Kneller Hall Club.

14 IMMS UK (Founder) Branch Journal – Spring 2018 ACHIEVING A SYMPHONIC SOUND

Mike Purton describes producing the CD ‘Blue Plume’ A number of you will, I hope, have enjoyed previous military agreed, and I booked my friend Tony Faulkner as Recording band recordings I made since the early ‘noughties’ with SRC Engineer. The recording was to be in the Guards Chapel (The Specialist Recording Company). SRC is no longer which is a notoriously ‘boomy’ acoustic, but you need space making recordings as my former business partner became to get a natural sound from a and I knew Tony fully committed to other non-musical activities, so I started could do this. my new label MPR, both to continue recording military bands Fortunately, the current Senior Chaplain was happy for the and to branch out into other genres such as chamber music. front pews to be removed temporarily which gives more I’m from a classical music background (I was Principal Horn space for the Band. However, we were faced with a real in Manchester’s Hallé Orchestra between 1973 and 1986 until challenge having to place the Percussion section in the a muscular problem forced me to give up playing). Having Chancel, behind everyone else, where the Choir usually sits. initially studied for a Music Degree with a Performance They actually had to play ahead of the beat to fit! speciality at the University of Surrey in Guildford, where ‘the In order to achieve a symphonic sound, we don’t use many other half’ of the BMus students were ‘Tonmeisters’ who microphones - four at the front to get the stereo image, a studied Sound Recording, Acoustics, Electronics and Physics stereo pair within the Band and a few spot mics to gain a little as well as Academic Music, I developed a keen interest in more clarity from the Percussion, Harp (played here on a recording music too. keyboard) and the Tubas. Tony set everything up the day st I performed in many recordings with the Hallé as 1 Horn and before between rehearsals and also set up the Control Room I always went into the Control Room to listen to playbacks, in the Vestry, where the Producer and Engineer control the becoming fascinated by the process. In fact, after I stopped balance and communicate with the musicians, who playing in 1986 I returned to Guildford to take an MMus with sometimes join the Director there to hear a playback. a specialism in Producing. My old friend, the legendary At 9.00 am prompt on Thursday 28th September last year Recording Engineer Tony Faulkner, came and helped me Major Miller began the first piece ‘I’ll Tell Me Ma!’, a make my first classical recording in Guildford, and then for a popular Irish tune arranged as a march by Lt Col Stephen series of orchestral CDs for Virgin Classics with the Scottish Barnwell. We achieved what we thought was a really good Ensemble in Glasgow. Since then I have recorded hundreds balance and Major Miller and his Bandmaster, WO1 Andrew of classical and band CDs all over the world. Porter, came in to listen. After a few tweaks we were off, It was while I was studying for my MMus at Guildford that I recording at high resolution (24/96) onto a computer, no tape first met a young Scottish Music Undergraduate student these days! As Producer, my job is to listen through called Bruce Miller. We met again in 2007 when Bruce, now headphones and make notes of any mistakes, inconsistencies Captain Miller, had become Director of Music of the Band of in the performance and, of course, what has gone well. I have the Corps of Royal Engineers and in 2008 we recorded ‘Now a copy of each piece and a log sheet where I write down take Playing’ for SRC, a superb collection of music written for numbers and comments. I have to be sure that everything is British film. as good as possible before we move on and this requires us At that time, Bands were very active giving concerts and playing each piece through three or four times, usually in making recordings and any surplus would go into the sections which I can splice together later, in order to save lips. appropriate Band Fund. However, the MoD felt that it was There were some challenges involved in getting a good time for it to take control of activities where there was balance with the Drums and Pipes and also the Corps of potential income generation and Band Funds were gradually Drums with their Bb flutes. We found the best solution was abolished with any income from additional musical activities to place them behind the main microphones down the centre going directly to the MoD. This also meant that ‘top dollar’ aisle and the results speak for themselves! For Last Post and had to be paid to the MoD for any band making a recording Rouse, Band Sergeant Major Ralph Brill came and stood owned outside the MoD. The result was that from around behind where the Band would be sitting (they were all outside 2009 onwards hardly any band recordings were made and enjoying a breath of fresh air). Last Post is quite a blow and what income there was from them went to the MoD. WO2 Brill played several takes with great assurance and I had innumerable meetings to try and find ways forward, but accuracy. For the very brief Regimental Call he played with it was very difficult to make progress. Then Bruce contacted the Band in situ, just like doing an audition! me, he had just been appointed Director of Music, Band of Major Miller had chosen a fine selection of marches which the Irish Guards, but was going to being leaving the Army in have to be played really well. This was especially true in ‘At a year or so and wanted to make a recording of the music of Kitty O’Shea’s’, a wonderful 16-minute selection of Irish folk the Irish Guards to follow on from the former SRC series. We music, fast and slow, which took a good three hours to ‘get in met and between us came to the conclusion that if we could the can’. Factors like intonation are hugely important and if a persuade the Irish Guards Regimental Trust to fund the passage is out of tune, or not together, it must be played until project and to own it, then I could be commissioned to make it is right. As Producer, I talk to the Band and to the Director the recording and administer it for the IGRT. I found some between takes through a ‘talk-back’ system and I advise why good prices for artwork and manufacture, a budget was I want something again and what needs to be improved. I start

IMMS UK (Founder) Branch Journal – Spring 2018 15 and stop them and it’s my responsibility to get everything designer was sending us all proofs for the CD booklet, the CD recorded at the highest possible standard. I’m an experienced itself and the tray insert with the track list. These went back conductor myself and I know that it’s not always easy to hear and forth a number of times and the result is a really superb the finer points when you’re in the middle of it. booklet. We are allowed 79 minutes and thirty seconds on a CD and I am really proud of this CD, the performance by the Irish in two days we recorded an amazing playlist of 78 minutes Guards Band and its narrative of the music of the Irish and 20 seconds. I then took the audio (already backed up onto Guards. It is a huge pleasure making such a recording which several hard drives) and edited it on my computer in my involves for me several weeks’ mainly (!) enjoyable work, in garden studio in the middle of the Kentish apple farm where the planning, the recording, the editing and the paperwork, I live. I sent the 1st edit (as we call it) to Bruce as Director of and I think that the result sounds and looks fabulous. Music, Andrew the Bandmaster and Ralph the BSM for Of course I’m now hoping you’ll rush off and purchase comments and requests for improvement. After three or four copies; if you haven’t already done so, you can buy them for edits, plus multiple listens through, the audio was ready for £12.99, inclusive of UK postage, from my website at ‘mastering’. www.mikepurtonrecording.com where others of my CDs are During this time, I had a pile of online paperwork to do, for available. Alternatively, send a letter with your postal address example compiling a detailed application for a Mechanical and marked ‘Blue Plume’ enclosing a cheque (payable to M. Copyright Performing Rights Licence which gives us Purton) to: Mike Purton, Thistles, Whetsted Road, Five Oak permission to manufacture the CD and to ensure that Green, TONBRIDGE, Kent TN12 6RR composers and publishers who are in copyright get some Mike Purton small financial recompense from the project. Meanwhile, my CD REVIEW Blue Plume The Music of The Irish Guards This joyfully superb CD is much more than it purports to be. original flute and drum only score for the whole Band and Together with the Band of the Irish Guards are contributions Drums by Bandmaster Ian Mitchell in 2005. The Corps of from both the Corps of Drums and the Drums and Pipes of Drums, under Battalion Drum Major John Smillie, play with the 1st Battalion, Irish Guards, giving the recording overall a the Band on this track throughout and prove that their playing distinctly regimental family feel. is absolutely first rate. Matching the Band’s concert As an Englishman with some Scottish harmonics with the Drummers’ Bb flutes ancestry who has spent a lifetime has its difficulties, but it’s achieved here immersed in the academic study of with deceptive ease! If more Edwardian- Prussian-German military music, I have era Potters marches were treated thus, an always gone for formal parade marches almost-lost repertoire could be revived. first and foremost. I surprised myself with Bruce Miller’s inspired memorial march this CD in that I found the other tracks Messines Ridge borrows themes from so just as beguiling, especially those many Irish sources and caps it off with an containing Irish folk melodies. My uplifting contribution from the Battalion’s personal favourite of these is Folk Songs Pipes. Proud Heritage by the same of Erin by Director of Music at the time composer is equally a delight. We hear the of this recording, Major Bruce Miller, stirring Drums and Pipes again for the followed closely by At Kitty O’Shea’s by Company Marches of the 1st Battalion Dutch wind band composer Johann de and St.Patrick’s Day near the end of the Meij, a veritable riot of joy! (CD cover: the Irish Guards Regimental Trust) CD – and very good too under the Many tracks are good familiar “up-and-at-‘em” style direction of Pipe Major Robert Fleming RVM. marches. I had forgotten just what inspiring quick marches Bruce Miller’s musical contribution to this CD is extensive are Star of Erin (E.G.Horabin) and Sarafand (G.H.Wilcocks). and profound, while the current Musicians of the Band are the All the Irish Guards Regimental Parade Marches are included finest ensemble I have heard put together in a very long time. and superbly played by this current Band with enhanced Lastly, a word about the unsung heroes of all recordings; with detail and real élan! Mike Purton and Tony Faulkner at the controls of the Beyond these we have Guards tunes derived from the Stage mastering and recording processes respectively, we have like Noel Gay’s There’s Something About a Soldier and what must be the finest ‘Dynamic Duo’ anywhere in the UK’s Leslie Stuart’s Soldiers of The Queen, amongst others, all recording business. The sound balance and clarity are superb, played with enormous gusto! Many further marches are giving the overall listening experience an uplifting quality. I derived from Irish folk songs and arranged skillfully by the would strongly recommend this CD to anyone, whether they likes of the famous ‘Jiggs’ Jaeger. like military music or not, as it truly transcends the genre with However, the ultimate foot-lifter for me is The Irish Guards its brilliant quality and sprightly Irish-flavoured joy! by Albert Shrimpton. It was brilliantly arranged from its Tony Dean

16 IMMS UK (Founder) Branch Journal – Spring 2018 DISCOGRAPHY

The Royal Corps of Signals Regimental Marches Part 1 Marches of the British Army as it was established in September Gloucestershire Regt–The Kynegad Slashers/Oxfordshire & 1939 with a few later additions. Buckinghamshire LI–Nachtlager in Granada & Lower Castle H: Highlanders; LI: Light Infantry; RSM: Regimental Slow March Yard/Royal Army Chaplains Dept–Trumpet Voluntary/ Women’s Royal Army Corps–Lass of Richmond Hill, Early One REGIMENTAL MUSIC OF THE BRITISH ARMY Volume Morning & The Nut Brown Maiden/12th Royal Lancers–Coburg 1/Major G Turner Droit LP DR 71, tape CDR 71 (1984) & Spanish Chant/15th/19th Kings Royal Hussars–Eliott’s Light The Life Guards–RSM/5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards– Horse & Denmark/17th/2lst Lancers–The White Lancers/Royal The Soldiers’ Chorus/10th Royal Hussars–The Merry Month of Engineers–Wings/Duke of Wellington’s Regt–The Wellesley May/Grenadier Guards–The Grenadiers March/Scots Guards– & On Ilkla Moor/Border Regt–John Peel/South Lancashire Highland Laddie/–Dumbarton’s Drums/Royal Regt–The Lancashire Witches/ Welch Regt–Ap Shenkin/The Warwickshire Regt–The Warwickshire Lads/– Loyal Regt (North Lancashire)–The Red Rose/Queen’s Own The British Grenadiers & Fighting with the 7th Royal Fusiliers/ Royal West Kent Regt–A Hundred Pipers/North Staffordshire Lincolnshire Regt–The Lincolnshire Poacher/Somerset LI- Regt–The Days we went a-Gypsying & God Bless the Prince of Prince Albert/East Yorkshire Regt–Yorkshire Lass/Lancashire Wales/Durham LI–The Light Barque/ Military Provost Staff Fusiliers –Minden March/Royal Army Service Corps–Wait for Corps–The Metropolitan/Royal Pioneer Corps–Pioneer the Wagon/Royal Army Pay Corps–Primrose and Blue/Royal Corps/Army Catering Corps–Sugar and Spice. Army Veterinary Corps–Drink Puppy Drink/1st King’s REGIMENTAL MUSIC OF THE BRITISH ARMY Volume Dragoon Guards–RSM/4th Queen’s Own Hussars–Litany of 4/Major G Turner Droit LP DR 74, tape CDR 74 (1986) Loretto/King’s Own Scottish Borderers–Blue Bonnets Over the Border/The Cameronians-Within a Mile of Edinboro’ Toun/East 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards–RSM/3rd The King’s Own Lancashire Regt–The Attack/Royal Sussex Regt–The Royal Hussars–RSM/9th Queen’s Royal Lancers–Irish Sussex & Sussex by the Sea/Northamptonshire Regt–The Washerwoman/ Royal Corps of Signals–HRH The Princess Northamptonshire/King’s Shropshire LI–Old Towler/Wiltshire Royal & Royal Signals Reel/King’s Own Royal Regt Regt–The Wiltshire/Seaforth H-The Pibroch o’ Donuil Dhu/ (Lancaster)–Corn Rigs are Bonnie/Royal Norfolk Regt–Rule Gordon H–Cock o’ the North/Queen’s Own Cameron H-Logie Britannia/West Yorkshire Regt –Ca Ira/– O’Buchan/Royal Army Ordnance Corps–The Village Men of Harlech/Worcestershire Regt–The Royal Blacksmith/Intelligence Corps–The Rose and Laurel/Queen Windsor/Dorsetshire Regt–The Dorsetshire/ Black Watch–Lead Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps–Grey and Scarlet. on the 42nd/King’s Own Yorkshire LI–With Jockey to the Fair/Auxiliary Territorial Service–ATS March Past/Royal REGIMENTAL MUSIC OF THE BRITISH ARMY Volume Army Medical Corps–Here’s a Health unto His Majesty/Small 2/Major G Turner Droit LP DR 72, tape CDR 72 (1985) Arms School Corps–March of the Bowmen/ 13th/18th Royal –RSM/1st The Royal Dragoons–RSM/ Hussars–A Life on the Ocean Wave & Balaclava Coldstream Guards–Milanollo/Queen’s Royal Regt–Braganza March/14th/20th Kings Hussars–The Eagle/16th/5th Lancers– & We’ll Gang Nae Mair to yon Toun/Royal Northumberland The Queen Charlotte/Welsh Guards–Rising of the Lark/Essex Fusiliers–Blaydon Races/Devonshire Regt–We’ve Lived and Regt–The Essex/Middlesex Regt–Sir Manly Power & Paddy’s We’ve Loved Together & Widecombe Fair/Royal Scots Resource/York & Lancaster Regt–The York and Lancaster & Fusiliers–Highland Laddie/Cheshire Regt–Wha Wadna fecht The Jockey of York/Highland LI–Whistle o’er the Lave o’t/ for Charlie/Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers–Rory O’More & The Argyll & Sutherland H–Skye Boat Song/Rifle Brigade–I’m Sprig of Shillelagh/East Surrey Regt–A Southerly Wind and a 95/Parachute Regt–Ride of the Valkyries/Ulster Defence Regt– Cloudy Sky & Lass O’Gowrie/King’s Royal Rifle Corps– The Sprig of Shillelagh & Garryowen/Royal Army Dental Corps Lutzow’s Wild Hunt/Special Air Service Regt–Marche des –Green Facings/Army Legal Corps–Scales of Justice/Royal Parachutistes Belges/Army Air Corps-Recce Flight/Royal Military Academy Sandhurst–Scipio/Royal Military School of Electrical & Mechanical Engineers–Lillibulero/The Queen’s Music–Blow Away the Morning Dew & Near London Town. Bays (2nd Dragoon Guards)–Rusty Buckles/11th Hussars- All LPs with Pipes & Drums of the 4th Royal Tank Regt. Moses in & The Old Grey Mare/Royal Artillery–The Duchess of Kent/Bedfordshire & Hertfordshire Regt–La The above LPs were re-issued in 2005 on a three CD set Mandolinata/Duke of Cornwall’s LI–One and All & “REGIMENTAL MUSIC OF THE BRITISH ARMY 1939-1945” Trelawney/Hampshire Regt–The Hampshire/South Staffordshire (Droit TRCD 252) with one addition – Reconnaissance Corps Regt–Come Lasses and Lads/Sherwood Foresters–Young May (Away to the Mountain’s Brow), several deletions (Women’s Moon/Royal Berkshire Regt–The Dashing White Royal Army Corps, Ulster Defence Regt, Army Legal Corps and Sergeant/Manchester Regt–The Manchester/Royal Ulster Royal Military School of Music) and a number of changes: 11th Rifles–Off, Off said the Stranger/ Royal Irish Fusiliers–Royal Hussars-Moses in Egypt only; Royal Tank Regt–My Boy Willie Irish Fusiliers/Corps of Royal Military Police–The only; Royal Fusiliers–Fighting With the 7th Royal Fusiliers only; Watchtower/Royal Army Educational Corps–Gaudeamus Devonshire Regt–We’ve Lived and Loved Together only; East Igitur/Army Physical Training Corps–Be Fit. Surrey Regt-A Southerly Wind and a Cloudy Sky only; Duke of Wellington’s Regt–The Wellesley only; Royal Sussex Regt–Royal REGIMENTAL MUSIC OF THE BRITISH ARMY Volume Sussex only; North Staffordshire Regt–The Day we went a- 3/Major G Turner Droit LP DR 73, tape CDR 73 (1985) Gypsying only; York & Lancaster Regt–The York & Lancaster only. 3rd Carabiniers–The 3 DGs/Royal Scots Greys–The Garb of The following ’ marches have been replaced: 12th Auld Gaul/8th King’s Royal Irish Hussars–March of the Lancers–now Coburg; 16th/5th Lancers–Scarlet & Green; Royal Scottish Archers/Royal Tank Regt–My Boy Willie & Lippe Corps of Signals–Begone Dull Care; Irish Guards–St Patrick’s Day; Detmold/Irish Guards–Let Erin Remember/The Buffs Royal Queen’s Royal Regt–Braganza; Royal Northumberland Fusiliers– East Kent Regt–The Buffs/Kings Regt (Liverpool)–Here’s to British Grenadiers; South Lancashire Regt–God Bless the Prince of the Maiden/Suffolk Regt–Speed the Plough/Leicestershire Wales; Black Watch–Highland Laddie; Argyll & Sutherland Regt–A Hunting Call/–Bonnie English Highlanders–The Thin Red Line. Phil Mather Rose/–Forth to the Battle/

IMMS UK (Founder) Branch Journal – Spring 2018 17 DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

Date Band / Organisation Event Location / (time) MARCH 2018 Thursday 1 Welsh Guards St David’s Day Service & Parade Brecon Cathedral, Brecon (11 30) Saturday 3 IMMS UK Branch Annual General & Quarterly Meetings Kneller Hall, Twickenham (11 00) Sunday 4 RM Association Concert RM Charitable Trust Fund Concert Octagon Theatre, Yeovil (15 00) Thursday 8 Welsh Guards Household Division Charity Concert Guards Chapel, Wellington Barracks (19 00) Friday 9 Royal Marines (massed) Mountbatten Festival of Music Royal Albert Hall, London (19 30) Saturday 10 Royal Marines (massed) Mountbatten Festival of Music Royal Albert Hall, London (14 00) Saturday 10 Royal Marines (massed) Mountbatten Festival of Music Royal Albert Hall, London (19 30) Thursday 15 Royal Marines, Scotland Seafarers UK Concert Carnegie Hall, Dunfermline (19 30 Thursday 15 Household Cavalry Household Cavalry, Major General’s Inspection Hyde Park, London (09 30) Saturday 17 RM Association Concert Concert with Southampton Choral Society O2 Guildhall, Southampton (19 30) Thursday 22 Royal Marines + CWSO Royal Navy & Royal Marines Charity Concert St Mary’s Church, Fratton (19 30) Friday 23 IMMS UK Branch Branch visit, Band of the Household Cavalry Combermere Barracks, Windsor (tbc) Tuesday 27 Irish Guards soloists Recital Guards Chapel, Wellington Barracks (13 10) Wednesday 28 RM School of Music Royal Marines Young Musician of the Year Royal Marines Museum, Southsea (19 00) Thursday 29 Royal Marines, Plymouth Royal Navy & Royal Marines Charity Concert Roebuck Theatre, Torpoint (19 30) Saturday 31 Royal Air Force (massed) Royal Air Force Centenary Concert Royal Albert Hall, London (19 30) APRIL 2018 Sunday 14 RM Association Concert Concert Bedworth Civic Hall, Warwickshire (19 00) Thursday 19 Royal Marines, Scotland Seafarers UK Concert Carnegie Hall, Dunfermline (19 30) Saturday 21 Royal Artillery Royal Gun Salute Hyde Park, London (12 00) Saturday 21 Royal Regt of Scotland Royal Gun Salute Edinburgh Castle (12 00) Saturday 21 Divn Royal Gun Salute Cardiff Castle (12 00) Saturday 21 Royal Marines Royal Navy & Royal Marines Charity Concert Blake Theatre, Monmouth (19 30) Sunday 22 Royal Regt of Fusiliers Freedom Parade & Newcastle-upon-Tyne (tbc) Monday 23 Coldstream Guards Combat Stress Concert Cadogan Hall, London (19 30) Tuesday 24 Ensemble of Guards Divn Recital Guards Chapel, Wellington Barracks (13 10) Wednesday 25 Welsh Guards ANZAC Day Parade The Cenotaph, Whitehall (11 45) Thursday 26 Hon Artillery Company Household Division Charity Concert Guards Chapel, Wellington Barracks (19 00) Saturday 28 Royal Marines, Plymouth Mountbatten Festival of Music Plymouth Pavilions (19 30) MAY 2018 Friday 4 Royal Marines Concert St Mary’s Church, Portchester (19 30) Sunday 13 Household Cav/RAC/RY Combined Cavalry Old Comrades Assoc. Parade Hyde Park Barracks, London (10 00) Monday 14 Guards Division Guard Mounting from Horse Guards Parade From Wellington Barracks at 09 00 Tuesday 15 Hon Artillery Company Honourable Artillery Company Open Day Armoury House, London EC1Y 2BQ Wednesday 16 Guards Division Guard Mounting from Horse Guards Parade From Wellington Barracks at 09 00 Friday 18 Guards Division Guard Mounting from Horse Guards Parade From Wellington Barracks at 09 00 Wednesday 23 Guards Division Guard Mounting from Horse Guards Parade From Wellington Barracks at 09 00 Thursday 24 Scots Guards Household Division Charity Concert Guards Chapel, Wellington Barracks (19 00) Thursday 24 Royal Air Force, College Royal Air Force Centenary Concert Lincoln Cathedral (19 30) Saturday 26 Household Division Maj. Gen.’s Review, Queen’s Birthday Parade Horse Guards Parade, London (11 00) Wednesday 30 Royal Marines (massed) Beating Retreat Horse Guards Parade, London (18 00) Thursday 31 Royal Marines (massed) Beating Retreat Horse Guards Parade, London (18 00) JUNE 2018 Saturday 2 Household Division Colonel’s Review, Queen’s Birthday Parade Horse Guards Parade, London (11 00) Saturday 2 Royal Artillery Royal Gun Salute Green Park, London (12 00) Tuesday 5 Coldstream Guards Governor’s Review of Founder’s Day Parade Royal Hospital, Chelsea (10 30) Wednesday 6 Household Division Beating Retreat Horse Guards Parade, London (20 30) Thursday 7 Household Division Beating Retreat Horse Guards Parade, London (20 30) Thursday 7 Coldstream Guards Founder’s Day Royal Hospital, Chelsea (10 30) Saturday 9 Household Division Queen’s Birthday Parade Horse Guards Parade, London (11 00) Saturday 9 Royal Artillery Royal Gun Salute Green Park, London (12 52) Sunday 10 RM Association Concert Concert, with Milton Glee Choir Portsmouth Guildhall (15 00) Monday 11 Royal Artillery Royal Gun Salute Green Park, London (12 00) Saturday 16 IMMS UK Branch Quarterly Meeting Kneller Hall, Twickenham (14 00) Monday 18 H Cavalry/Grenadier Gds Garter Service Windsor Castle (14 00) Tuesday 19 Household Cavalry Royal Ascot Ascot Racecourse, Berkshire (11 00) Wednesday 20 Household Cavalry Royal Ascot Ascot Racecourse, Berkshire (11 00) Wednesday 20 RMSM Kneller Hall Concert in the Park (Salute to the Forces) Kneller Hall, Twickenham (18.30) Thursday 21 Household Cavalry Royal Ascot Ascot Racecourse, Berkshire (11 00) Friday 22 Household Cavalry Royal Ascot Ascot Racecourse, Berkshire (11 00) Saturday 23 Household Cavalry Royal Ascot Ascot Racecourse, Berkshire (11 00) Tuesday 26 Guards Big Band Big Band with special guests (recital series) Guards Chapel, Wellington Barracks (13 10) Tuesday 26 Household Division Household Division Music Festival (to 1 July) Guards Chapel, Wellington Barracks

PLEASE NOTE: Events are shown in good faith, but dates and times are subject to change. Please check www.imms-uk.org.uk and www.military-music-events.co.uk for further details and updates.

IMMS UK (Founder) Branch Journal – Spring 2018 18

IMMS UK (Founder) Branch Journal – Spring 2018 19 CAUGHT ON CAMERA

The Band of the Royal Marines Portsmouth at Friary Court, St. James’s, during the Royal Navy’s historic first Public Duties. The Drum Major was Graham Stephenson. With the Corps Drum Major, Colin Brown, now WO1 at RM Band Service HQ, Graham is now Drum Major at the Portsmouth Band. (Photo: Colin Dean)

The Band of The Household Cavalry leaving Friary Court, St. James’s Palace, on Public Duties on 5th January 2018. Staff Corporal Daniel Carter led them on the march. (Photo:Colin Dean)

The Pipes and Drums of 1st Battalion Irish Guards leading the St. James’s Palace Detachment of the Queen’s Guard from Friary Court on 3rd January 2018. On the left of the picture is Pipe Major Robert Fleming RVM who, prior to training as a piper, was a member of the bearer party which carried the coffin of the late Queen Mother at her Funeral in 2002. He was awarded the Royal Victorian Medal by Her Majesty The Queen. (Photo:Colin Dean)

If this Journal is undelivered, please return to Hon. Treasurer, 32 Claremont Avenue, HERSHAM, Surrey KT12 4NS