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ISSN2050-4926 INTERNATIONAL MILITARY MUSIC SOCIETY UNITED KINGDOM (FOUNDER) BRANCH Journal No. 118 WINTER 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 June Alford, Mr Pat Higgins, Mr Philip Mather, Miss Eileen Pearson INTERNATIONAL VICE- CHAIRMAN’S CALL annual Mountbatten Festival of PRESIDENT: As we draw to end of 2018 our Music. This year they departed Major (Rtd) Roger Swift thoughts, inevitably, look back on the slightly from the normal by CHAIRMAN: events of the past months and the feast performing a matinee performance Alan Purdie, 5 Hemming Close, of military events and music we have which must have proved profitable as Hampton, Middlesex TW12 2JD. enjoyed. they are repeating this in 2019. Tel: 020 8941 1416. E-mail: [email protected] Predominantly this year has seen the All in all, it’s been a good year for 100th Anniversary of the Royal Air military music both here and abroad. HON. SECRETARY: Force which reached its climax with I am writing my Chairman’s Call in Jim Davies, Amberstone, Pyrford Road, their spectacular event in July. Pyrford, Surrey GU22 8UP. the week leading up to Remembrance Speaking from personal experience of Tel: 01932 355135. weekend which many of you will such events, I am aware of just how E-mail: [email protected] know used to be my busiest time of much planning and preparation is the year while I was still working. HON. TREASURER required to stage any event as large as & MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY: Having been in the Royal Albert Hall that and congratulations must go to all Guy Morris, 32 Claremont Avenue, for the last 26 years it will be a those involved, not only from the Hersham, Surrey KT12 4NS. pleasant (and strange) experience to Royal Air Force Music Services but Tel: 0870 904 6453. watch the Festival of Remembrance those working in the Ceremonial and E-mail [email protected] on television. My family was Events office at Northolt. JOURNAL EDITOR: fortunate that none of my relatives Mike Boxall, 38 Hortensia House, Nor must we forget the Household lost their lives in either the First or Hortensia Road, London SW10 0QP. Division Music Festival which Second World Wars but there are so E-mail: provided a full and varied programme many families who were affected by [email protected] of concerts and recitals in the short the ravages and our thoughts must be COMMITTEE MEMBERS: space of 1 week. Unfortunately, I was with them. Charles Gray, Brian Hill, Rodney Illsley unable to attend any of the events this My final thought for remembrance and Ron Shooter year but from reports I received it was another successful week. comes from a piece of music which ADVISORY PANEL: was specially written for the Festival John Curtis, Colin Dean, Thanks must go to Adrian Beckett who allowed the Society to have some of Remembrance in 1999 “Remember Dr Graham Jones MBE, Philip Mather, yesterday tomorrow, and what they Major (Rtd) Richard Powell, and Major space for recruiting and I know of at gave so that we might have, they (Rtd) Gordon Turner MBE least one new member who joined that week. answered the call and gave their all, to REGIONAL ORGANISER leave us a better world. Let's honour North East: Ivor Shirley, 9 Hurst Before our illustrious Secretary tells their legacy with faith and tenacity, to Grove, Darlington, DL1 4NX me off I can’t ignore the contributions make this world a better place.” from the Royal Marines Band Service WEBMASTER: All best wishes for a Happy Ron Rose, Flat 4, Kingsholm House, 7 who performed another outstanding Christmas and a ‘Guid New Year’. Twickenham Close, Swindon SN3 3FF. Beating Retreat Ceremony on Horse E-mail: [email protected] Guards Parade, not to forget the Alan Purdie Website: www.imms-uk.org.uk The IMMS UK Branch Journal is published four times a year. The closing dates for copy Follow us on Facebook for 2019 will be 8th February, 24th May, 30th August and 15th 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. FRONT COVER: Assistant Drum Members receive in addition to the UK Branch Journal three editions each year of Band Major Corporal Tom Cartwright International, which is sent to all members worldwide. Further details about the Society and leads the Band of H M Royal its activities are available from the UK Branch Secretary. Enquiries and correspondence Marines Collingwood through the about the Society’s meetings should be addressed to the Branch Secretary and not to Kneller streets of Avenches, Switzerland, in Hall. The contents of the UK Branch Journal are copyright and no part of it may be Number 3A Dress 'half lovats'. reproduced without permission. Opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of ( Photo: Jim Davies) the President, the UK Branch Committee or the Society’s membership as a whole. 2 IMMS UK (Founder) Branch Journal – Winter 2018 BRANCH SECRETARY’S NOTES Branch meetings With the kind permission of the Gentlemen all of whom apart from the Our final meeting at Kneller Hall this Commandant, Colonel Victoria Reid Captain (a political appointment) year will be held on Saturday OBE, and with the support of her have to be retired officers of the 8th December starting at 14 00. Our team, our meetings take place at The Army, the Royal Marines and very speaker will be Andy Braet, formerly Royal Military School of Music, recently the Royal Air Force with the Ceremonial Guard in Canada Kneller Hall Twickenham TW2 7DU. Regiment and be under the age of 52 but currently serving in the Band of NOTE: Our meetings at Kneller Hall when appointed. Retirement is the Irish Guards. next year will be on Saturdays automatic at 70. The Lieutenant is in Members will recall the fantastic 2nd March (preceded at 11 00 by the charge, the Clerk of the Cheque and contribution Andy and his three Annual General Meeting), 15th June, Adjutant is the administrator who is colleagues of the Saxophone Quartet 21st September and 7th December, all also responsible for discipline and made at Scarlet and Gold last year. liaising with the Palace. starting at 14 00. A Royal Marine In Surrey! The normal duties of the Corps – ‘the Members attending meetings should Thirsty travellers are no doubt Nearest Guard’ - today are, in the allow sufficient time to complete the delighted to call on a Royal Marine main, at the State Opening of security procedures at the school. To for sustenance and refreshment. This Parliament and the Diplomatic assist as far as we can, those travelling pub in Lyne, near Chertsey, Surrey Reception. The Gentlemen are also on by public transport should notify me (postcode KT16 0AN) is just an Duty when the Sovereign attends in advance so I can pass their names hour’s drive from Portsmouth. to the School. Services of the Great Orders of Chivalry at Westminster Abbey and With its splendid sign, it clearly offers Those travelling by car to Kneller St Paul’s Cathedral. IMMS members an encouraging Hall for the first time should let me welcome, although when I asked the All members are on Duty at all three have their vehicles’ registration barman recently why his hostelry was of The Queen’s Summer Garden numbers by post, telephone or e-mail named thus he didn’t know. Maybe a Parties at Buckingham, Palace. Tim (see page 2). After their first former landlord was a Royal Marine was on Duty for the Funeral of Queen attendance, members’ details are bandsman! automatically passed to the Elizabeth the Queen Mother. He Guardroom for subsequent visits – described it as a very moving but please let me know of changes of experience as the Gentlemen had to vehicle registrations! stand by the coffin in Westminster Hall for 20 minutes at a time looking When attending our meetings, down with Axes reversed while the members should carry their IMMS public walked by in silence. Twenty membership cards as proof of minutes was as long as one could do, identity. Lost membership cards can and the Gentlemen’s stint was a be replaced on request. number of four-hour roulements. Branch meeting 22nd September So, what next for the Body Guard? Colonel Timothy Purdon LVO, OBE Tim mentioned that someone has was our guest speaker at our Kneller already been identified as the Corps’ The Royal Marine pub sign in Lyne, near Hall meeting on Saturday first female ‘Gentleman’ and no nd Chertsey, Surrey. (Photo: Jim Davies) 22 September. doubt they will be under scrutiny Following a distinguished career in when the next Monarch takes over. Newsbriefs the Irish Guards and later in command They are prepared for change in Did you receive my recent e-mail of 1st Bn Welsh Guards he left the whatever form it takes! Newsbriefs? If not, and you would Army in 1999 to work with The Royal Branch meeting 8th December like to receive these occasional British Legion. He took over the post Newsbriefs about the exciting of Regimental Adjutant Irish Guards forthcoming military music events, in January 2013 and retired in January please send me your e-mail address, 2018. He was Director of Ceremonies or a new e-mail address if yours has for the Order of St John for several recently changed; my e-mail address years and is a Knight of St John.