ISSN 2050-4926 INTERNATIONAL MILITARY MUSIC SOCIETY UNITED KINGDOM (FOUNDER) BRANCH No.Journal 113 AUTUMN 2017 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 CHAIRMAN’S CALL Many of you will know Ron Shooter INTERNATIONAL VICE- who has looked after our sales tables I’m writing this just before I go to PRESIDENT: for many years at our quarterly Edinburgh for my annual visit to Major (Rtd) Roger Swift meetings, Kneller Hall Summer experience the wonderful atmosphere CHAIRMAN: Concerts, the Shrewsbury Flower created by the visitors to the Alan Purdie, 5 Hemming Close, Show and other events. What you Edinburgh Festival and to attend the Hampton, Middlesex TW12 2JD. may not realise is that Ron is now in Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. Tel: 020 8941 1416. his eighties and he now feels that the E-mail: [email protected] While in Edinburgh I am having time has, therefo re, come for him to lunch with Lieutenant Colonel Nick HON. SECRETARY: pass the sales baton to a younger Jim Davies, Amberstone, Pyrford Grace and Alasdair Hutton which is member. I know that you will join Road, Pyrford, Surrey GU22 8UP. something I am greatly looking with me in thanking Ron most Tel: 01932 355135. forward to. This will also give me an sincerely for all his support over the E-mail: [email protected] opportunity to say a big ‘thank you’ to years and I’m sure that we will still Nick for all his support to our Society, have the pleasure of his company at HON. TREASURER and to me personally, over the many many more meetings. & MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY: years we have known each other. Guy Morris, 32 Claremont Avenue, I am, therefore, now making a plea for Hersham, Surrey KT12 4NS. In my last Chairman’s Call, I urged someone to take on the role of looking Tel: 0870 904 6453. you all to support the Household after our merchandise sales from the E-mail: [email protected] Division Music History and Arts end of this year. If you think that you Festival in June, and I hope that some can ass ist us, then please come and JOURNAL EDITOR: of you managed to attend some of the have a chat with me, or Ron or Jim Mike Boxall, 38 Hortensia House, concerts during the week. Sadly, I Davies either at our meeting or feel Hortensia Road, London SW10 0QP. was only able to attend a couple of the free to contact me to discuss this E-mail: events and the poignancy of the further. [email protected] archive footage from the Somme We can now all look forward to some COMMITTEE MEMBERS: accompanied by live accompaniment more wonderful music making in the John Crisford CBE, Charles Gray, Brian from the Countess of Wessex String months ahead and I look forward to Hill, Rodney Illsley and Ron Shooter. Orchestra was in marked contrast to seeing some of you at these concerts ADVISORY PANEL: the Concert on the last evening by and at our next meetings. John Curtis, Colin Dean, Perry’s All Stars. I personally With all best wishes. Dr Graham Jones MBE, Philip thought that both events were a Mather, Major (Rtd) Richard Powell, wonderful tribute to the versatility of Alan Purdie and Major (Rtd) Gordon Turner MBE. the musicians. FRONT COVER: The Royal REGIONAL ORGANISER: Congratulations must go to WO1 Marines School of Music playing North East: Ivor Shirley, 9 Hurst Grove, Adrian Beckett MBE, ably supported at Gunwharf Quays, Portsmouth, Darlington, Co Durham DL1 4NX. by his team including our own Colin on 4th August. Dean. Adrian’s report on the week’s WEBMASTER: (Photo: Jim Davies) events is elsewhere in this Journal. Ron Rose, Flat 4, Kingsholm House, 7 Twickenham Close, Swindon, Wiltshire SN3 3FF. The IMMS UK Branch Journal is published four times a year. The respective closing dates E-mail: [email protected] for copy are 6th February, 29th May, 28th August and 13th November. Contributions for the Journal from members are always welcome. The annual membership subscription, due on Website: www.imms-uk.org.uk 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 ISSN 2050-4926 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 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 Follow us on Facebook the President, the UK Branch Committee or the Society’s membership as a whole. 2 IMMS UK (Founder) Branch Journal – Autumn 2017 BRANCH SECRETARY’S NOTES Branch Meetings WO1 Ben Mason on his Troop 1/14 leaving the school and With the kind permission of the commissioning. joi ning their bands. Commandant, Colonel Barry Jenkins, During her spare time Esther Speakers and with the support of his team there, continues as a conductor of The Royal We will be welcoming Musician our meetings take place at The Royal British Legion Band & Corps of David Wong (clarinet) from the Band Military School of Music, Kneller Drums at Romford. Hall, Twickenham TW2 7DU; the of the Grenadier Guards to our remaining meetings this year will be We are grateful to Esther for an meeting on Saturday 23 September. on 23 September and 9 December, enjoyable and very informative David was born and educated in both are Saturdays, starting at 14 00. presentation, delightfully conveyed. Hong Kong and joined the Grenadier band in 2014, the first soldier from When attending meetings, you’ll need Meeting in Portsmouth there to join the regimental band. to allow time to complete the security After having taught in Hong Kong for procedures at the School. If you travel At the IMMS regional meeting in the Guildhall, Portsmouth, on 12 August, two years he won a scholarship to by public transport or on foot, notify London's Royal College of Music me in advance. If travelling by car for members heard from Drum Major Chris Mace who told us about the where he achieve d a Master's degree. the first time, notify me of your David will be telling us about his day's activities and about the RM vehicle’s registration number. career and will also be playing for us, band service. John Ambler then told Members’ details are held at the accompanied by Major Roger Swift. us about the new book he has been Guardroom for subsequent visits. researching and writing about the role Major Bruce Miller has very kindly (Remember to carry your IMMS of RM music ians at sea during World agreed to speak at our quarterly membership card as proof of identity. meeting on 9 December. He hopes to Lost membership cards can be War I. be able to add some ‘behind the replaced on request.) Following the meeting members scenes’ elements from the Guards June Meeting attended the now-annual Summer Bands’ summer activities. Concert and Beating Retreat Members at our meeting at Kneller ceremony by the young musicians of September Branch Visit Hall on 24 June enjoyed a delightful presentation by WO1 Esther Hayes, the Royal Marines School of Music. We are delighted that, on Friday 15 September, we are invited t o visit the who had recently taken up her The informative souvenir programme Waterloo Band and Bugles of The appointment as the School heralded a varied and demanding Bandmaster at The Royal Military Rifles at their base in Edward Brooks concert with some splendid soloists Barracks, Abingdon, Oxfordshire. School of Music. and, of course, a five-strong Corps of Esther’s musical career started on Drums feature. The conductors for the The musicians will be showcasing flute and piano. Initially she joined first half of the concert were WO1 their versatility and there will be a the Volunteer Band of 5th Ivan Hu tchinson and WO2 Trevor visual presentation plus a lunch. We (Warwickshire) Battalion of the Naughton; Major Pete Curtis MBE, are immensely grateful to Major Royal Regiment of Fusiliers before RM conducted most of the remainder Peter Clark, Director of Music, and enlisting in the Corps of Army Music of the concert. our own L/Cpl Terry Hissey, for on 24 September 1998. facilitating what we believe to be the An exciting performance of Glinka's first visit by the branch to an Army Following her initial posting to the Rusian & Ludmilla was particularly Reserve band. Band of the Royal Corps of Signals, well received, as were the vocals from Ti mings are still being finalised, but from 2003 she was a member of the Musician George Gissing. Roger Swift Class of Student prior registration will be necessary. Bandmasters (it was great to have During the concert we learnt that the Members wishing to attend should let Major Roger Swift with us for Prince's badge had been awarded to me know as soon as possible at Esther’s talk). Musician Andrew Steele. James [email protected] Her first appointment as a WO1 Pinney, Marketing Manager at the Major Denis Burton MBE Bandmaster was to the Band of the Royal Marines School of Music, rece ived the Lady Dunn Award for We offer the Branch's congratulations Parachute Regiment with Captains to Major Denis Burton, one of our Outstanding Contribution to the Glen Jones and David Hammond.