ISSN2050-4926
INTERNATIONAL MILITARY MUSIC SOCIETY UNITED KINGDOM (FOUNDER) BRANCH
Journal No. 114 WINTER 2017
2 IMMS UK (Founder) Branch Journal – Winter 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
FRONT COVER: The Band of the
Royal Air Force College at this
year’s Belfast Tattoo. (Photo:
www.raf.mod.uk/rafmusic under
Open Government Licence v3.0.)
CHAIRMAN’S CALL Sadly, I must begin my Chairman’s
call with the information that George
Skinner, one of the Branch’s earliest
members, passed away recently.
George along with his wife, Averil,
very rarely missed any of our
quarterly meetings or our various
visits and both of them were to be
seen together at many concerts and
other events sharing their love of
military and brass band music. Their
enthusiasm has been passed on to
their son, Mark, currently a musician
in the Household Division. Our
thoughts go out to Averil, Mark and
the rest of their family.
I am writing this having just returned
from the Remembrance Sunday
Service at my local Royal British
Legion Branch where I had the
honour of laying a wreath to
remember all those members of our
Armed Forces and Civilian Services
who paid the ultimate sacrifice so that
we can live the relatively peaceful life
which we enjoy today. At this time of
Remembrance it is also opportune to
recognise the contribution which
musicians from all three services give
to the many Remembrance Services
around the United Kingdom in this
time of limited musical resources.
In the lead up to the Christmas
festivities there are still many
opportunities for us to enjoy military
music at its best with the Bands of the
Household Division presenting their
‘Scarlet and Gold’ concert at the
Cadogan Hall on the 6th and 7th
December and the annual Christmas
Celebration at the Guards’ Chapel on
18th December, while the Royal
Marines continue their series of
concerts at St Mary’s Church,
Fratton. Please check our ‘Dates for
Your Diary’ pages for further details
of these and the other concerts
coming soon.
Those of you who attend our quarterly
meetings will be aware that, for some
time now, we have been able to offer
reduced price recordings some of
which have come from members who,
for various reasons, have offered us
their collections to benefit Branch
funds. Unfortunately, we have
reached the position where we are
unable to accept any more collections
as none of us have storage space for
them. While we, as a Branch,
appreciate these kind offers it is
simply not feasible for us to accept
any more. I am aware that, in the past,
we have been able to share these
collections with the archivist at
Kneller Hall or the Royal Marines and
Royal Air Force Band Services but
they are experiencing a similar
problems with storage and are unable
to help any more.
Finally, I hope that it is not too early
for me to wish you all a Happy
Christmas and a peaceful and
prosperous New Year.
With all best wishes. Alan Purdie
INTERNATIONAL VICE-
PRESIDENT:
Major (Rtd) Roger Swift
CHAIRMAN:
Alan Purdie, 5 Hemming Close,
Hampton, Middlesex TW12 2JD. Tel:
020 8941 1416. E-mail:
HON. SECRETARY:
Jim Davies, Amberstone, Pyrford Road,
Pyrford, Surrey GU22 8UP.
Tel: 01932 355135. E-mail:
HON. TREASURER
& MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY:
Guy Morris, 32 Claremont Avenue,
Hersham, Surrey KT12 4NS.
Tel: 0870 904 6453. E-mail
JOURNAL EDITOR:
Mike Boxall, 38 Hortensia House,
Hortensia Road, London SW10 0QP.
E-mail:
COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
John Crisford CBE, Charles Gray, Brian
Hill, Rodney Illsley and Ron Shooter
ADVISORY PANEL:
John Curtis, Colin Dean,
Dr Graham Jones MBE, Philip Mather,
Major (Rtd) Richard Powell, and Major
(Rtd) Gordon Turner MBE
REGIONAL ORGANISER
North East: Ivor Shirley, 9 Hurst
Grove, Darlington, Co Durham DL1
4NX
WEBMASTER:
Ron Rose, Flat 4, Kingsholm House, 7
Twickenham Close, Swindon, Wiltshire
SN3 3FF.
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.imms-uk.org.uk
ISSN 2050-4926
The IMMS UK Branch Journal is published four times a year. The respective closing dates
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
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
the President, the UK Branch Committee or the Society’s membership as a whole.
IMMS UK (Founder) Branch Journal – Winter 2017 3
Branch meetings
With the kind permission of the
Commandant, Colonel Barry Jenkins,
and with the support of his team there,
our meetings take place at The Royal
Military School of Music, Kneller
Hall, Twickenham TW2 7DU; next
year’s meetings will be on Saturdays
3 March (with the Branch AGM held
at 11 00), 16 June, 22 September and
8 December, starting at 14 00.
When attending meetings, you’ll need
to allow time to complete the security
procedures at the School. If you travel
by public transport or on foot, notify
me in advance. If travelling by car for
the first time, notify me of your
vehicle’s registration number.
Members’ details are held at the
Guardroom for subsequent visits.
Remember to carry your IMMS
membership card as proof of identity.
Lost membership cards can be
replaced on request.
September meeting
We welcomed Musician David Wong
(clarinet) from the Band of the
Grenadier Guards to our meeting on
Saturday 23 September. Born and
educated in Hong Kong, David joined
the Grenadier band in 2014 becoming
the first soldier from Hong Kong to
join the regimental band.
Musician David Wong (Photo:
www.defenceimagery.mod.uk under
Open Government Licence v3.0.)
After teaching in Hong Kong for two
years he won a scholarship to
London's Royal College of Music in
London. Here he achieved a Master's
degree and was the winner of the
woodwind concerto competition two
years in succession.
Following a splendid performance of
Sonata pour Clarinette avec
accompagnement du Piano by Saint-
Saens, op.167, accompanied at the
piano by Major Roger Swift, David
told us in his delightful way about his
musical journey which has taken him
to the Band of the Grenadier Guards.
December meeting
Our final meeting this year will be on
Saturday 9 December starting at 14 00
when our guest speaker will be a long-
standing friend of this Branch, Major
Bruce Miller, who will have just
retired from his appointment as
Director of Music, Irish Guards.
Major Bruce Miller (Photo: Colin Dean)
Branch visit
Thanks to the kind invitation of Major
Peter Clark, the Director of Music,
and the carefully detailed preparatory
work by Lance Corporal Terry Hissey
(himself a longstanding member of
this IMMS branch), a dozen or so
members enjoyed a most enjoyable
visit on Friday 15 September to the
Waterloo Band and Bugles of The
Rifles at their base in Edward Brooks
Barracks at Abingdon in Oxfordshire.
See page 12 for a report on the visit.
Concerts in the Park
Colonel Barry Jenkins, Director
Corps of Army Music and
Commandant at Kneller Hall,
addressed the audience before the
final Concert in the Park of the
season. The Colonel, who retires at
the end of the year to be succeeded by
Colonel Victoria Reid, confirmed that
there would be Concerts in the Park at
Kneller Hall in 2018 and 'almost
certainly' in 2019.
The concert took place in front of a
large and appreciative audience who
welcomed the Band of the
Household Cavalry and the Band of
the Brigade of Gurkhas to 'the Rock.'
Recent appointments
Following the appointment of
Lieutenant-Colonel Jon Ridley RM as
Principal Director of Music Royal
Marines, the Directors of Music of the
five bands of the Royal Marines are
now: Captain Andy Gregory RM
(Portsmouth), Major Huw Williams
RM (Plymouth), Major Ian Davis RM
(Collingwood), Captain Matt Weites
RM (Scotland) and Captain Sam
Hairsine RM (Commando Training
Centre RM) - while not forgetting
Major Pete Curtis MBE, RM (School
of Music).
Following the appointment of Wing
Commander Piers Morrell RAF as
Principal Director of Music, Royal
Air Force, the Directors of Music of
the three RAF bands are: Flight
Lieutenant Chris I’Anson (Central
Band), Flight Lieutenant Tom Rodda
(RAF Regiment) and Squadron
Leader Richard Murray (RAF
College).
Visits to bands
As we go to print discussions are in
hand for the visit in the Spring to the
Band of the Household Cavalry at
Windsor, which had to be cancelled
last year. We also hope to take up
Captain Ben Mason's kind invitation
to visit his band – that of The Queen's
Division, based at RAF Henlow.
If you wish to join either or both
visits, please reconfirm your interest
with me.
IMMS International
Bob Davis of IMMS New Zealand
has been elected as International
President of the Society in succession
to Trevor Ford. Congratulations to
Bob and best wishes to him during his
time in office.
Major (Retd.) Roger Swift continues
as the UK’s International Vice-
President and Lieut.-Col. (Retd.)
Geoff Kingston continues as the UK’s
representative on the international
committee. Jim Davies
BRANCH SECRETARY’S NOTES
4 IMMS UK (Founder) Branch Journal – Winter 2017
George Victor Skinner (1947-2017) George was a founder member of the IMMS, joining on the
1st of January 1977 after transferring his membership from
the Band Section of the Military Historical Society. He was
a regular contributor to Band International (and also to
Fanfare magazine) for several years, with articles mostly
covering events in and around London, sometimes hiding
behind the pseudonym of Victor Erskine.
He was a familiar figure at band events
throughout the country and had an
encyclopaedic knowledge of military music.
He was born in 1947 when his parents lived in
Windsor, and his mother used to tell of a day
she was out pushing the pram in Windsor
Great Park when a gentleman approached and
asked to look at the baby. Not a request to
refuse as the gentleman was King George VI
who, having asked the baby’s name, not doubt
assumed he was named after him!
George worked for the Gas Board in a central
London office with sufficient flexibility to
enable him to spend his summer lunchtimes at the bandstand
in St. James’s Park and be back there in the evening for the
5.30pm concerts, following which a brisk walk took him to
the Embankment Gardens for another concert. Those were
the days!
Things changed when George’s job moved to Staines but on
the positive side, it prompted him to start driving, opening up
a whole host of other venues for band events, attending
several every week throughout the year.
I first got to know George in 1976 and we soon became good
friends. He opened up a new world of band engagements for
me, introducing me to Cavalry Sunday, the various
regimental Memorial Sundays, Guard Mounting and summer
concerts at Windsor Castle, not to mention Major Jimmy
Howe’s regular massed bands concerts at Croydon. From
1979 we started to venture further afield with the Tattoos in
Edinburgh, Cardiff and Plymouth as well as the Shrewsbury
Notice is given that the Annual General Meeting of the
International Military Music Society's UK (Founder) Branch
will take place at The Royal Military School of Music,
Kneller Hall, Twickenham TW2 7DU on Saturday 3 March
commencing at 11 00.
The AGM is members' opportunity to receive reports from,
and put questions to, the Branch officers about our activities
over the past year and future plans – as well as receiving the
financial report. Any items for inclusion in the AGM's
Agenda must be received by me (at Amberstone, Pyrford
Road, Pyrford GU22 8UP) by 31 January; items received
after that date may be disregarded.
Members at the AGM also confirm Officers' appointments
and elect members to serve on the Branch's committee. Our
Chairman, Alan Purdie, having been elected at the 2017
AGM, has completed the first of his three-year term.
Flower Show which, after us spreading the word to anyone
who would listen, eventually became a regular IMMS
gathering.
George married Averil in 1985 and Mark arrived a couple of
years later. His destiny was never really in doubt, having
been taken to Regent’s Park for his first band concert at the
age of one week. Mark proved a great credit to George and
Averil, joining the Band of the Welsh Guards,
being moved to the Coldstream and now the
Irish Guards. George was thrilled when Mark
married Sarah in 2010 and they produced four
grandchildren for him to dote over.
A deterioration in his eyesight became a
problem in recent years and as 2017 progressed
he began to look unwell. His friends were
shocked to see him look very frail and unwell
at a concert in September and began to fear the
worst. He slipped away on 10th October 2017,
aged 70.
Three days later, at the suggestion of Dominic
Cleydon, the Band of the Grenadier Guards played George’s
favourite march, Holyrood, marching from Wellington
Barracks for Guard Mounting, as Army music’s tribute to one
of its finest and most knowledgeable supporters.
RIP
Colin Dean
Averil Skinner has sent these thanks: “Please accept my
heartfelt thanks to all of you who sent messages of sympathy
to my family and me following the death of dear George.
They have been a source of great comfort to us.
Thanks also to those who were able to attend the
Thanksgiving service, it was good to see you there. I
apologise if I didn’t speak to you individually. I do not know
the addresses of many of you, therefore I am unable to write
to each of you. Please accept this as an expression of my
deepest thanks.”
The Committee appoints your Secretary, Treasurer and
Journal Editor. Committee member Ron Shooter's three-year
term expires at the March 2018 AGM and we hope he will
stand for re-election. The other elected members of your
committee (Messrs John Crisford CBE, Charles Gray, Brian
Hill and Rodney Illsley) are in mid-term. Mr. Crisford has
also succeeded Alan Hardwick as IMMS' International
Treasurer.
Our rules allow for a committee of six elected members, in
addition to the officers. As it appears there will be at least
one committee vacancy, any nominations must be received
by me no later than 31 January 2018, preferably by post rather
than by e-mail; each nomination must be signed by the
nominee, the proposer and the seconder. A nomination form,
which can be downloaded, will be placed on our website by
1 December. Jim Davies
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
OBITUARY
IMMS UK (Founder) Branch Journal – Winter 2017 5
The good news about Jerome Gatehouse Collection items
being integrated into the Museum of Army Music’s archives
prompted these reminiscences from Peter Penwarden:
“My friendship with Jerome started 40 or so years ago. At
the time my wife and daughter ran a bookshop in Newport
(south Wales); one day a young chap came in asking about
books on military music. My daughter said: “My dad is mad
about bands,” thus starting a 20-year friendship.
I used to drive up to him at least once a week for a 'military
music' get together and we went to all the Cardiff
Tattoos, Wembley, Royal Tournament and so forth.
A couple of little tales - he used to post enquiry letters (in
English) worldwide, replies usually coming back in English,
but one day he had the 'bright' idea of sending out enquiries
in French, German, Spanish, etc. He then started receiving
replies he couldn’t understand, so he spent a lot of money,
which he could ill afford, with a translation company in
Cardiff.
In his letter he would ask how many military and police bands
in a country, where located, etc. One country (I forget which)
thought he was seeking state secrets and reported him to
Interpol which resulted in a visit from the local bobbies. They
'interviewed' him over a cup of tea listening to stirring
marches - case solved!”
Other memories from Phil Havard, who’s obviously been
clearing out some draws as he’s sent in a copy of the
programme for the 1961 FA Cup Final where Tottenham
Hotspur beat Leicester City 2–0. Probably of more interest to
us, though, was the musical programme.
Before the match, the massed bands of the Scots and Welsh
Guards played the marches Triumph of Right (Lovell) and
March of the Slide Trombones (Scott), a selection from ‘The
Sound of Music’ (Rodgers), a waltz Nights of Gladness
(Ancliffe), a waltz selection The Golden Waltz (arr. Winter),
selections from the shows ‘The Flower Drum Song’
(Rodgers) and ‘The Music Man’ (Willson), finishing with the
march medley The Passing of the Regiments (arr. Winter).
The band of the Coldstream Guards then accompanied the
community singing and at half time there was a marching
display by the Massed Bands of The Brigade of Guards.
Directors of Music are listed as:
• Grenadier Guards - Lieutenant R. B. Bashford,
L.R.A.M., A.R.C.M., p.s.m.
• Coldstream Guards - Lieut.-Colonel D. A. Pope,
A.R.C.M., p.s.m. (Senior Director of Music, Brigade
of Guards)
• Scots Guards - Lieutenant J. H. Howe, L.R.A.M.,
A.R.C.M. p.s.m.
• Irish Guards - Major C. H. Jaeger, Mus.Bac.,
L.R.A.M., A.R.C.M., p.s.m.
• Welsh Guards - Major F. L. Statham, M.B.E.,
L.R.A.M., A.R.C.M., p.s.m.
Phil couldn’t help comparing this with today when, as he
says, “We’re lucky to get the National Anthem now!”
Our discographer, Phil Mather, is researching the history of
Kneller Hall Student Bandmasters’ marches and has sought
our help. He’s looking for any military band quick march
music catalogues published by any company of any date.
In particular, he’s trying to locate a copy of the Ruddal Carte
Kneller Hall March Journal which first saw the light of day
in the 1890s.
If you have this, or march catalogues of whatever publisher
and date and can help Phil, contact him by email on
[email protected] or by post at 34 Malvern Avenue,
Bury, Lancs. BL9 6NW.
Fanfare
The 2017 edition of Fanfare, the Journal of the Corps of Army
Music has just been published. With 168 pages of articles and
photos from CAMUS, Fanfare is always a good read.
Alan will have copies at the December London meeting for
sale at the cover price of £6.50 each.
For members who can’t attend the meeting, Jim will have
copies available at £9 inclusive of postage and packaging.
To order a copy from Jim, send a cheque made out to ’IMMS
UK Branch’ to Jim Davies at Amberstone, Pyrford Road,
Pyrford, Surrey GU22 8UP.
Mike Boxall
READERS WRITE
6 IMMS UK (Founder) Branch Journal – Winter 2017
The Band of the Royal Air Force CollegeThe opportunity to perform on the same stage as an Italian
running band and a Dutch bicycle band does not arise very
often for the Band of the Royal Air Force College, but this is
exactly what the Belfast Tattoo had in store for them to finish
the summer season.
Since its debut in 2013, the Belfast Tattoo has gone from
strength to strength. From the early days of a show featuring
local acts and just two performances, the Tattoo now spans
over three nights, and, in 2017, included acts from all over the
world, such as the Winnipeg Police Band from Canada, Lume
de Biqueira of Spain and Fascinating Drums from Germany,
to name but a few. The organisation also still includes musical
talent firmly from its roots in Northern Ireland with the
Coleraine Fife and Drum, Kellswater Flute Band and The
Choir of Belfast High School also wowing the crowds.
The fourteen acts from seven different nations rehearsed
together for three days before the crowds flocked to the SSE
Arena for the opening night. Murley Silver Band, Northern
Ireland’s premier brass band were on hand before each show
to provide entertainment on the concourse before audiences
sat down to witness the Band of the Royal Air Force College
open proceedings with their marching display, with Squadron
Leader Richard Murray, a proud Northern Irishman himself,
at the helm. To the Few, St. Louis Blues March, and a drill
movement representing the RAF’s new F35 Lightning 2
stealth fighter jet to the music of Ron Goodwin’s Those
Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines got the evening off
to a spectacular start.
The band also accompanied the world-famous Queen’s
Colour Squadron, the Royal Air Force Regiment Ceremonial
Display Squadron, during their drill display. Fusing
traditional military music with modern chart toppers, the
Queen’s Colour Squadron carried out arms drill to It’s a Long
Way to Tipperary, 633 Squadron; Jess Glynne’s Hold my
Hand and Ed Sheeran’s Galway Girl with expert precision.
When all the participants’ performances had come to an end,
the band took to the stage for one last time to take part in the
Tattoo’s Grand Finale. Whilst usual Tattoo favourites such as
Auld Lang Syne and Amazing Grace gave the show that iconic
Tattoo vibe, special mentions must be given to SAC Philippa
Hobbs (vocals) and SAC Andrew Stevenson (guitar) whose
performances of Anthem from the musical ‘Chess’ brought
the house down. With a standing ovation from the whole
arena, these fantastic musicians did themselves, and Royal
Air Force Music Services, proud.
Whilst in Belfast, the band was lucky enough to take time out
to explore the many cultural aspects of this fascinating city.
A trip to the Titanic Museum really opened people’s eyes to
not only the story of the ship’s demise, but the financial,
industrial and social effect that the ship-building trade had in
the area, both before and after 1912.
Such has been the success of the Belfast Tattoo in its first five
years that the organisers will now take the show to different
areas of the United Kingdom. With performances already
booked in Glasgow for early 2018, it was also announced that
a Tattoo will be performed for the first time in the city of
Liverpool; a show not to be missed.
So, as the band reflect on a fantastic week and contemplate
whether to incorporate bicycles into their drill manoeuvres
any time soon, they wish the Belfast Tattoo all the very best
for their future shows, and would like to extend an invitation
to the Italian running band, Fanfare of Magenta, to take part
in the RAF Fitness Test in the near future!
SAC Andrew Belfield
Band of the Royal Air Force College
SAC Philippa Hobbs sings, with Squadron Leader Richard Murray conducting, during the Tattoo finale.
(Photo: www.raf.mod.uk/rafmusic under Open Government Licence v3.0.)
THE BELFAST TATTOO
IMMS UK (Founder) Branch Journal – Winter 2017 7
Squadron Leader Richard Murray RAF
Squadron Leader Murray BMus(Hons), LRSM, LLCM, RAF
began playing the flute and piano from an early age under the
guidance of the music staff at Downshire School,
Carrickfergus and at Belfast High School. He was soon
studying music at the University of Ulster, graduating with
honours in 1997.
Richard joined
Royal Air Force
Music Services in
November 1997 and
served briefly with
the Western Band of
the Royal Air Force
at RAF Locking.
Prior to his posting
as Principal Flautist
with the Band of the
Royal Air Force
Regiment at RAF
Cranwell in 1999, Richard was awarded the Cassel Silver
Medal by The Worshipful Company of Musicians.
While at Cranwell Richard continued his musical studies
gaining Licentiateships in Performance and Conducting from
the London College and Royal Schools of Music. For his
efforts he was awarded another Silver Medal from the
Worshipful Company of Musicians on completion of the
Bandmaster Course in 2006. On promotion to Sergeant in
2008, Richard was posted to The Central Band of the RAF.
Richard received his Commission and was awarded the
MacRoberts Prize on completion of Initial Officer Training
Course No.17 at RAF College Cranwell in February 2010.
Following his first tour as Director of Music to The Band of
the RAF Regiment, Richard was assigned to The Central
Band of the RAF in 2012.
Having completed a Junior Officer Development Programme
at the Defence College, Shrivenham, in 2015 Richard was
posted to Headquarters Music Services as Branch Advisor. In
this role he was responsible for all aspects of strategic
management planning, recruitment, training, budgets,
allocations and policy administration.
Richard has recorded for the BBC and has conducted at
numerous prestigious state, national and international events.
These have included the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, the
London Olympics, Basel Tattoo (Switzerland) and WW1
Commemorations in New Delhi (India).
Richard returned to Cranwell in September 2016 and is the
current Director of Music to the Band of the RAF College.
Outside work, Richard enjoys quality family time with his
wife Megan and is kept on his toes with three young
daughters.
Flight Sergeant Barry Stringer MBE
Media and Communications Officer, RAF Music Services
Whittle Hall Concerts
The autumn series of concerts at the Whittle Hall, RAF
College Cranwell, took place on the 20th, 21st and 22nd of
September.
This year the concerts were performed by the Band of the
Royal Air Force College conducted by their Director of
Music, Squadron Leader Richard Murray. The concerts also
featured The Cranwell Military Wives Choir conducted by
Mr. Rowland Lee.
After the National Anthem, the band performed a varied
selection of music starting with Bugler's Dream and Olympic
Fanfare (L. Arnaud/J. Williams) followed by Irish Tune from
County Derry (Percy Grainger). The Choir joined the band
next and performed Rule the World (Barlow arr. Laidler)
conducted by Mr. Lee.
Our first and only solo of the evening came next –
Grandfather’s Clock - usually a brass band piece played as a
euphonium solo but on this occasion as a lovely bassoon solo.
This was superbly played by SAC James Underwood doing
all the variations, a real unusual treat.
The choir again joined the band for the next two items, the
first of which Wherever You Are (Mealor arr. Stubbs) and All
That Jazz (Kander/Ebb arr. Shaw) both conducted by Mr.
Rowland Lee. Anthem from ‘Chess’ (Ulvaeus/Andersson arr.
Sidwell) came next with vocals by SAC Philippa Hobbs, who
did a really great job, and a great guitar solo from SAC Andy
Stevenson. This was very well received by the audience.
Taking us to the interval was a piece new to me, Blue Shades
by American composer Frank Ticheli. This really tested the
band and contained solos from clarinet and bass clarinet
which was quite unusual. With different elements of jazz
running through it, it wasn’t something you could hum on the
way home but was an interesting piece.
The second half started in usual fashion with Swing Wing, the
20-piece big band that plays in the style of the 40s, 50s and
60s, led by Sergeant Tom Ringrose. Their set included more
great vocals from SAC Philippa Hobbs in Cry Me a River, Go
Daddy-O and Round Midnight.
The band reformed on stage to play the ever-popular Glen
Miller number Pennsylvania 6-5000. A more serious piece
came next in Spitfire Prelude and Fugue (Walton) very well
played by the band.
The Choir then joined the band for Rowland Lee’s We Will
Remember Them with words taken from the poem ‘For the
Fallen’ by Laurance Binyon.
To lighten things up came a medley of songs arranged by a
former PDM, Wing Commander Rob Wiffin. Songs That Saw
Us Through contained some old favorites like In the Mood
(Manone/Garland), A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square
(Sherwin), Run Rabbit Run (Gay) and many more.
The concert finished in traditional style with The RAF March
Past (Sir Walford Davies/Sir George Dyson). As the audience
asked for more, the band and choir obliged with an ABBA
medley to send us happily on our way. Rodney Illsley
PROFILE CONCERT REVIEW
Squadron Leader Murray (Photo:
www.raf.mod.uk/rafmusic under
Open Government Licence v3.0.)
8 IMMS UK (Founder) Branch Journal – Winter 2017
Household Division Concert Series Bournemouth Air Festival
The September and October concerts in the Household
Division Concert Series brought us two bands from the
Guards Division playing in the Guards’ Chapel, starting with
the Irish Guards.
With a Scottish Director of Music, an Irish Bandmaster and a
Welsh Band Sergeant Major, a concert in an English venue
appropriately took the rather loose theme of the four
countries. Gerry Horabin’s Star of Erin and Stanford’s
overture Shamus O’Brian represented the Emerald Isle, then
it was off to Cornwall for Sir Malcom Arnold’s Padstow
Lifeboat which I hadn’t heard for many a year.
Peter Graham was well represented with his Day of the
Dragon for the Welsh, and a euphonium duet, Brillante,
brilliantly played by Bandmaster Andrew Porter and L/Cpl
Liam Grunsell, the latter, we were told, shortly to train to
become a bandmaster himself.
Finally from the Graham pen, three movements from his
Alloway Tales, with some Burns’ poetry recited over parts in
very fine style by L/Sgt Mark McLauchlin - just about
decipherable by us English.
David Jackson’s fun march with the wonderfully appalling
pun of a title of Jocks Away, and Edward Gregson’s Prelude
for an Occasion, completed the programme except for the
‘Last Night of the Proms’ regulars which seem to put
posteriors on pews however many times we hear them. This
was one of the last concerts where we will see Major Bruce
Miller at the helm; a pity and a big loss to Army music.
Moving on to October with the Grenadier Guards, and a
theme of Journey to the Centre of the Earth, the title of yet
another work by Peter Graham. The purpose of this concert
series is very much to stretch the musicians’ playing and this
‘test-piece’ type composition did just that, clearly testing
band and conductor, Major Mike Smith, to the full. They
passed! Enjoyable, but I rather preferred Nigel Hess’s Global
Variations which came later and contained more in the way
of melody.
The complexities of Philip Sparke’s new march Navigation
Inn were rather lost in the chapel acoustics which can work
for, or against, the music.
Perhaps the real highlights of the evening were Eric
Whitacre’s October, a lovely quiet reflective piece which was
greatly enhanced by the chapel’s walls, and Autumn Leaves,
beautifully arranged by Major Denis Burton MBE as a
trombone solo and featuring Sergeant Simon Hall.
A selection from ‘Wicked’, arranged by one of the tuba
players in the band, was nicely done, while Irishman,
Musician Adam Higginson, was doubtless made homesick
giving us a fine rendition of Hamilton Hardy’s flute solo In
Ireland. To finish, Jupiter, The Bringer of Jollity once again
showed off the chapel acoustics to the full.
Two fine free concerts with a finish time of about 9pm, not
too late for getting home. Who could ask for anything more?
Ronald Selby
Now in its tenth year, where other venues are reducing or
getting rid of military bands, Bournemouth is the opposite.
This year, instead of the normal one Royal Marines Band, we
were delighted to have performances from the Band of The
Royal Regiment of Fusiliers too.
Thursday 31st August provided us with an excellent concert
from 8 to 9.30 pm by the Band of Her Majesty's Royal
Marines Collingwood on the Pine Walk Bandstand, once
home to many weeks of military music concerts.
The Friday gave us two concerts by the Band of The Royal
Regiment of Fusiliers, the first at 4 pm overlooking the sea in
the glorious garden of the Miramar Hotel, the second on the
Pine Walk Bandstand at 7.30.
The Royal Marines Beat Retreat on the lawns during the
evening on the Friday and again twice on the Saturday. These
were among Major Jon Ridley‘s last appearances with the
band before his promotion to Lieutenant-Colonel as Principal
Director of Music, Royal Marines.
The Band of The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers again
performed on the Pine Walk Bandstand on the Saturday night.
The music was very varied, including Disney’s Moana, John
Williams’ The Midway March, American folk musician Jay
Ungar’s Ashoken Farewell played as a violin solo, and rock
drummer Phil Collins’ Against All Odds played as a
saxophone solo.
More traditional military band pieces from around the world
included Marche Militaire (Franz Schubert), El Relicario
(Jose Padilla) and Amparito Roca (Jaime Texidor).
It was really nice to see The Royal Marines joined this year
at the Air Festival by a Reserve Band at full strength and
playing its heart out.
Phil Havell
The Band of The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, based in
Newcastle Upon Tyne, came a long way south for annual
camp this year. Seen here at their afternoon concert in the
gardens of the Miramar Hotel, Bournemouth, they also
played at Gunwharf Quays in Portsmouth and on the Isle of
Wight. (Photo: Phil Havell)
CONCERT REVIEWS
IMMS UK (Founder) Branch Journal – Winter 2017 9
Royal Marines at Cadogan Hall
A concert by the Portsmouth Band of the Royal Marines at
the Cadogan Hall, London, on Thursday 28 September
marked the centenary of Seafarers UK, formerly known as
King George's Fund for Sailors. Sadly for the performers, and
no doubt the organisers, the audience was disappointingly
small despite the fine musical fare on offer. Were the tickets
a little over-priced?
The occasion was particularly notable, however, in that it was
the final concert to be directed by Lieutenant-Colonel Nick
Grace OBE before his retirement; he served as Principal
Director of Music Royal Marines from 2009.
Lt. Col. Nick Grace presents the band (Photo: Jim Davies)
The first half of the programme was conducted by Colonel
Grace's successor, Lieutenant-Colonel Jon Ridley. It was
interesting to see the old and new order at a single event, both
duly wearing the insignia of their rank – and also their spurs!
Jim Davies
Music Legends Concert
Billed as a ‘sing-along’, the Music Legends concert by the
Regimental Band of the Honourable Artillery Company
didn’t disappoint. We in the packed audience at St Mary
Magdalene Church, Richmond upon Thames, on Saturday
30th September were to have plenty on which to exercise our
vocal chords.
The National Anthems of Great Britain and the Netherlands
(the vicar of St Mary Magdalene is from Holland) got us off
to a fine start. Director of Music Major Glen Jones then
introduced a Sousa medley. Although well played, to me this
one suffered from the problem Sousa medleys always have -
trying to cram snatches of too many well-known pieces
together.
A ‘Wizard of Oz’ medley gave the audience a chance to sing
again and was notable for a fine Bb Bass part in If I Only Had
a Brain. The theme to the Bond film ‘Skyfall’ brought a
change of mood with its building menace, then L/Sgt Keith
Tyce’s violin lead the band on John Williams’ Schindler’s
List.
An ABBA medley had the audience in fine voice again with
the HAC flutes particularly evident in Fernando – or were
they the HAC flutes? Major Jones later explained that, weeks
before the concert a wedding and an imminent birth
threatened to deprive them of their flute section. With the
arrival of baby Bertie Wood 12 days earlier bringing Musician
Dave Wood back to the stand, and Sergeant Rachel Smith
from the Band of the Coldstream Guards stepping in to
replace the absent bridesmaid, the day was saved.
Against All Odds by
rock drummer Phil
Collins followed,
featuring an
outstanding alto sax
lead from Musician
Chris Smith. Murray
Gold's theme for the
eleventh Doctor
Who, I Am the
Doctor, brought us to
The Seal Lullaby by
Eric Whitacre. For
this setting to
Rudyard Kipling's story ‘The White Seal’, the band
accompanied pianist Alex Knight, St Mary Magdalene’s
Director of Music and Organist.
It was the audience’s chance to shine next as we sang out to
works from Freddie Mercury, Sir Hubert Parry and Sir
Edward Elgar. After Bohemian Rhapsody, Jerusalem and
Land of Hope and Glory we had a chance to recover our
breath during Saint-Saëns’ Symphony No. 3. Alex Knight
again featured, this time on the church’s organ.
The HAC Regimental March, The British Grenadiers,
brought this hugely enjoyable concert to an end. The large
audience’s obvious delight throughout gave the lie to those
who think that military bands are no longer a part of British
popular culture.
Mike Boxall
Combined Bands Concert
As a (perhaps belated) way of celebrating its 10th
anniversary, The Royal Marines Association Concert Band
joined forces with the young musicians of HM Royal Marines
School of Music in a most enjoyable concert at the Ferneham
Hall, Fareham, on Wednesday 18 October.
Under the direction of Lieutenant-Colonel (Retd.) Chris
Davis OBE and Major Pete Curtis MBE, a carefully chosen
programme, with some old favourites that suited the
occasional perfectly, made for easy and happy listening.
Well-judged solos by young RM musicians Jonny Griffin on
euphonium in Blaydon Races (arr. Langford) and Owen Muir
on xylophone for The Joyful Skeleton (W. G. Lemon) were
complemented by Jon Yates BEM playing his own
composition, Adagio for Trumpet.
The programme also featured Famous Songs of the British
Isles (arr. Dunn), Preobrajensky (arr. Dunn), Glorious Victory
(Kendall) and the overture to Italian Girl in Algiers (Rossini).
Preceding the traditional Naval finale, we heard Philip
Sparke's Dundonell from Hymn of the Highlands which gave
all the musicians the opportunity, under the Colonel's
direction, to show just how much musical fire-power was
assembled before us.
A great evening – congratulations and best wishes to
Association Band and, of course, to the young musicians from
the School of Music just embarking on their careers!
Jim Davies
CONCERT REVIEWS
Major Glen Jones conducting
(Photo: Band of the HAC)
10 IMMS UK (Founder) Branch Journal – Winter 2017
Lieutenant-Colonel (Retd.) Chris Davis OBE on the left, and Major Pete Curtis MBE on the right, taking the microphone at the
combined concert by the Royal Marines Association Concert Band and the Band of HM Royal Marines School of Music in Fareham
on 18th October. (Photos: Jim Davies).
An unusual photo of the Buglers of the Band of HM Royal Marines Portsmouth performing behind the Bass section at the Cadogan
Hall concert on 28th September. (Photo: Jim Davies)
PER MARE PER TERRAM
IMMS UK (Founder) Branch Journal – Winter 2017 11
The Band of The Honourable Artillery
Company deployed to California in June
with Staff Sergeant Claire Lawrence from
The Countess of Wessex’s String
Orchestra as Bandmaster. They are seen
here before performing aboard the USS
Midway Museum in San Diego which is
dedicated to honouring all those who serve
in uniform across all military services.
The band ended the day with a traditional
Beating Retreat. The salute was taken by a
US Navy Veteran who had served in
WWII. (Photo: Musn. O Wild, HAC)
During annual training in July, the Band of the Royal Yeomanry added hard hats to their increasing stock of headwear to perform
for the crew and BAE Systems engineers refitting HMS St Albans in dry dock at Portsmouth. (Photos: www.royalnavy.mod.uk under
Open Government Licence v3.0.)
On 10th September, the Massed Bands of the Royal Naval Volunteer Band Association played at the Royal Naval Association
Commemoration Service at The Cenotaph in London. (Photos: Mike Boxall)
BY SEA AND LAND
12 IMMS UK (Founder) Branch Journal – Winter 2017
The Waterloo Band and Bugles of The Rifles On Friday 15th September, branch members were invited to
visit the Waterloo Band and Bugles of The Rifles at their base
in Edward Brooks Barracks at Abingdon in Oxfordshire.
IMMS members were joined by the local Branch of the RGJ-
Rifles Association and invited guests.
The Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment
The proceedings opened with a talk by Major Clark about the
band, its history and its activities during which we were
introduced to senior members of the band. We then had the
opportunity to watch the band rehearsing for a Sounding
Retreat they were to perform the following day at Sandhurst;
again, attention to detail was much in evidence.
After a complimentary lunch we savoured performances by
woodwind, brass and saxophone ensembles before Major
Clark took the baton for a delightful and carefully-chosen
programme of music that showed off the band's musical
expertise and repertoire. This included Cpl Chris Evans
playing the Northumbrian pipes in Philip Sparke’s Hymn of
the Highlands.
The brass players also displayed their impromptu vocal
talents in von Weber’s Huntsman’s Chorus to much
amusement. Long service awards were then presented,
complete with biographical citations, which varied from 10
to 30 years.
A retiring collection and sales of CDs raised £155 for
Care4Casualties, the regimental benevolent fund.
All visits are enjoyable, but this one was of particular interest
since it was the first to a Reserve band rather than a Regular
band. Such is the level of commitment and organisation that,
frankly, one really would not see any difference!
Jim Davies and Terry Hissey
A presentation of new Colours is always a great opportunity
to hear military music used for one of its original purposes –
to inspire soldiers on parade. The PWRR’s 25th Anniversary
Reunion and Colours Presentation at Kent County Cricket
Club, Canterbury, on 23rd September proved no exception.
Under Lieutenant Colonel R W Hopla, The Band of the
PWRR and members of the Band of The Queen’s Division
provided the following accompaniment to the proceedings.
The PWRR Cadets march on was, appropriately, to Children
of the Regiment (Fucik). Cavalry Brigade (Trad.) marked the
arrival of Brigadier Oliver Stokes MBE (late PWRR),
Colonel P T Crowley and Sergeant Johnson Beharry VC,
COG. The cadets were then inspected to The Great Escape
(Bernstein), Family Guy (Murphy) and New York, New York
(Kander), and marched off to National Emblem (Bagley) and
the regimental marches The Farmers Boy/Soldiers of the
Queen (Trad./Stuart).
The 1st, 2nd and 3rd Battalions PWRR marched on to On The
Square (Panella). The Royal Salute was the Danish National
Anthem as HM Queen Margrethe II of Denmark is the
Colonel in Chief of the PWRR. Sadly, she was unable to be
present as planned, so her place was taken by her Danish
Ambassador to the United Kingdom, HE Lars Thuesen.
Fittingly, the first piece played for the Inspection was Queen
Margrethe II Parade March (Stein) followed by Slaves
Chorus from ‘Nabucco’ (Verdi) and La Rejouissance
(Handel). The Old Colours were then marched off to the
regimental slow march Minden Rose (Bandmaster C Gray)
and Auld Lang Syne (Trad.).
The New Colours were marched on and consecrated. The
march past in slow time was to Royal Standard (Young),
Minden Rose, and Golden Spurs (Rhodes), then in quick time
to Officer of the Day (Hall), The Farmers Boy/Soldiers of the
Queen and Glorious Victory (Kendall). The regiment
marched off to The Middy (Alford) and regimental quick
marches. The Presentation of Colours was over, but the
musicians’ day wasn’t.
An afternoon musical display brought the Band of the PWRR
and members of the Band of The Queen’s Division back,
augmented by Drummers from the Regimental Association,
the Pipes and Drums of the London Scottish Regiment and
the Fifes and Drums of the Danish Royal Life Guards. An
international gathering!
Music included The 79th’s Farewell to Gibraltar
(Macdonald), By Land and Sea (Alford), Colonel Bogey
(Ricketts), a bagpipe medley, Highland Cathedral
(Roever/Korb) and Scotland The Brave (Trad.).
The Fifes and Drums of the Danish Royal Life Guards, in
their review order uniform of bearskin headdresses, dark blue
tunics and light blue trousers, gave a marching display with
Danish flute tunes. Perhaps understandably, our reporter was
unable to put a name to any of these!
All in all, the day proved yet again that army musicians are
adept at providing a diverse range of music that can not only
inspire soldiers, but all who hear it.
Mike Boxall from information supplied by Phil Havell
PRESENTATION OF COLOURS
Buglers played with the band during the march Bab El Mandeb by
J Ord Hume. (Photo: Jim Davies)
BRANCH VISIT
IMMS UK (Founder) Branch Journal – Winter 2017 13
The Programme After reading the descriptions of the first Edinburgh Military Tattoo in the last edition of the Journal, some of you may have been
left asking “Apart from Music for the Royal Fireworks, what else did the bands play?” This listing of the 1950 Programme, shown
by kind permission of the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, goes some way to answering that question.
Programme
1. Page from the Past
A Pageant scene depicting the Installation of General George,
The Duke of Gordon, as Governor of Edinburgh Castle in
1828.
2. Reveille
Brigade of Guards Detachment, Drums and Pipes of 1st
Battalion The Gordon Highlanders, Trumpeters of the Royal
Scots Greys (2nd Dragoons)
3. ‘With Measured Tread’
Drill display by a detachment from the Brigade of Guards, the
soldiers having just completed their recruit training.
4. ‘Bring on the Tartan’
The Pipes and Drums of the following Regiments:
• 1st Bn. The Royal Scots (The Royal Regiment)
• 7th/9th Bn. The Royal Scots (TA) ‘The Dandy Ninth’
• 1st Bn. The Highland Light Infantry (City of Glasgow
Regiment)
• 1st Bn. The Gordon Highlanders
• 2nd Scottish General Hospital RAMC (TA)
In command: Bugle-Major A. Cowan, 1st Bn. The Highland
Light Infantry; Pipe-Major W. Denholm, 1st Battalion The
Royal Scots
Music selected from:
Retreat March: The Green Hills of Tyrol
Slow Marches: Lord Lovat’s Lament; Skye Boat Song
Quick Marches: Blue Bonnets over the Border; Bonnie
Dundee; Barren Rocks of Aden; The Black Bear; The
79th’s Farewell to Gibraltar; Corn Riggs are Bonnie
5. The Symbol of Scotland
Highland Dancing by 1st Bn. The Highland Light Infantry
(City of Glasgow Regiment) accompanied by the Massed
Pipes and Drums
6. ‘She Shall Have Musick’
The Mounted Band of The Life Guards (under the Director of
Music, Major A. Lemoine)
The Life Guards Regimental Slow March Trad.
March: Coburg Trad.
Quick March: Imperial Echoes Safroni
A Fanfare for a Ceremonial Occasion Ketelbey
Auld Lang Syne Trad.
7. Pomp and Circumstance
The Massed Bands of:
• The Royal Scots Greys (2nd Dragoons
• 9th Queen’s Royal Lancers
• 1st Bn. The Royal Scots (The Royal Regiment)
• 1st Bn. The Highland Light Infantry (City of Glasgow
Regiment)
In command: Bandmaster C.A. Holt, ARCM, The Royal
Scots Greys
Music selected from:
Slow Marches: Road to the Isles; Garb of Old Gaul;
Lament for Maclean of Ardgour
Quick Marches: The Great Little Army; On the Quarter
Deck; Colonel Bogey
Selection: Handel’s Largo
8. Scotland the Brave – Finale
God Save the King
A postcard showing the finale of the 1950 Tattoo, from Colin Dean’s collection
THE EDINBURGH MILITARY TATTOO 1950
14 IMMS UK (Founder) Branch Journal – Winter 2017
Musicians’ Characteristics?
The Kneller Hall archives contain an unpublished
autobiography by Lieutenant Colonel George Miller MVO,
MBE, Director of Music, Grenadier Guards (1921-1942) and
previously, the 1st Life Guards. In it, Lt. Col. Miller makes
some interesting observations about how particular
instruments seem to produce different sorts of players. Here
are the relevant extracts:
“There will probably be a great deal of controversy, even
incredulity, about this observation which I am tempted to
make after forty odd years close association with wind-
players of all kinds! My contention is that certain instruments
compel human characteristics, or more accurately, human
expression, which remain with the performer for life.
My late revered parent was wont to affirm that he could
always identify a bassoon-player! Apparently, a bull-dog
expression develops after years of devotion to the 'clown of
the orchestra'! French-horn enthusiasts, although their
countenances may not betray them utterly, yet, they have
certain bodily appearances which betoken hours spent in a
static position with a thin-lipped and set mouth. On the other
hand, trombone players usually seem lusty and athletic men,
perhaps inclined to gesticulate!
My oboists were nearly all of a type: gentle and fastidiously
careful, and indeed does not the instrument demand it? A
distended lung with so little wind escaping through the tiny
aperture of the double reed compels suspended animation,
and a good executant is invariably temperate in human
indulgence, particularly smoking.
The heavier brass instrumentalists are usually recruited from
men who have discovered that the formation of their mouths
and more particularly their teeth, is better suited to a larger
cup. These good fellows are not so easily differentiated but
most are signalised by full lips and a robust physique.
This brings me to perhaps the most popular performer, the
trumpet and cornet soloist. Like most stars he may be
recognised by self-assurance and a good deal of originality;
his physical characteristics are a good mouth, level jaws and
even teeth. I also noticed that the better players were very
abstemious, taking care to smoke cigarettes in a holder.
The vast body of clarinet players, as single-reed players, are
not easily identified, yet the observant outsider may detect a
little anxiety in the care of fingers and hands. As the '1st
Violins' of the military band one discovers more individual
musicianship amongst them than in the rest of the band.
If certain instrumentalists are a 'race apart', much more so
does this apply to drummers! Many years ago, I remember a
colleague quoting from an advertisement he had just read in
a theatrical paper announcing: "Drummer wanted for
orchestra, sane if possible.”
There can’t be many trumpet players today “taking care to
smoke cigarettes in a holder”, and surely all band
percussionists are now completely sane, but one can’t help
wondering how far Lt. Col. Miller’s other observations still
hold true!
(Extracts from an original article by Colin Dean in The Kneller
Hall Trumpeter, the newsletter of The Friends of the Museum
of Army Music. More information about the Friends can be
obtained from: Friends of the Museum of Army Music, RMSM,
Kneller Hall, Twickenham, TW2 7DU or from their website:
www.armymusicfriends.co.uk)
FROM THE ARCHIVES
ADVERTISEMENT
IMMS UK (Founder) Branch Journal – Winter 2017 15
Mit Blut und Eisen - German Military Music from Waterloo 1815 to Wipers 1915There are those who believe that German marches should
only be recorded by German bands and this belief might deter
them from buying this album. I have collected performances
of German marches on LP, tape, CD and video formats for
many years and have a large collection. It is my firm opinion
that such people are doing themselves a disfavour.
It would be unreasonable to expect the
band culture of one country to reproduce
exactly the performance of another, and
sensibly the Band of the Honourable
Artillery Company under Major Keeley
does not attempt to do so.
There is a particular sound to the British
military band and, at its best, it can bring
out depths in a German piece that might
not have been apparent in its native land
(the wonderful rendition of Action Front
at the Centenary Royal Tournament by the
tri-service massed band was an excellent
example of this).
The HAC band already has good experience in the German
genre from its album ‘Reutel 1917’ and they do not
disappoint here. There are 27 pieces on this ‘Mit Blut und
Eisen’ CD giving an excellent mix.
There is old and young, slow and quick, old standards and
obscure pieces – indeed some pieces have been specially
arranged (and one specially composed) for the album. This
may even be the only recording of some of them. Each piece
is described in great detail in an accompanying booklet, as is
the band, the Director of Music and the outline of German
military music history “from Waterloo to Wipers”. The
booklet is reason alone for buying the CD for the true
enthusiast.
The album is a first-class historical introduction to
instrumental German military music for non-mounted troops,
while at the same time producing some real jewels for those
of us who thought we had heard all of its treasures.
Highlights for me? Duppeler Morgenrot (Sunrise at Duppel,
the battle against the Danes depicted in the recent TV series
1864 where the Prussians left the trenches to the sounds of
massed bands) particularly suits the British style. Kriegers
Lebewohl was actually played at Trooping the Colour and has
been recorded by the Coldstream Guards. In this version from
band parts belonging to a Hamburg Regiment, a Hamburg
song is substituted for the original trio. In a more languid
vein, the Aufstellungsmarsch suggests the glamour of the turn
of the century Edwardian/Wilhelmine
period.
In the German Service, marches to be
played on the parade ground or when
marching past were to be selected from
the AM or later HM manuals. Each march
here is given its appropriate number from
the manual. Happily, selection has not
been confined to the manual, and one
must marvel at the strict, though
sometimes possibly arbitrary standards
that kept some of these out. The
marvellous Bismarck March is one of
these and has a real swagger.
This is the third CD of German marches produced by a British
Army band in recent years, a trend that I hope will long
continue. There is still much of interest in the German back
catalogue for bands to explore.
Although many of the marches have battle honour, Royal or
other culturally specific titles that limit their appeal, there are
some very good ones with generic military titles that would
sound far better on parade than some of the standards that are
trotted out a bit too often by our bands. The spirited With
Bombs and Grenades would definitely lift the men’s feet, and
Pro Patria would cheer up the concert hall.
In conclusion, I must say a word of great appreciation to Tony
Dean who works tirelessly to promote and preserve German
military music and is here rightly honoured with his own
march – Für Tony. This is a great CD and good value.
Ian Smart
Editor’s note: Ian is a co-author of: 'Tunes of Blood & Iron:
German Regimental & Parade Marches from the Age of
Frederick the Great to the Present Day' published by Helion
& Company, 2014.
The Royal Corps of Signals 1982-2017
MARCHING AND WALTZING/Major G Turner
D Richards LP DR 59 (1983)
Out of the Blue/Dance of the Three Old Maids/The Beacon/Merry
Widow Waltz/The World is Waiting for the Sunrise/The Butterfly
Musette/Geordie Patrol/The Contemptibles/English Ayres/The
Cheerful Signaller/Pink Lady Waltz/The Picador/The Beautiful
Colorado/The Rotarians.
REGIMENTAL SILVER/Major G Turner
Droit LP DR 67, tape CDR 67 (1984)
Officers Dinner Call/Roast Beef/Marche Militaire No 1 (Schubert)/
The Impresario Overture/A Strauss Bouquet/Elizabethan Serenade/
Lehar Melodies/When Johnny Comes Marching Home Again/
Hogmanynia/The Argonaut/Tipsy Trombones/Introduction and
Allegro Spiritoso/Tambourin/Post Horn Galop/Begone Dull Care/
Loyal Toast – God Save the Queen.
THE OLD BRIGADE/Major G Turner
Droit LP DR 68, tape CDR 68 (1985), CD TRCD 213 (2001)
The Old Brigade: Soldiers of the Queen-MacDermott’s War Song-
Old Soldiers Never Die-I Want to Go Home-Soldiers of the Queen/
Songs of the Western Front: It’s a Long Way to Tipperary-Oh It’s a
Lovely War-Mademoiselle from Armentieres-Take Me Back to
Dear Old Blighty / Songs of the First World War: Good-Bye-Ee-
DISCOGRAPHY
CD REVIEW
16 IMMS UK (Founder) Branch Journal – Winter 2017
Never Mind-Bluebell-Comrades-Here We Are Again-Pack Up Your
Troubles/Till the Boys Come Home-They Were Only Playing
Leapfrog-If You Want to Find the Sergeant-Goodbye Dolly Gray-
There’s A Long Long Trail A-Winding-Keep the Home Fires
Burning/Hymns from the Front: The Church’s One Foundation
(Fred Karno’s Army)-What a Friend We Have in Jesus (When This
Lousy War Is Over)-When the Roll Is Called Up Yonder (When The
Stew is on the Table)/The Vanished Army/The Contemptibles/The
British Legion/By The Left!/Songs of the ‘40s: Wish Me Luck As
You Wave Me Goodbye-Yours-Lilli Marlene-We’re Gonna Hang
Out The Washing On The Siegfried Line-Bless ‘em All-The White
Cliffs of Dover/Marching Memories: The Army, the Navy and the
Air Force-Kiss Me Goodnight Sergeant Major-On the Road to
Mandalay-In the Quartermaster’s Stores-There’ll Always Be an
England/Salute to The Allies-Sarie Marais-Aupres de Ma Blonde-
Allouette-Waltzing Matilda/The Yanks Are Coming-This is the
Army Mr Jones-The Yellow Rose of Texas-She’ll Be Comin Round
the Mountain-Over There/We’ll Meet Again-I’ll Be Seeing You-
We’ll Meet Again/Evening Hymn & Last Post.
LISTEN TO THE BAND/Major G Turner
Droit LP DR 78, tape CDR 78 (1986)
Listen to the Band/Zelda/Blue Interlude/Bubble & Squeak/Sinatra
in Concert/Ptarmigan/The Prince/The Mountains of Mourne/Jalopy/
Serenade (Drigo)/Three in a Mood/Dance of the Tumblers/Here’s to
the Next Time.
MASTERS OF THE MARCH Vol 1: LEO STANLEY & RODNEY
BASHFORD/Lt Colonel R B Bashford & Major G Turner
Droit LP DR 91, tape CDR 91 (1987)
Stanley: Alamein/With Might and Main/March of the Commandos/
The Partisans/Guard of Honour/The Mechanical Horse/Swift &
Sure/Great Occasion. Bashford: Marche Militaire (Les Grenadiers)/
Foxhunter March/Splice the Mainbrace/Tyrol Troop/The Galloping
Major/The Queen’s Company/Cavalry Walk-Cavalry Ride-Cavalry
Trot/The Light Division/Inkerman March.
A SIGNAL TO GERSHWIN/Captain D F Wall
Droit LP DR112, tape CDR 112 (1988)
Strike up the Band/Summertime/I Got Rhythm/Nice work if you can
get it/But Not For Me/American in Paris/Swanee/Foggy Day in
London Town/They Can’t Take That Away from Me/Man I Love/
Fascinating Rhythm/Rhapsody in Blue.
KEEP THE HOME FIRES BURNING: SONGS OF WORLD
WARS 1 & 2 /Captain D F Wall
Droit tape only CDR 111 (1988)
Tipperary/Pack up Your Troubles/Mademoiselle from Armentieres/
Take me Back to Dear Old Blighty-Good-Bye Dolly Gray/Oh! What
a Lovely War/Comrades/Here We Are! Here We Are! Here We Are
Again!-I Don’t Want to be a Soldier/No More Soldiering for Me/Old
Soldiers Never Die/The Soldiers of the Queen-Never Mind/Leap
Frog/Good-Bye-ee/Rolling Home-We are Fred Karno’s Army/The
Moon Shines Bright on Charlie Chaplin/The Army of Today’s
Alright/Keep the Home Fires Burning-There’s a Long, Long Trail-
Run, Rabbit Run/Yours/Bless’em All/Praise the Lord & Pass the
Ammunition-Roll Out the Barrel/Lilli Marlene/We’re Gonna Hang
Out the Washing on the Siegfried Line/The White Cliffs of Dover-
This is the Army Mister Brown/The Yellow Rose of Texas/She’ll be
Coming Round the Mountain/Over there/Allouette/Waltzing
Matilda -The Army, the Navy, & the Air Force/Kiss Me Goodnight
Sergeant Major/Quartermaster’s Store/There Always be an
England-I’ll be Seeing You/We’ll Meet Again.
THE SIGNALLER/Major D F Wall
Bandleader CD BNA 5114, tape BND 65114 (1995)
Begone Dull Care/The Signaller/Swift & Sure/HRH The Princess
Royal/On Richmond Hill Baht’at/Donkey Serenade/Lassus
Trombone/Vimy Ridge/The Master/Jubilee Overture (Sparke)/
Londonderry Air/Largo al Factotum/Blandford Suite (Hill)/Nessum
Dorma/Rondo for Horns (Mozart)/Carnival of Venice/Concerto for
Drum Set/Farandole (Bizet)/The History of the Royal Corps of
Signals (narrator Major David Wall): The White Helmets Fanfare
(Boulding)-Venus (Holst)-British Grenadiers-Wings-Zulu-Mars-
Begone Dull Care-Jupiter.
WE'LL KEEP THE HOME FIRES BURNING (Songs of World
War I & II)/Major D F Wall
Bandboy CD BB 10 (2000)
Track listing as for “Keep the Home Fires Burning” above plus The
Signaller/God Save The Queen (instrumental).
CUTTING EDGE/Captain P L Murrell
Plantagenet CD PMRD 9422 (c2001)
The Earle of Oxford’s Marche/King Cotton/Semper Fidelis/Thin
Red Line/Moorside March/Things to Come March/American
Salute/ Arnhem/Royal Ceremony/Midway March/Strike up the
Band/In a Sentimental Mood/Moonlight Serenade/Take the “A”
Train/Satin Doll/Route 66/Basie Straight Ahead/Hayburner/The
Cutting Edge.
Re-issued c2003, WO1 Andrew Booth is listed as conductor.
MARCHING & PIPING/Major P L Murrell
Soundline CD SLB 4028 (2002-2003); Silva Screen SILCD 4128
(2008)
Atholl Highlanders-Bugle Horn-Killaloe/Vimy Ridge/She Moves
Through the Fair-Rocking the Baby-Irish Washerwoman-The
Eavesdropper/Spirit of Pageantry/Amazing Grace/Bond of
Friendship/Highland Cathedral/Hands Across the Sea/My Home-
Highland Cradle Song-Skye Boat Song-79th Farewell to Gibraltar-
Happy We’ve Been Together/Step Lightly/St Patrick’s Day-Garry
Owen/Invincible Eagle/Oft in the Stilly Night/White Helmets
March/A Highland Kingdom-Dark Island-Itchy Fingers-The
Clumsy Lover/HRH Princess Royal/Begone Dull Care/Scotland the
Brave-Black Bear-Highland Laddie.
With Pipes & Drums Royal Corps of Signals.
A SIGNALS BANDSTAND/Captain R G K Booth
SRC CD SRC 127 (2007)
Fanfare & Flourishes/The Bond of Friendship/The Force of Destiny
Overture/Out of Africa/The Carnival of Venice/Erin Shore and
Paddy’s Leather Breeches/Gaelforce/Blue Devils/Strike Up the
Band/Carnival (Sparke)/The White Helmets March (Stember)/New
York (East Coast Pictures) (Hess)/Concerto for Trumpet
(James)/Shine As The Light (Graham).
VIVA MUSICA!/Captain D Barringer
Music House Productions CD MHP 1509 (2009)
Young Pheasants in the Sky/The Magic Flute/Over the Rainbow/
Cartoon (Hart)/Band of Brothers/Sing, Sing, Sing/The Purple
Pageant/Champions Theme/Star Wars/The Western Front
(Marshall)/Pavanne (Faure)/It’s Alright with Me/Parade of the
Wooden Soldiers/Fields of Gold/Viva Musica! (Reed)/Evening
Hymn-Last Post (Gray)/Begone Dull Care.
A CHRISTMAS MESSAGE/Captain D Barringer
Music House Productions CD MHP 1010 (2010)
Dashing Through the Snow/Anno Domini/Have Yourself a Merry
Little Christmas/A Frosty Sleigh Ride/The Christmas Song/The
Chipmunk Song/Ukrainian Bell Carol/Good Swing Wenceslas/O
Holy Night/Scherzo from Christmas Suite (Barker)/Frosty the
Snowman/Nativity from The Dove Descending/Santa
Baby/Fantasia on A Christmas Greeting/Twelve Days of
Christmas/Silent Night/The Most Wonderful Time of the Year/Auld
Lang Syne/ Christmas!
The recordings of regimental marches made by the band
under Majors Gordon Turner and David Wall will be the
subject of a future discography.
Additions and corrections welcome.
Phil Mather
IMMS UK (Founder) Branch Journal – Winter 2017 17
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
Date Band / Organisation Event Location / (time)
DECEMBER 2017
Friday 1 Royal Air Force, Central RAF In Concert Tour Cliffs Pavilion, Westcliff-on-Sea (19 30) Friday 1 Royal Marines, CTCRM Seafarers UK Concert Colston Hall, Bristol (14 30) Saturday 2 Royal Marines, Plymouth Christmas Concert Plymouth Pavilions (18 30)
Saturday 2 Duke of Lancaster’s Regt Concert St Chad’s Church, Kirby (19 00)
Saturday 2 Hampshire Constabulary Concert Community Centre, Hayling Island (19 30)
Saturday 2 Royal Marines, Plymouth Concert Plymouth Pavilions (19 30)
Sunday 3 Royal Air Force College RAF Charitable Trust Concert Theatre Royal, Norwich (19 00) Sunday 3 RAF Assoc. Concert Band Christmas in the Air Concert Victoria Methodist Ch, Weston-s-M (15 00)
Sunday 3 Royal Marines CTCRM Seafarers UK Concert Colston Hall, Bristol (14 30)
Sunday 3 Royal Marines, Plymouth Concert Princess Theatre, Torquay (19 30)
Sunday 3 Hampshire Constabulary Concert Garrison Church, Aldershot (19 00)
Tuesday 5 Royal Marines Collingw’d Seafarers UK Concert Leas Cliff Hall, Folkestone Tuesday 5 RMSM Kneller Hall Mayor’s Charity Concert York House, Twickenham (19 00)
Tuesday 5 Royal Marines, Portsm’th Christmas Concert Festival Theatre, Chichester (19 30)
Wednesday 6 Household Division Scarlet and Gold Concert Cadogan Hall, London (19 30_ Wednesday 6 RM Assoc. Concert Band Christmas Concert Portsmouth C of E Cathedral (19 30)
Wednesday 6 Royal Marines, Portsm’th Christmas Concert Festival Theatre, Chichester (19 30)
Thursday 7 Royal Air Force College Christmas Concert Whittle Hall, RAF College Cranwell
Thursday 7 RAF Assoc. Concert Band Carols by Candlelight Court de Wyke School, Claverham
Thursday 7 Royal Air Force Regiment Esprit de Corps Concert Winston Churchill Hall, Ruislip (19 30)
Thursday 7 Royal Marines, Portsm’th Christmas Concert Festival Theatre, Chichester (19 30)
Thursday 7 Household Division Scarlet and Gold Concert Cadogan Hall, London (19 30_ Friday 8 Royal Marines Collingw’d Seafarers UK Concert Assembly Hall, Worthing Friday 8 Royal Air Force College Christmas Concert Whittle Hall, RAF College Cranwell
Friday 8 Royal Marines, Portsm’th Christmas Concert Festival Theatre, Chichester (19 30)
Friday 8 Household Cavalry Household Cavalry Foundation Concert Ely Cathedral (19 30)
Friday 8 Royal Marines, Portsm’th Christmas Concert Festival Theatre, Chichester (19 30)
Saturday 9 RBL Central Christmas Concert St George’s Church, Deal (19 00)
Saturday 9 Royal Air Force College Christmas Concert Whittle Hall, RAF College, Cranwell
Saturday 9 Royal Marines, Portsm’th Christmas Concert Festival Theatre, Chichester (19 30)
Saturday 9 IMMS Quarterly Meeting Kneller Hall, Twickenham (14 00)
Sunday 10 Household Division Christmas Concert Guards Chapel, Wellington Bks (11 00) Sunday 10 RMA Concert Band Milton Glee Club Concert Guildhall, Portsmouth (15 00)
Sunday 10 Household Division Christmas Concert Guards Chapel, Wellington Bks (18 00) Sunday 10 King’s Division Royal British Legion Concert Gorton Monastery, Manchester (19 00)
Tuesday 12 Royal Marines Seafarers UK Concert O2 Guildhall, Southampton (19 30) Wednesday 13 Royal Air Force Regiment Charity Concert Millfield School, Street, Somerset (19 30)
Wednesday 13 Scots Guards Commandant’s Parade RMA Sandhurst, Camberley (10 45)
Thursday 14 Household Cavalry Charity Concert Guards Chapel, Wellington Bks (19 00) Thursday 14 RM Assoc. Concert Band Christmas Reception Royal Marines Museum, Eastney (15 00)
Thursday 14 Royal Marines, Plymouth RN & RM Charity Concert Roebuck Theatre, Torpoint (19 30)
Thursday 14 Royal Marines Collingw’d Millennium Hall Concert Series HMS Collingwood, Fareham (19 30) Friday 15 Royal Marines Collingw’d Millennium Hall Concert Series HMS Collingwood, Fareham (19 30) Friday 15 RBL Central Christmas Concert St John Evangelist Ch, Norwood (19 30)
Friday 15 Scots Guards Sovereign’s Parade RMA Sandhurst, Camberley (10 45)
Saturday 16 Royal Marines Collingw’d Millennium Hall Concert Series HMS Collingwood, Fareham (19 30) Sunday 17 RAF Waddington Volunt’r Christmas Concert Terry O’Toole Theatre, Lincoln (15 00)
Sunday 17 RAF Assoc. Concert Band Carol Service Victoria Church, Weston-s-Mare (16 00)
Tuesday 19 Brass/Wind Quintet Christmas Recital Guards Chapel, Wellington Bks (13 10) Thursday 21 RMSM Bandmasters’ Concert 4 St Mary’s Church, Fratton (19 30) Thursday 21 Royal Marines CTCRM RMA Charity Concert Exmouth Pavilion (19 30) Saturday 23 RAF Assoc. Concert Band Carols at Bristol Airport Bristol Airport (ad hoc basis)
JANUARY 2018 Thursday 18 Royal Marines Concert Season St Mary’s Church, Fratton (19 30) Thursday 25 Scots Guards Household Division Concert Series Guards Chapel, Wellington Bks (19 00)
Saturday 27 RMSM Young Musicians Concert St Mary’s Church, Fratton (19 30) Sunday 28 Royal Marines Rotary Club Charity Concert The Anvil, Basingstoke (15 00)
FEBRUARY 2018
Thursday 1 Royal Marines A Night at the Museum Royal Marines Museum, Southsea (19 30) Thursday 22 Royal Marines Concert Season St Mary’s Church, Fratton (19 30) Thursday 22 Countess of Wessex’s SO Household Division Concert Series Guards Chapel Wellington Bks (19 00)
18 IMMS UK (Founder) Branch Journal – Winter 2017
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.
Despite the difficulty of
knowing which bands
will be appearing where
on London Poppy Day,
Colin Dean caught the
Band and Drums of The
Royal Gibraltar Regiment
at London Bridge station
on 2nd November, under
his old chum Bandmaster
Richard Burton.
(Photo: Colin Dean)
The Band of The Royal
Artillery, conducted by
Captain Neil Skipper,
played as The King’s
Troop, Royal Horse
Artillery, went into
action. The occasion was
the Royal Gun Salute on
14th November for the
birthday of HRH The
Prince of Wales.
(Photo: Colin Dean)
MARCH 2018 Saturday 3 IMMS Annual General & Quarterly Meetings Kneller Hall, Twickenham (11 00)
Thursday 8 Welsh Guards Household Division Concert Series Guards Chapel, Wellington Bks (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) Friday 28 RMSM RM Young Musician of the Year 2018 Royal Marines Museum, Southsea (19 30)
Date Band / Organisation Event Location / (time)
If this Journal is undelivered, please return to Hon. Treasurer, 32 Claremont Avenue, HERSHAM, Surrey KT12 4NS
On 31st March 1917 the first draft of uniformed members of the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps arrived on the Western Front.
Formed to free experienced soldiers from the rear areas for front line service, the WAACs were beginning the story of women’s
service in the British Army which continues to this day.
This centenary year of women's army service also marks 25 years since the disbandment of the Women's Royal Army Corps, formed
in 1949. Director of Music, Major Ena Forster, lead the band on for the last parade at Guildford in 1992. (Photo: Vic Hilsdon)
Treat yourself to one, or more, of these IMMS goodies! To order, fill in the table below, add your name and address, then cut out
and post, with a cheque made out to ’IMMS UK Branch’ for the Total Cost, to: Ron Shooter, IMMS UK Branch, 21 The Uplands,
Bricket Wood, St Albans, AL2 3UW.
If you order more than one book, these will be carefully packaged and posted separately. Please note that the P&P costs are for
postage to the UK only, so if you need postage outside the UK please contact Ron for a postage quote before ordering.
Item Price
(including P & P)
No. Required Cost
IMMS pin badge (brooch pin back) £6.50
IMMS pin badge (butterfly pin back) £6.50
IMMS men’s necktie (Navy blue) £12
IMMS men’s necktie (Royal blue) £12
IMMS cufflinks £18.50
IMMS ladies’ scarf £18.50
Book: Music Programmes from the Sovereigns’ Birthday Parades 1864-2008 (+ supplement to 2013)
£10
Book: The Music Makers - A photographic record of the bands of the British Army in 2015
£20
Book: Jiggs – A biography of Lt. Col. C H Jaeger OBE £20
Total Cost
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