We are often
asked about the origins of the RMA Concert Band: when did it start and why?
Good questions; the short answers are June 2006 and because a demand existed!
| Various attempts had in fact been made over the past three or four
decades to form a band comprising former Royal Marines musicians, but other
than the Royal Marines 'All Stars' which forms for one annual concert only,
somewhat surprisingly nothing permanent developed. However, in May 2004 Major
Paddy Dunn, the RMA Chairman, happened to attend the Chelsea Flower Show and
was impressed by the quality of the band that day playing on the bandstand. It
turned out to be the Guards Association Band! That evening he telephoned the
RMA President, Brigadier Simon Hill, and announced: "We're going to form a
band!" Somewhat taken aback but no doubt catching the enthusiasm in Paddy's
voice Brig Hill replied: "Fine. Let's get on with it then!" |
Guards Association Band - Chelsea Flower Show
2004 |
| This is not
the place to bore readers with any detail of what happened next but, briefly,
Paddy contacted Capt Ted Whealing who at that time was just coming to the end
of his 15 years appointment as Director of Music of the Royal British Legion.
Several expensive lunches later a plan had been sketched out involving an
initial costings estimate (£50K) and an outline of how best to resource
the fundamental requirements such as uniforms, a music library, music stands
and banners, funding etc. |
 |
The support of the senior retired Principal Director of Music, Lt Col
Paul Neville OBE MVO FRAM RM, was then sought which he kindly gave
wholeheartedly following which the plan was put to the Commandant General Royal
Marines for endorsement. At a meeting with the Principal Director of Music
Royal Marines, Lt Col Chris Davis OBE BA(Hons) MMUS DMA LRAM RM, in November
2005 Brig Hill defined the vision for the Band and Ted Whealing was appointed
its first Director of Music.
The bands first rehearsal at Whale Island - June 29th
2006
click here for a larger
image (picture will open in a new window) |
By then word
had seeped through the RM 'Bandy' grapevine and in May 2006 the first gathering
was held at Whale Island. 30 former RM musicians turned up - to Paddy's and
Ted's delight and considerable relief - and the plan for the Band was
explained. On 29th June the first rehearsal was held in the somewhat confined
space of the conference room in Director Royal Marines building and about 35
musicians responded to the first downbeat of Ted's baton with Kenneth Alford's
On the Quarter Deck.
|
Progress was swift and by September that year Ted felt that the Band
was sufficiently competent to appear in public for the first time and they duly
travelled to Lympstone to play at the RMA annual reunion, wearing white shirts
and Corps ties as the uniforms had not yet been delivered from the
manufacturers. In January the Band recorded its first CD 'Once A
Marine…..', a tribute to the Corps' widely recognised strapline, 'Once a
Marine, always a Marine'.
The Bands first ever gig! - CTCRM Sept 2006 |
 |
 |
As word about the Band's initial success spread its membership grew
rapidly and in early 2007 it was decided to move to the palatial 19th century
surroundings of the Royal Marines Museum at Eastney which then became the
Band's permanent home (and undoubtedly the world's finest band room!)
We remain indebted to the
Museum's Trustees for this considerable help, and similarly to the Director,
Chris Newbery, and his staff.
Click here for a larger image (picture will open in a new
window) |
| The first
fee-paying gig was held at the Station Theatre, Hayling Island on Saturday 17th
February 2007 and since then the Band has been fulfilling engagements on a
roughly once-a-month basis. Early highlights included playing at the Falklands
25 Commemoration event at Lancaster House in London - this is the first
building on the Mall adjacent to Buckingham Palace; and at the Torrevieja Music
Festival on the Costa Blanca in Spain, as the UK representative band. Numerous
other successes followed - these are described in detail in the Band's twice
yearly newsletters - and today the Band, now over 60 members strong, undertakes
a demanding schedule of engagements stretching into the future. |
The bands first ever concert - Station Theatre
Hayling Island - 17th February 2007.
Click here for a larger image (picture will open in a new
window) |
| We are
committed to providing the highest standard of performance and musical
excellence in the same way that our colleagues in the five bands of the serving
Corps continue to thrill audiences the length and breadth of the country, as
they have done for over a century. In a phrase, it's brilliant to be back on
the gigs circuit and we're extremely proud to again wear a Royal Marines
uniform. We believe we have a very great deal to offer the public and the wider
Corps Family. After all, between us we have well over 1,500 years of
accumulated experience in the music business and, importantly, no shortage of
enthusiasm. |
|
|
|
