Scotland Band

by BdCpl P Hume

Scotland Band’s return to work from Christmas leave was a case of hitting the ground running, with an LP recording, a week of military training and an FA2 course to squeeze in before February. The venue for our recording was the Kingdom Brass Band complex in nearby Kelty. Armed with the working title ‘Northern Lights’ and a programme of determinedly Scottish music from Mendelssohn’s ‘Hebrides Overture’ to Ceilidh Band, Scots fiddle and bagpipe features we embarked on a week of rigorous rehearsals, followed by an even more intensive week of recording under the baton of Capt Ann Miller RM, directed from the shadows by recording engineer and former RM Band CSgt Andy Deacon, ably assisted by our ‘tech’ specialist Cpl Matt Wilson.

Map reading stance during military training

With the recording complete, we packed our kit for a week of military training. Previously we have utilised the firing ranges at Barry Buddon, near Arbroath, but this year our ITR package was moved to Surrey, (equally picturesque, a little further away but just as wet) and so a traditional nine hour Scotland Band coach journey ensued before a busy couple of days at Pirbright, completing the Combat Fitness Test and Annual Combat Marksmanship Test under the watchful eye of CSgt David Jenkins before transiting to Longmoor Camp in neighbouring Hampshire for day and night navigation exercises and a refresher on bivvying up in a harbour position.

By contrast, instead of travelling from Rosyth to Hampshire for our FA2s course, the FA2s came to us! Under the direction of Mr Darren Smith MStJ from HM Naval Base Clyde, our Corps of Drums rehearsal room was transformed into a dressing station/emergency First Aid post, the orchestral suite strewn with resuscitation dolls and stretchers, and four days of hard but rewarding work saw us fully qualified for the next three years.

We continue to enjoy close links with the students and staff at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester and a week of rehearsals followed by a joint concert has become a welcome fixture in our schedule. Despite the concert falling on Valentine’s Day, Dunfermline Abbey was packed to the rafters – perhaps music truly is the food of love! BdCSgt Matt Collis started proceedings with ‘Sea Songs’ by Knox, BdSgt Richie Burton prepared for his forthcoming Bandmasters’ course by conducting ‘Romance’ by Bourgeois, and Capt Ann Miller RM rounded off a splendid evening with Sparke’s ‘Sunrise at Angel’s Gate’, which incidentally features on our forthcoming LP. We look forward to continuing our fruitful relationship with the RNCM in the future.

CTCRM Band

by Musn C Jones

After returning from Christmas leave, CTCRM Band began the term fulfilling its regular King’s Squad Passing Out Parades, HMS Raleigh Divisions and local concerts in the Exmouth Pavilion. In addition to these staples in our output, the Band took part in two recruitment events in Devon and West Sussex respectively. In Devon, 12 ranks joined the Devon Youth Wind Orchestra for a day of rehearsals and to give a presentation on careers in the RMBS to the young musicians. Ranks also attended TYMBAFEST South, a coming together of TYMBA (Traditional Youth Marching Bands Association) bands in which RMBS personnel supported sectionals and musical development, culminating in a performance at the end of the day.