COMMENT

Lieutenant Colonel NJ Grace
BMus(Hons) FLCM LRSM RM
Commandant RMSM
and
Principal Director of Music Royal Marines

It does not seem like a year since I took over as the Principal Director of Music; a year which has had many highs and a few sad moments. I began my last article referring to the recent death of Musician Huw Morris at the end of November last year. Huw’s funeral took place in Wales and was extremely well attended by family, friends and colleagues. I am sure Huw would have been very impressed. I had the privilege of saying a few words at his funeral, these have been re-printed in this edition and I hope they provides a small flavour of his life in the Band Service.

My first year could not have rounded off better than with the style and performance of the Massed Bands in the Royal Albert Hall at the 38th Mountbatten Festival of Music. The success of these concerts is the result of a huge team effort from everyone who took part either as performers on stage, writing the music, those working hard behind the scenes setting the stage, technicians responsible for the sound and lighting, the Festival administrators, even the volunteers selling the programmes on the evening. However, I would like to highlight the work done by our Corps Bandmaster WO1 Tom Hodge as the Producer for the Festival, who has put in an extraordinary amount of work towards these concerts over the last 12 months. Not only did he ensure all the musicians were on stage in the right place, on time and with the right music, but he also wrote a superb arrangement of Scarborough Fair for solo flute. The other person I want to make special mention is our Corps Bugle Major WO2 Lee Cullen who not only devised the Corps of Drums display, but wrote and choreographed the stunning and highly entertaining Stomp feature, Brush up and Beat it. This was Lee’s final Mountbatten Festival of Music before he leaves the Band Service to join the staff at the Globe and Laurel magazine next month. Lee has been an outstanding member of the Corps of Drums and his dedication and commitment to his role have been exceptional. I would like to thank him for his work throughout his career in the Band Service and to wish Lee, Kim and their boys all the best for their future.

Lee is not the only one to be leaving the Royal Marines Band Service at this time. Colour Sergeant Dave Bromley leaves after 39 years 8 months outstanding service, which has seen him achieve the last 20 years as a Colour Sergeant. I have been fortunate enough to serve with Dave on HMY Britannia, where he served for 15 years of which the last 9 years were as the Bandmaster of the Royal Yacht Band. His service was recognised when he was awarded the Royal Victorian Medal for his personal service to Her Majesty The Queen. Throughout his career, he has been the consummate professional and the dedication, commitment and diligence he has given his work is a hallmark of Dave’s and he has been an inspiration to all of us. I would like to wish Dave and Yvonne all the very best for their future. By the time you are reading this article, I will be saying farewell to another stalwart of the Band Service, Band Corporal ‘Shuggie’ McGleish. Affectionately known as ‘Shuggie’ to us all, he is another totally professional person who has given his all during his career. He leaves the Band Service as the most operationally experienced musician who has served since the Second World War. He served in the first and second Gulf Wars in 1991 and 2003 respectively and then with the Plymouth Band he deployed to Kosovo in 1999 and finally last year he was part of the RM Band Service contingent who served in Afghanistan during Herrick 9. His music and character will be missed by us all and I wish Shuggie and his family all the very best for their future.

At the moment, the future for everyone in the country is a little unsettled as we are fast approaching a General Election and possibility of a new Government. No matter who wins the election, the whole of Defence will come under close scrutiny during the Strategic Defence Review which will follow the election. Military music could be seen as an easy option to make big cuts, especially when put up against major projects like the carriers, aircraft and missile systems. For some they might even argue as to the need for military music in the 21st century. Now, more than ever, I believe the benefits of military music need to be sung from the roof tops and especially what benefits military music brings to Defence and how it contributes to UK’s Soft Power.
The phrase Soft Power is not always easily understood, but my reading of it is quite simple. It is where you can influence, reassure, win hearts and minds, to maintain and build long lasting diplomatic relations without the use of force. This is where military music can make a significant contribution to Defence and should not be underestimated. I have been fortunate to witness some of this at first hand throughout my career, particularly in the operational environment. Music is an extremely useful tool and can be utilised to influence without the use of force in a positive manner. It is an enabler that can bridge language and cultural barriers to best influence either friendly or enemy forces. Deploying a Royal Marines Band overseas to assist diplomatic relations with foreign governments and regimes is a relatively economic use of assets. An example of this can be found when the Portsmouth Band deployed to Basra in December 2008 providing musical support to UK Force elements based at Basra airport. The first engagement was to perform a marching display to the Iraqi forces that were being trained by UK personnel. The UK ‘2 Star’ Commander (Major General Andy Salmon, Commander UK Amphibious Forces) hosted a visit from his Iraqi equivalent who had been most uncooperative until he witnessed the RM Band performing. Relations improved rapidly and the much improved atmosphere enabled delicate negotiations to begin and on much friendlier terms. Smaller elements of the Band were deployed into the centre of Basra and were able to perform to the local civilian population demonstrating that UK Forces were friendly and non-confrontational. It delivered a positive message to the people of Basra that maybe other armed force elements could not. Used in conjunction with other operational assets, music and the role of the Royal Marines Band Service are extremely effective and efficient at all levels of conflict.

The RM Band Service carries out its primary role, musical support to the Naval Service, on a daily basis. It is not just the major ceremonial events like Beat Retreat on Horse Guards Parade or the Mountbatten Festival of Music that RM Bands perform at, but last year the Royal Marines Bands performed over 1400 engagements in a 12 month period. Whenever a Royal Marines Band performs, it has a positive effect on public opinion, whether it is at home or abroad, which is extremely important for the Naval Service and Defence. What other Defence asset is able to provide that amount of positive effect at relatively small cost?

Operationally, the Royal Marines Band Service is unique, with the ability to carry out vital military roles as well as raising morale through their ability to perform numerous musical combinations under challenging conditions. I know that Senior Commanders do not underestimate the effect of this as part of the moral component in the operational theatre. To have the ability of utilising Band Service personnel that are already providing an operational output in theatre who can then provide an additional output as part of the moral component is an extremely effective and highly efficient use of assets. So when people ask you, "Is the Royal Marines Band Service relevant today?" I believe you can say without reservation that we are. This is certainly something that Band Corporal Shuggie McGleish has demonstrated throughout his career in the Band Service.

I would like to thank Dave Cole and the All Stars Band for putting together another concert that has generated more money for charity. Yet again they have donated £2,500 to the Royal Marines Band Service Benevolent Fund and I would particularly like to thank Stephen Misson for his work over the years organising this event as he now hands over the reins. Just a few weeks ago I attended a most entertaining concert by Ted Whealing and the Royal Marines Association Concert Band at Worthing. It was great to see and hear the enthusiasm of these retired members of the Band Service who are still obviously ‘living the dream’. The only fly in the ointment was a flat tyre when I got back to my car at the end of the concert. Personal thanks to Syd Tanner for helping a stranded PDM with changing the wheel.

Finally, this is a very important time for the Band Service as we approach the Strategic Defence Review. I want to let you know, and I am sure you are all well aware, that the Royal Marines Band Service could not be in better shape or position as we head into this review. The Royal Marines Band Service provides the Naval Service, Defence and the State with the visible manifestation of musical and ceremonial excellence that underpins the fabric of the nation, Service ethos and national core values. Uniquely for a service band it also delivers specialist military capability for the Royal Marines and the Royal Navy. This is value for money and something that the country cannot afford to lose.

Last updated 05 August 2010