NAVY NEWS, AUGUST 1997
37
• Left: HMS Collingwood's Volunteer Band came second to HMS Sultan as this year's Best Band but won out in three other categories.
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• Below: The Collingwood band in 1947. • Bottom: HMS Gannet's band, circa 1894. Note the two buglers of the Royal Marines Light Infantry - and the liveried faun mascot!
In tune with their times volunteer music makers of all age IHESE
three photographs span over a century of h Royal Navy Volunteers and their predecessors, the 'Bluejacket Bands' writes Lt Brian Mills, Supply Officer Music at HOBS RM, HMS Nelson.
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They also show their long tradition of support by the Royal Marines - continued to this day with the latest RN Volunteer Band Festival at HMS Collingwood. The picture of HMS Collingwood Volunteer Band taken 50 years ago includes their RM instructor - and even the remarkable portrait of HMS Gannet's band, circa 1894, features two buglers of the Royal Marines Light Infantry. These bands have a special place in the history of the RN - and its finest traditions of amateur music-making were observed this year during an intensive and very entertaining programme which saw musicians of all ages and skills, from novice drummers in their teens to former professional musicians in their sixties, gathered in competition. The common thread that binds them is their love of music and this was clearly reflected in the enthusiasm with which they strutted their stuff on Collingwood's parade ground under a less than encouraging grey sky. All sorts of unlikely combinations have flourished on board ship. Back in the 1920s HMS Dauntless had a jazz band as well as a traditional military band - augmented once again by a Royal Marines bugler. In more recent years the bands have been placed on a more formal footing with the introduction of Instructors from the Royal Marines Band Service as Bandmasters, known as VBIs. Some understanding of how they viewed their appointments can be gleaned from this extract of a poem published in Blue Band magazine in 1970:
Aye, Aye VBI
There's a Royal Naval Establishment South of Fareham Creek Where strange sounds are emitted Several times each week. 50 strong produce a banshee's wail, Notes noth low and high Welcome, reader, may I present Your resident VBI Instrumental balance, what is that? Drafty is a thief. Solo cornet leaves our shores Negative relief! Four Euphoniums, two tenor Horns, A soprano who does but try. Three clarinets, 14 side drums, Deafened VBI And so, dear reader, I must state Although at prose I am no hand, This Volunteer Band in Collingwood Is the finest in the land. But before you decide to draft me, sir, I'll shout it from the sky Don't volunteer for my job, lads, Grovelling VBI The RN Volunteer Band Festival grew out of a competition in which volunteer bands of the Fleet Air Arm competed for the
Bambara Trophy. This was widened to include volunteer bands competing for a variety of trophies in 1973 and since then has been held annually with bands travelling from all over the country and from Gibraltar and other far flung stations. Most coveted trophy is the CinC Challenge Trophy awarded for the best band overall, which this year went to HMS Sultan. Collingwood came second, taking the Rose-Morris Trophy, but also won the best marching display and best drum major sections. Over the past four years the newly re-established RN Pipers Society have made regular appearances, bringing in their own very distinctive style. Their sterling support for the Festival -
given despite the fact that they could not compete in their own right - was recognised this year with their award by Admiral Jeremy Blackham, the president of the RN Volunteer Band Association, of the Daedalus Trophy for the band whose performance reflected its finest spirit. Results: Best Band Overall - HMS Sultan; Second Placed Band Overall -HMS Collingwood; Best Marching Display-HMS Collingwood; Best Concert Performance - HMS Nelson; Second Placed Concert Band - HMS Neptune; Best Fleet Air Arm Band - HMS Seahawk; Best Drum Display - HMS Dryad; Best Drum Major HMS Collingwood; Best Soloist-HMS Heron.