On 12 September 1956 he was appointed Bandmaster of the Royal Dragoons (1st Dragoons), joining them in Germany and later serving with them in Malaya. He was commissioned on 25 January 1966 as Director of Music of the Royal Artillery Mounted Band, serving with them in Aldershot, Germany and Larkhill. Captain Evans was appointed Director of Music of the Blues and Royals (Royal Horse Guards and 1st Dragoons) in 1973, thus returning to his earlier Regiment following amalgamation. He said it was like coming home as he knew half the Regiment already. He spent a month with King’s Troop, Royal Horse Artillery for some individual equestrian tuition prior to joining the Household Cavalry riding course and, on completion, took part in Beating Retreat on Horse Guards Parade later that year. He was promoted to Major on 25 July 1975. Early in 1978 Major Evans was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and appointed Chief Instructor and Director of Music at the Royal Military School of Music, Kneller Hall. Amongst the high profile engagements in this appointment was conducting the Kneller Hall Trumpeters in St. Paul’s Cathedral on 29 July 1981 at the wedding of HRH Charles, Prince of Wales, and Lady Diana Spencer. He was Musical Director for the great Military Musical Pageants at Wembley Stadium in 1979 and 1981, conducting massed bands numbering well over a thousand musicians, in such works as Capriccio Italien and 1812, as well as a musical representation of the Battle of Rorke’s Drift to mark the Centenary. Colonel Evans was appointed OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours of 1982. He retired from the Army on 6 January 1983 but remained at Kneller Hall as Professor of Conducting and Curator of the Museum, until the end of 1990. He was appointed a Vice President of the International Military Music Society on 1 January 1980, who have a long association with Kneller Hall, becoming the first Branch President of the Society’s United Kingdom Branch in 1998. He continued with his golf well into retirement, capping on his achievements of having won the Guards Golfing Society Cup, Army Golfing Society’s Championship Medal and the Royal Artillery Prize during his time. He passed away on 21 March 2011, aged 85, after a long illness. George is survived by his wife Joy and two daughters to whom we offer our heartfelt condolences.
Captain Chris Sayer MBE Late The Blues and Royals Christopher John Sayer was born in a private nursing home in Sidcup, Kent on 24th of April 1947, a child of the post World War 2 era. His early months were spent living with his parents at his grandmother’s house at 13 Eltham Green Road, Eltham, later moving to the families first home, 26 Windmill Lane Long Ditton in Surrey. He attended St Andrews secondary School in Cobham, where he harboured dreams of becoming an actor. In his own words, he achieved very little at school excelling only in amateur dramatics, performing in numerous school plays and operas. Aged 15 years and 3 months he left school after four years attendance without any qualifications, intent on pursuing a career as an actor. However his father was not overly enthusiastic about a 15 year old boy attempting to become an actor in the 1960,s so instead he was encouraged
to seek suitable employment that would finance his acting ambitions for the future. So in the summer of 1962 Chris joined the Junior Leaders Regiment Royal Armoured Corps as a Junior Trooper. He proved to be a natural right from the start and threw himself into the two year course with great enthusiasm. He especially enjoyed all the adventure training conducted in Devon for two weeks every term. Here he learnt rock climbing, abseiling, potholing, shooting the rapids on the River Dart and much more. He went aboard the mighty HMS Eagle aircraft carrier which was in port at Plymouth in 1962 and was amongst the few Junior Leaders to sample the delights of target towing for the Naval Guns at King Alfred gunnery school. This was done by motor torpedo boats towing a target ½ a mile to the rear of the boat however due to the rough seas the boys were mostly below suffering from seasickness. Chris was one of the few that actually managed to line the decks on entering harbour when the runs were complete. At 16 he was a fully qualified Centurion Main Battle Tank Gunner / Radio Operator and later went on to drive the vehicle. Just before passing out Chris decided to train for P Company and this proved to be a good decision as he qualified as a parachutist with distinction. Arriving in Herford Germany in Jan 65 Chris was full of expectation when posted to C Squadron. The next day he went before Major TNPW Burberry for his welcoming interview. He was asked what trades he had and after proudly telling of his tally of Centurion qualifications he was somewhat deflated when told he was no use as the regiment were equipped with Saladin Armoured Cars. This was put right over the following few months on conversion courses. Assigned to 4th Troop as Ct Gavin Tweedie’s gunner/operator, and was well regarded. In 1967 Chris met Brenda Fox; they both originated from Cobham and both attended the same church youth club. On the 18th April 1970 Chris married Brenda who supported Chris throughout his Army career and they went on to have two boys named Mark and Daniel, both grew up to be serving Police Officers, a source of great pride. Over the following years Chris rose steadily through the ranks serving in Pirbright as an instructor and then back to the regiment in Windsor. He served in Cyprus with A Squadron and also back in Germany where the regiment after amalgamation. He became a Squadron Corporal Major under Major Hywel Davies. They formed a very strong bond and together ran a very happy Squadron which was to reap benefits a few years later. On promotion to WO1 he served in the multi-national force in the Sinai, and then as GCM Tidworth Garrison. His dream was realised in December 1985 when he was appointed Regimental Corporal Major of the Service Regiment in Detmold Germany, delighted to serve Lt Col Hywel Davies who was the Commanding Officer. One particular morning the RHQ officers heard the RCM yelling out of his window at the American officer attached as a Squadron Leader. The Squadron was returning to barracks from a run and the Sqn Ldr had them chanting US Army style which upset the RCM. The exchange went as follows: “Sir … you are commanding a British Squadron and they do not chant.”
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