The Royal Marines Band Service On-line Community

Ginge Deary · Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2009 1:39 pm Post subject: THIS IS/WAS ME!

Name:

Keith Robert Deary (AKA Ginge)

Date of Birth:

23rd August 1945

Place of Birth:

Cromer, Norfolk

Early Years:

I began to learn music at the age of eleven and was regularly top of the class in examinations, even though some pupils had been having private tuition since the age of seven. I was invited to join the school band. (Paul ‘Jim’ Green was already a member and Tim Lincoln joined a year later.) Within a couple of years I was principal cornet and by the age of fourteen was winning area contests as a soloist. (Just goes to show how bad the rest were- and I've blown my own trumpet ever since!)

As the summer of 1960 approached, Bandmaster Bailey RM visited the school on a recruiting drive. I was summoned to the headmasters office for an ‘audition’. Bandy Bailey liked what he heard - or was desperate for recruits - because he asked to speak to my father with a view to me joining the RMBS.

Joined RMBS:

25th October 1960

Instruments:

Solo Cornet/Trumpet

Chronology of Service:

J WING Oct 1960-Aug 1963

7/60 New Entry Squad October to December 1960:

J/Musns:

Geoff Bishopp (Younger brother of Terry).
Clarinet & Violin

Bob Carthew (Changed over to Bootneck).
Cornet & Violin.

Keith (Ginge) Deary.
Solo Cornet.

Geoff (Boot) Hill
Euph & Cello

Mike (Jonah) Jones.
Clarinet & Violin.

Chris (Snaggs) Maggs
Clarinet & Violin

Dennis (Jock) Spalding
Solo Clarinet.

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J/Bugs:

Burrows, Cogman, Deveux, Ellis and Jeffries.

Commandant General Squad Easter to Summer 1963

Gary Brownrigg
Flute & Piano.

Keith (Ginge) Deary
Solo Cornet

Lou Fox.
Clarinet, Saxophone & Violin.

Bob (Jack) Frost.
Basses.

Mick (Titch) Hayes
Cornet & Violin

Malc Mortiboys
Flute & Piano.

Martin (Taff) Ruffle
Flute & Piano.

Dennis (Jock) Spalding.
Solo Clarinet

Rod (Twinks) Starr.
Flute & Piano.

Geoff (Ginge) Young.
Cornet & Violin

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HOME FLEET BAND, H.M.S. Pembroke Sep 1963-Apr 1964

(Included 3-month cruise on H.M.S. Devonshire,)

Bandmaster: Bert Farlow.

H.M.S. EAGLE Apr 1964-Sep 1966

Bandmaster: Dave Elliott.

STAFF BAND, RMSM Deal Sep1966-Feb 1970

Left RMBS:

20th February 1970

Where I Am Now:

Folkestone, Kent.

Later Years:

In the summer of 1969 I met Christine (AKA The Dragon), who would eventually become my wife.

In those days it was common for ‘Drafty’ to move you on after you had been at a posting for 4-5 years. Bearing in mind I had been at Staff Band since 1966 I believed it would not be too long before he was ‘on my case’.

For personal reasons I didn’t want to leave Deal at that time so I requested Discharge By Purchase and this was granted in 1970.

Since leaving the RMBS I worked continuously in transport, passenger and heavy goods, until ill health forced me to retire early in 2000.

My ‘bread and butter’ work got in the way of gigging and I gave up playing for many years. I was eventually persuaded to come out of mothballs by Andy Mytum for the All Stars Band. The late Pete Selby invited me to go for a blow with the Hythe Town Band, of which he, together with Don Peerless and the now late John (Freddy) Flux, was a member. As I had a few days off work, I went for a blow at their rehearsal. The Bandmaster asked me to join them whenever they had a weekend concert, which I was able to do, as by this time my B&B job didn’t involve weekends.

When I had my enforced retirement in 2000, I was asked to join the Kent Police Band. Their conductor at the time was Ray Mosely. Two other members of the band are also ex RMB’s. Andy Rowett and Mike Scurfield.

In 2002 I joined the City of Canterbury Brass Band for a period of five years.

In 2003 (or was it 2004) I joined the new St Edmunds Community Symphonic Wind Band, created and conducted by Graham Harvey. Other ex RMB’s in this band include Pete Rose, Alan Shankland, Ian Clarkson, Brian Tupper, Keith Davies, Steve Misson, Mick Eastbrook, Don Peerless, Dave Burridge, Dave Mutter, Andy Wall, Dave White and Alan Adshead.

I have also done a few gigs with The Railway Swing Band, The Invicta Wind Orchestra, Maidstone Winds, The Invicta Band, Broadstairs & St Peters Band and Betteshanger Band.

There’s life in the old dog yet. Just!

townsergeant · Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2009 1:53 pm Post subject: Re: THIS IS/WAS ME!

Hornblower · Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2009 1:58 pm Post subject:

Welcome Ginge.

We 'overlapped' by a few months - but I was in training.

Good to see you in here, I recognise quite a few names in your lists.
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ITMA!

Ginge Deary · Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2009 2:12 pm Post subject:

Hi Billy

Sorry about the omissions but I scribed this a while ago and failed to update it before I posted it.

Sits back. Points finger at head. Says 'RED' backwards.

See you tomorrow.

Ginge

2nd Clarinet · Posted: Mon Jun 15, 2009 6:25 am Post subject:

Welcome to the forum Ginge!
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Money can't buy happiness, but it can buy marshmallows, which are kinda the same thing...!
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