NeffCollins
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Band Colour Sergeant N. F. Collins (Neff)Sadly Norman (known as Neff) passed away on 2nd Septembe 2009.
He was very proud of his service in the Royal Marines having served on numerous ships, including the Royal Yacht in the fifties and sixties, as well as HMS Victorious, HMS Bulwark, HMS Vanguard, HMS Ceylon and many others. He also taught music at HMS Collingwood among others.
I have many photographs covering his period of service and would be happy to pass them on to any historian of the Royal Marines who would be interested.
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Hornblower
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Aww, that's so sad - please accept my sincere condolences for your loss.
I was a very young horn player on my first draft from the box at Deal when I was sent to Chatham in April 1972.
The section was Neff, Wally Waters, me (Stuart Thorn) and Ginge Ashton, but he was drafted not long after I joined so I don't have very many memories of him. In fact the only thing I remember (and I hope it puts a smile on your face) was doing a concert in the Dockyard with him and Wally - Ginge was recovering from a heart attack - there were a few remnants of stage equipment from some production or other at the sides of the stage and they looked like giant loo rolls.
Well, when one of us mentioned this (with a humourous comment) it was one of those moments where you're on full display knowing that you cannot laugh - of course, that makes it more difficult not to. All 3 of us were inveterate gigglers and trying not to laugh during the concert only made it worse - we just kept trying our best to ignore each other, with pathetic results.
All I can say is when Neff tried to play a solo and saw Wally's shoulders silently heaving and hearing our gasps of breath, it wasn't the best sound he'd ever produced!!!
Rest in Peace Neff, you helped give me one of my most memorable moments during a concert 
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Nick B
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I never served with Neff but it is always sad when one of our number pass to the Massed Bands above
RIP Neff condolonces to all His Family 
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2nd Clarinet
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I, along with Hornblower, served with Neff for a very short time in Chatham and didn't get a chance to now him well.
My thoughts are with his family.
R.I.P. Neff........
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