Archive for The Royal Marines Band Service On-line Community Bringing the serving and ex serving communities together          The Royal Marines Band Service On-line Community Forum Index -> History/RNSM/Burford/Divisional Bands Pompey Rich Bands In Pompey I've just purchased the programme from Beat Retreat, Horseguards 1973 from ebay (sad but true). There is a photo printed inside of The band of HM Royal Marines Portsmouth (80 strong) beating retreat next to HMS Victory. Would this band be from Eastney or HMS Excellent and just how many RM bands were in and around the Pompey area? Thanks. Wee Mac When i left training and joined the Band in Eastney in 1971, there were three Bands as far as i can recall. Eastney, Whale Island and HMS Daedalus. I think there was also a Band in HMS Vernon at one time before that. A really old person would know for sure. PS. Some of the info on your 1973 HG's Programme is incorrect. It should state after the Bugle calls and Fanfare, 1810 Beatings = Slow Beatings Drum Torque  = Static Claymore       = Marching Solo's Pompey Rich What was 1810 Slow Beatings? I've never heard of that title before. bootybandy That's when they should have started at 18.00 but were a little late !!!! Pompey Rich bootybandy wrote: That's when they should have started at 18.00 but were a little late !!!!   Wee Mac Pompey Rich wrote: What was 1810 Slow Beatings? I've never heard of that title before. Neither has Twink! 1810 Beatings , was a basic piece of drumming that had to be learnt in training. No doubt you have heard the Battle of Trafalgar, by Albert Elms. It starts off with 1810 and then Lilliburlero Pompey Rich Many thanks Wee Mac. Mr Bass Trombone Pompey Bands, circa 1960s. Eastney,HMS Excellent, HMS Victory(AKA HMS Nelson) HMS St Vincent, HMS Collingwood, HMS Arial(AKA HMS Daedaulus) never can recall a band in HMS Vernon?? plus of course in those day's all Aircraft Carriers based in Pompey had bands on, IE HMS's Hermes, Centaur,Victorious, Albion, plus Cruisers HMS's Blake and Tiger. That should keep you going for a wee while. Adios. charles laws You forgot Lion, that's when somebody remembered I played at Solo Cornet and they sent me, with Terry Freestone and John Hargreaves so they could remind me I was surposed to be a Musician and not a swimmer. Mr Bass Trombone Sorry Charlie. 2nd Clarinet I wonder, at its height, how many served in the RMBS at the same time? How many seperate Bands? How big would that Massed Band have been? When would that have been? How many Drum Majors would it have been across? styx Bands in Pompy In 1964 for the ter-centenary we put a massed band in excess of 400 out for the beat retreat on Horseguards. styx Pompey Rich Re: Bands in Pompy styx wrote: In 1964 for the ter-centenary we put a massed band in excess of 400 out for the beat retreat on Horseguards. styx I wouldn't mind betting that all RM bands were not in attendance either. styx Bands In Pompey As far as I can remember there were the three divisional bands, Pompy, Plymouth and Chatham plus the Staff band, RMSM band plus Fosni, Fonac. Manadon Band and Dartmouth Band plus some others. styx Wee Mac Re: Bands In Pompey styx wrote: As far as I can remember there were the three divisional bands, Pompy, Plymouth and Chatham plus the Staff band, RMSM band plus Fosni, Fonac. Manadon Band and Dartmouth Band plus some others. styx Apologies for going off thread but, didn't Chatham Division close in 1950? What happened to the Divisional Band at that time? townsergeant Bands for the Tercentenary B/R 10th June 1964: Commander's -in-Chief  Portsmouth, Plymouth & Home Fleet. FONAC. Portsmouth & Plymouth Groups. RMSM. BRNC. HMS St Vincent, HMS Raleigh & HMS Thunderer. (Thanks to John Ambler's Book, 'The Royal Marines Band Service' and my Programme!) Mr Bass Trombone I think as a Group Band it was disbanded leaving only the two Portsmouth and Plymouth. I think probably the Band Service was probably at its height numbers wise sometime in the mid to late 50s the size of a Massed Band in those day's would have been kin enormouse but a major logistical headache to pull everyone in, remember there were bands in, Malta, Singapore,Aden, New Zealand,plus all your shore bases in the UK and of course in those day's we had a Navy and lots of Ships had Bands on board. Drum Majors required probably not enough qualfied to do the job?? Hornblower South Africa too???   styx Bands In Pompey Chatham Band was not The Divisional band it was CinC Fleet band and had moved to Pembroke when the RM barracks closed in the 50's styx 2nd Clarinet Re: Bands In Pompey styx wrote: Chatham Band was not The Divisional band it was CinC Fleet band and had moved to Pembroke when the RM barracks closed in the 50's styx   Western Fleet................ joe90 Re: Bands In Pompey 2nd Clarinet wrote: styx wrote: Chatham Band was not The Divisional band it was CinC Fleet band and had moved to Pembroke when the RM barracks closed in the 50's styx   Western Fleet................ ....and prior to that I think it was Home Fleet when I first arrived in 1968/9. Frank Williams was the BM and in his introduction said "half the band are pissheads, half the band aren't, I don't care which you join in with as long as you do your job" - fair enough. 2nd Clarinet Re: Bands In Pompey joe90 wrote: Frank Williams was the BM and in his introduction said "half the band are pissheads, half the band aren't. Ahhhhh.....I now see the qualifcation for being either in 'Port' (A) Band or 'Starboard' (B) Band. euphless When I joined the band in Chatham in 1959 it's title was Nore Command Band. The boss was Lt Tommy Merritt and there were 2 remaining members of the Chatham Divisional Band, Sgt Vic Chandler & Cpl Ernie Rann or Rand. Lofty Wee Mac So,.........in answer to my question, the band moved from Melville Barracks to Pembroke? Did the band loose the "rose" from the Cap Badge, straight away? Dan A Disbanded and moved to Deal...I think...no one thought to maintain the white rose of york they wore in their hats..as plymouth wore the POW plumes...the 1964 band was 28 across with 5 Drum Majors...which was probably the biggest band ever put on HGs... Hornblower Wee Mac wrote: So,.........in answer to my question, the band moved from Melville Barracks to Pembroke? Did the band loose the "rose" from the Cap Badge, straight away? Don't know the answer to your question Mac, not long enough in the tooth for that - I do know that Pete Sumner made an attempt to get it reinstated but was told, I understand, that the Divisional band that was entitled to wear the rose no longer existed so - no joy...   We toyed with the idea of inserting a dogend, but decided it would probably be frowned upon. BTW, am I really the only person that knows where that extremely derogatory, but pretty accurate, term came from and when it came into being? I'm willing to bet that Chatham Band was never known as the dogend band before the year of our lord 1973. Anyone wanna argue? I was there when it started and I know how it started and no, it wasn't me who coined it. George Tate was there too, someone ask him. Where is he anyway???   Wee Mac Hornblower wrote: Wee Mac wrote: So,.........in answer to my question, the band moved from Melville Barracks to Pembroke? Did the band loose the "rose" from the Cap Badge, straight away? Don't know the answer to your question Mac, not long enough in the tooth for that - I do know that Pete Sumner made an attempt to get it reinstated but was told, I understand, that the Divisional band that was entitled to wear the rose no longer existed so - no joy...   We toyed with the idea of inserting a dogend, but decided it would probably be frowned upon. BTW, am I really the only person that knows where that extremely derogatory, but pretty accurate, term came from and when it came into being? I'm willing to bet that Chatham Band was never known as the dogend band before the year of our lord 1973. Anyone wanna argue? I was there when it started and I know how it started and no, it wasn't me who coined it. George Tate was there too, someone ask him. Where is he anyway???   Did some one make a "dogend" remark, during HG rehearsalsin 1973,........and it stuck ? Hornblower Good guess - but no, that's not it...   admin George Tate is alive and well. He is a Mr now on his new ship, citizenship! He can be found on quiz nights in the mess in HMS Nelson Tanky Regarding the Chatham Dogends.  I remember in '61, travelling to the Albert Hall for a boxing tournament, going through New Cross I saw a large number of vagrants drinking and smoking. Someone on the coach shouted out in no familiar term, "LOOK IT'S THE CHATHAM DOGENDS" referring to the Chatham Band. Every time I went that same route we used to shout, "UP AN AT EM CHATHAM" but couldn't recognise their Drum Major. Eric Hayward I joined Chatham Band in 1957 and served there until NORE Command, as it then was, closed down in 1961. Lt. Tom Merrett was indeed the DofM. When I first walked into the Band Room I was met by the three ex Chatham Division members who were still serving. They were Musn. Len Pankhurst (Flute/Piano) Cpl Earnie RANN,(Cornet/Violin/Drum Major), and Sgt Vic Chantler.  Len retired shortly after. These three at that time still had the Rose in the cap badge but were made to remove it shortly after. Howevr if one could get closeup photos of the closing down  parade of Nore Command, which was the day that Vic and Earnie finally left the service, they would see that both were wearing the Silver Rose in the old division cap badge. The inspecting Officer and the RSM never picked it up but it would have done no good if they had. They were both civilian by 0800hrs the following day.     Incidendaly, Len Pankhurst was sent on survivors leave during WW2 THREE times. I can't remember the ships he was on at the time. RAB Hornblower wrote: . I'm willing to bet that Chatham Band was never known as the dogend band before the year of our lord 1973. Anyone wanna argue? LOOKS LIKE IT STU..!!!!!   Tanky wrote: Regarding the Chatham Dogends.  I remember in '61, travelling to the Albert Hall for a boxing tournament, going through New Cross I saw a large number of vagrants drinking and smoking. Someone on the coach shouted out in no familiar term, "LOOK IT'S THE CHATHAM DOGENDS" referring to the Chatham Band. Every time I went that same route we used to shout, "UP AN AT EM CHATHAM" but couldn't recognise their Drum Major. This is looking interesting Tanky, as your version sheds even more controversy on the creation of the illustrious name. I can only say I went there in '69, and I never heard the term used at that time. That doesn't mean I'm disputing your version of events mate.(unless you meant '71 of course) charles laws I was thier in 1957, with likes of John Hoare, Jim Dowling ,Popsie Langford, plus the old ones and I never heard the saying. Tanky Definitley '61 chaps ABA championships. RAB I wish Duggie Drysedale was on here.  He knew EVERYTHING about Chatham... And taught me a thing or two...     Hornblower Yeah, Dougie might know! He was certainly there at that time. Interesting dit Tanky. 1961 eh? Maybe I'm wrong then and someone already knew about the name and simply resurrected it? But - I think (and will endeavour to confirm) that the person who made reference to the Chatham Dogends which gave rise to this discussion probably wasn't aware of your excursion to RAH and subsequent reference to the dogends in your tale. Admin, why don't you sidle over to George next time he's in, give him my regards, and ask him if he can remember? Tell him he was very definitely there at the precise moment and see if he can come up with anything... Tanky The vagrants meandering around tha area were always picking up cigarette ends hence the name dog-ends but for the life of me can't remember who titled this to the Chatham Band. By the way, in those days it took 3 hours to travel from Deal to London and the coaches we used that day were Pussers with sit up and beg seats. 2nd Clarinet I got my draft to Chatham in '72. I remember us being 'Mushrooms' BEFORE we became 'Dogends'. But, I do not recall the term for us folks at Chatham as Dogends, untill a later year. Maybe it was a secret term of reverence given to us by jealous Staff Bandies........! Dan A I agree with Tanky...when i joined the Staff Band from Training in 1964....any vagrants passed on the way to London..were all named as dog ends or chatham band.... Tanky Thanks for that Dan though I thought for a mo I must be getting senile with old age. Eric Hayward Chatham Band was denigrated by all and sundry long before any of you "Young" people  were even thought of, and even before I joined them in '57.  But and this is a BIG BUT, the band was never dereliict in the duties they were to perform. I would defy anyone to say we were. I can't say that I would have approved of the title you are now giving them. Perhaps I'm getting a little testy in my OLD age. There again you all, I would hope, will be OLD one day. Perhaps it is now time to drop the subject. townsergeant It's a bit of fun........sense of humour failure? bootybandy Some of the finest Musicians in the Band Service have been in Chatham at one time or another in their career. I'm sure people can throw one or two names into the hat...... Hornblower townsergeant wrote: It's a bit of fun........sense of humour failure? I agree. How can you drop the subject when it's part of the history of the RMBS? It happened and still happens. I have respect where respect is due and I respect your thoughts on it Eric - not just because you're OLD, OK? You have your point of view and that's fine, I respect that. But you can't just make people not talk about their past anymore. (Unless you get a Drum Major on your side...) I'm not the most politically correct person in here and refer to the dogends frequently, but I'm quite proud of the title actually and I'm afraid you have to respect that too, even though I'm very YOUNG. Feel free to enter into the debate further if you want and I'll be more than happy to do that in the open or via Personal Message. I'm not having a go at you or your AGE, I got over that years ago.   Eric Hayward point taken 2nd Clarinet Well said Stu.............. I was PROUD to be 'called' and 'be' a Chatham 'DOGEND' (and still am proud!) styx Bands In Pompey This may be a silly question to some but how the hell has Chatham Band taken over this thread that is "Bands in Pompy" styx townsergeant That is not a silly question! RAB Re: Bands In Pompey styx wrote: This may be a silly question to some but how the hell has Chatham Band taken over this thread that is "Bands in Pompy" styx   .. It's called the art of thread hijacking mate. Happens all over the Forum...   A finer art is to get it back on subject     townsergeant I hear that Tesco are going to take over MFI. An old mate of mine from Pompey Band bought a chicken from Tesco today..... .....when he got it home, the legs fell off! RAB townsergeant wrote: .....when he got it home, the legs fell off! Well I'll be Dogend...Errr sorry Dogorrrrrrrrn.... Tell him he can return it to Tesco's in Chatham.... 2nd Clarinet RAB wrote: townsergeant wrote: .....when he got it home, the legs fell off! Well I'll be Dogend...Errr sorry Dogorrrrrrrrn.... Tell him he can return it to Tesco's in Chatham.... YESSSSS !!!!!!!     Well Done RAB.......!        The Royal Marines Band Service On-line Community Forum Index -> History/RNSM/Burford/Divisional Bands Page 1 of 1