bootybandy
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Buying Instruments on Retirement ??When I retired from the RMB in November 1995 I was not allowed to buy the instruments I had used (and sometimes played) during my career. This ruling was brought in at the end of 1994 by some Bootneck Auditing officer. Has this now changed or is it still not possible to purchase your 'ooters on retirement.....Booty :O)
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General Melchett
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No, Still not changed Booty - from what I can remember, and hear this was a tri service policy implemented mainly by the Army (I think (who else?)) And was to do with the fact that we were the only trade that bought its kit on retirement. And the Generals did'nt like it! I think as usual they missed the point!
Regards,
Melchett
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bootybandy
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Cheers Melchett, I was on that 1990 recording "Fleet Review" but it was Dick Waterer in charge then and not Mick Goss. Do you think you're getting your recordings mixed? It was in that little church somewhere or other when Billy Walker came to assist with the horn section as you well know......Booty :O)
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General Melchett
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I think we both may be in a muddle here, Mick Goss left in '93 - About May time, when Dick Waterer took over. I know this because I was errm removed from the Band and drafted to FOSNI after an altercation with an RAF Policeman at a charity Rugby match between the Band and the Camp  . Stu Bilverston took over from me as 1st. This was the Band that recorded Dick Waterers first and Fleet Bands last CD, which contained some - shall we say ringers, Billy being but one!
the section then being (May '93):
1st Stu Bilverston
2nd Martin Dawes
3rd Russ Perkin
4th Spence Brown (of England Rugby fame)
Fleet Horns circa '90 (Fleet Review) were:
1st Taff Dempster
2nd General Melchett
3rd Omar Sherriff
4th Gaz Marchant
Also augmented in true Mick Goss stylee by the Trombones!
The actual quote comes from Pomp & Circumstance No1. 3rd page I think and a bloomin' long day, we took it in turns to split notes in the main tune (quiet section) so off to the top we went again. The last straw was when the giggling broke out......... Happy Days, and yes we thought he meant it!
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bootybandy
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Yes, quite right. Dick Wateres CD was called "Admirals Regiment". By the way have you been in touch with Taff Dempster recently. Is he still in Germany, which also reminds me, I remember you telling me that you took a German GCSE at school. I remember this because there was a discussion about the pronunciation of a German word that contained an "Umlaut" and I pronounced it correctly and you backed me up saying the same thing. It's funny what the brain recalls over the mists of time.....Booty :O)
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General Melchett
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Bloomin' hell or Got im Himmel! should I say, got me there, yes I do still sprechen sie Deutsch - very handy in Hamburg 
The last thing I heard about taff (John Dempster)was from Craig Henderson who had seen him at Si Cracknell's wedding last year? Just before all that lot left Brit Plod and went to become Mounties - Si, Al Reed and someone else?
I believe he is still teaching Horn in a college in Germany. Well remembered on "The Admiral's Regiment" CD!
This forum is beginning to spook me a bit now, it's like being spied on by the gestapo!
Jos
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jamesb135
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Hi, any chance of butting in here a bit. My dad was going to buy his sax upon leaving the service but sadly a certain bandmaster who wont be named but he's at Dartmouth now, dropped it down the stairs of Dartmouth band rooms on the the way to the coach when he was a cpl!!! Needless to say there wasnt much grief given!  But 'cos he had to get a new one he hadnt had it long enough to be able to retain it! Never mind. Just thought I would put in my 2p. Carry on!
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bootybandy
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Your dad, Nick and I played Sax together on a number of ocassions. I also think we might have had the same Violin professor under training, Cyril English, but I might not be a 100% certain of that one...Booty :O)
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bootybandy
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It might also be suggested in some parts, that your Dad's saxophone "Threw itself" down the stairs rather than be held in his hands. I never said that of course......
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Co-admin
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Not a suicidal Sax?
Sounds like all my bugles and Eb Trumpets!
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Aaron Aardvark
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suicidal sax?? wow theres a thought ........for god sake NO one give the sax prozac....it may get better
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bootybandy
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Not in Nicks hands it couldn't...
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jamesb135
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mmmmmmmmm. I've only got one side of the story but it could be possible!!! Has any body considered the repercussions for the sax's family - has the sax paid its benevolent fund (dont know the equiv for RMB) subs? And was it wearing its hard hat and safety boot during the fall? Otherwise no payout!!!! health and safety and all that! 
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Co-admin
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A sax is for christmas, not for life 
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townsergeant
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Admirals Regiment CD 1994The Horn Section for the Fleet Band recording - 'Admirals Regiment' was:
Billy Walker
Spencer Brown
Russ Perkins
Kev Horner
Kev Lillington
Martin Dawes
AKA Safety in numbers! 
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General Melchett
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I didn't know that "big" Kev Horner was a ringer for that Bill...
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townsergeant
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Yes Jos! That section came in all shapes and sizes! 
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Crackers
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Just reading about my wedding !!! When??? Who to??? (Was it Dempster or Henderson????) - Stella & Tequila always were a dangerous combination for me!! Don't know where that one started,I'll join in though... Mind you....if I had a choice don't you think I'd pick Docker??....Why is he not on here?
All the nice girls......
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General Melchett
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Sorry Crackers, my fault. Could have been Jules. Craig (Henderson) was telling me the dit, and I've got it mixed up
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BoneManJohn
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Buying Instruments...(From the current ASOM - personal opinion, nothing official here...)
Ranks buying Instruments on leaving the service was deemed not best value for the taxpayers' dosh!
When we had a roughly stable band service (numbers thats is!) for each rank leaving there would be another taking his/her place - I.E. When we let one instrument go we would always have to buy a new one to replace it.
There was always a big difference between money recouped and money laid out (No One is going to pay new price for an old instrument, even if it was a well loved, faithful old companion)
The real benefit to the Band Service was in the way that people looked after their instrument so much better if they thought they might get to keep it later on.
Then there's the argument that we should be replacing instruments anyway if they are that old...
The current team of Jack Dusties have been trying to persuade the powers that be to re-instate this policy but my guess is that we are unlikely to see this happen again in the near future...
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