Never bring your dad to your pass out parade

jamesb135 · Never bring your dad to your pass out parade

Its not quite RM Band but it may as well have been for the day.
Having just completed a 'GRUELING' 7 weeks basic at RAF Halton ( groans from the lots that went to Swinderby) my parents attentended the passing out parade. I am standing to the edge of the parade square all posh and proud with the band of the RAF Regiment in front. I would have prefered it if it was a Royal Marine band, but hey ho. Next thing I spot my dad, Nick Buckley, come running across the parade square towards the band. I stand there thinking to my self "I know he has been out of the Marines for a few years now but he has finaly lost it". he then starts chatting to the band master and one of the drummers who then turn at my squad laugh and wave!
After the parade I met up with him in the bar where I was given a well deserved pint and tot of pussers (it was tail end of December!) and I asked him, "who was that you were talking to that was laughing at me?"
Turned out to be Alf Bromley and Zooney Hart and a few others who were all in the band with my dad. Great just what you want! But just goes to show that the senior service doesn't always win, must pay better in the RAF hey! (stand by for influx of abuse!)

Co-admin

James,
GeoffComber was also RM Band and went RAF Music.
I wish I could remember all my passout parade, it went so fast! I remember JJ Moore was the inspecting officer and my dad played a blinder in the Churchill Club.

There we were and my dad (ex RN Submariner) bimbled upto the VIP Major General JJ Moore and said
"Hello, you don't remember me do you?"
"No, why? Should I?"
"Yes, I'll remind you"

Off went me dad on a dit about being off Korea and JJ Moore, a young Captain at that time, lost his Same Browne. My dad found it for him and took it upto him in the conning tower... JJ remembered him and then I had to meet the VIP

. Never mind a Kodak moment, this was a Brown Pants moment!

GeoffComber · hi

Well , nice to hear from Nick again , in a sort of roundabout way. I was a friend of your Dad's when I was with the Staff Band at Deal. He got me into the RAOB I seem to remember. Do send him my regards. As for Geoff Hart , he was another oppo at Deal and then again later at Uxbridge when I re-enlisted . It was a bit odd . When I got to Uxbridge he was the first guy I saw , the next was a chap called John Wale who I joined up with so it hardly seemed that different ! I served for several years with Alf at my last band , the RAF College Band at Cranwell. You wouldn't think it to look at him but he is a highly skilled show-jumper. On a horse I mean , he doesn't run round and .......oh never mind.
There were actually quite a lot of ex booties in the RAF in the early 80's but I don't think there are very many now. I even did a couple of years in the local TA band up here , apart from Carl Markham I can't think of anybody else that did all three. Mind you his was better , he went from the Marines to the RAF to the Welsh Guards !
Silly Sod
Oh and you're not the only two with a well connected Dad . Years and years ago we went to the D'Oyly Carte to see a G&S (what else) and my Dad was recognised by the conductor , the much esteemed Roy Nash , who spent quite some time chatting to my Dad and actually delayed the kick-off doing so. Turned out they joined up and trained together at Burford !
Its a bit like being a member of some secret society. The Baffia ?
All the best
Geoff

jamesb135

I cant remember that much of my parade. That and the band played the theme from Star Trek and there was a trekkie in my flight (NO it wasn't me!) I think he had to go and change his pants afterwards if you get my meaning! Oh and dad was wearing his corps tie, on an RAF station as well!
Thanks Geoff i will say hello for you, I keep trying to get him to join the forum but he his stubborn as you may remember, likes to make out that he isn't but you know. I hope he doesnt join now, knowing my luck he will and read this. DOH!! He is still kicking around in Deal driving the trains for the channel tunnel along with several others from the band service.
Anyway take care all and speak soon.
James (Jamie to most people who knew my dad(i hate that name))

Nick B

Yes Son I have read it!!

Dad

hartg

Hi to the above - Geoff Comber, Nick and James, Geoff Hart here!

Ex-RAF Central Band and RAF Regiment Band since 1999, now a WO1 in the Band of the Royal Air Force of Oman teaching percussion.

Reading the account about Halton brought back memories of doing parades there in the winter, not good for the soul, or the circulation come to that!

One particularly windy day we'd marched on the troops and were stood there like lemons awaiting the vip. At some point it started to stuff it down with rain, we were stood at ease and shivering away to an early demise in the downpour.

Having endured this for some minutes, I decided to make an informed observation from the midst of the percussion rank that it had ... "turned out nice again." Bit of an understatement really!

The band lost it big time, the DM was jumping up and down like a crazed baboon imploring us to shutup in the best tradition of Windsor Davies in "It ain't 'arf hot mum" and the DoM's shoulders were heaving up and down with laughter at the front as the ViP arrived!

Fortunately the Drum Major (Harvey Baigent) had forgotten all about it after we'd poured ourselves off the parade square. Lucky me.

One other dit concerning same D.Major was when the band used to do the Metropolitan Police Pass-out parade at Hendon.

So there we were all formed up and raring to go when the aforementioned DM decided to inspect the band. As it was nearing winter, I had grown my hair a bit longer than the norm for a military outfit.

D.Major with his beak very close to mine and looking asconce at the flowing sideburns... Hart! You could have done something with your hair this morning...

Me: I did Drum Major, I combed it.

Band loses it again. For a second time, no rollicking, lucky me!

I digressed from the original subject..actually I suppose it was a full 180 degree turnabout, my apologies.

Ah well, back to the sand, sea, camels and 40C heat.

All the best

Geoff

Co-admin

Harvey Baigent was down in Pompey not so long ago as a guest at the Red Jacket dinner. What a nice guy and he did bring his sense of humour with him!