Major John Kelly BMus(Hons) FLCM LRSM Royal Marines

townsergeant · Major John Kelly BMus(Hons) FLCM LRSM Royal Marines

Received from Lt Col Chris Davis via Lt Col Graham Hoskins.

''It is with deep regret that I have to inform you of the death of Major John Kelly Royal Marines. John had a neurological condition that is extremely rare and was largely untreatable. He passed away last night (Monday 30/6) and I am told slipped away peacefully with his family around him.

John had been ill for the last 4-5 weeks and had spent some time at the London Bridge Hospital where he was being treated for a very rare brain infection. Our thoughts and prayers are with Wendy, Sam and Jade at this very sad time''

http://www.royalmarinesbands.co.uk/reference/MajKelly.htm

Errol

RIP John.
A real gent.Found out about his passing earlier today,although unfortunately it
was not unexpected by his family or friends here in Deal.

Bilvers

I had heard that John was not well, and it is very sad to hear of his death. I trained and served with John over the years and he was always a good friend and companion. He will be sorely missed by all that his brief life touched. Rest in Peace John

Stuart

dustydrums

My sincerest wishes to Wendy and family at this sad time. John will be greatly missed.

2nd Clarinet

Sad to hear the news......RIP John Kelly.

General Melchett

A great Boss and a true gent. A very sad day.

admin

A sad day. John was a friend, neighbour (for some time), gentleman and an all round good egg. There will be an official announcement from the PDM later in the week with other details to follow.

Rest in peace John... our thoughts and sympathies go to Wendy, Sam and Jade

Hornblower

RIP John.

bootneckbandy

I too would like to wish Wendy and family my deepest sympathy, I served with John both under training and when serving in Deal Band between 87 and 89 and again for a short time in 1990; true professional. RIP shipmate.

EricAckroyd

I was very saddened to hear this news.

My sincere sympathy to Wendy and family at this sad time.

Steve Quirk

Kratos

A shock to say the least! John was always very supportive of me as a young bandie. Rest in Peace shipmate.

Matt Gates

Wave Dilson

Just heard the very sad news from Dougie Graham.

Another of the euph players guild and the HMS Nelson WO&CPO's Mess double duff club to go far too early.

RIP John, best wishes to Wendy and the family.

Dave and Lesley Wilson

Wolfy

Deeply Saddened by the all too premature departure of John to where we all hope is a better place. Rest Easy now John. Thoughts and heartfelt sympathy to your nearest and dearest.

Nick B

I have just heard the sad news about John. Pat & I wish our heartfelt sympathy to Wendy and all His Family.
RIP John another Brother passed to the Massed Bands above.

bootybandy

So very sad to hear of yet another fine man and musician taken from us far too early. Deepest sympathy to Wendy and family. RIP mate.....Bri.

sticky blue

R. I. P.

eastney hooker

R.I.P John

Dan A

Tragic news, RIP John.
Dan

Gary Pumford

Deeply shocked to hear the very sad news. John and I had been friends and colleagues for many years, he will be sorely missed.
Our heartfelt sympathy goes out to Wendy, Sam and Jade.
Rest In Peace mate.
Gary and Liz

geushky

RIP John, our thoughts are with your family...

Jimbo

RIP John, very sad day. A true gent and a pleasure to have worked alongside.

Sarah Royle

I studied with John at the LCM and was very very sad to hear the news of his passing away.

He was such a lovely lovely man. Eternally cheerful and always willing to help out with anything. I'll always remember his smiling face during wind band rehearsals and how proudly he would speak of his wife and children.

I distinctly remember one conversation about the best way to iron a shirt. He was always wearing beautifully ironed shirts and I was asking him for tips - he put the rest of us scruffy students to shame!!

RIP John. I'll think of you smiling down on us.

My sympathy and thoughts go to his family.

Sarah xxx

townsergeant

Wolfy

Welcome Sarah. Sorry your first post here had to be related to Johns Passing. Great to hear such a tribute. Don't be a stranger now you have joined us.

evs131 · Maj. John Kelly Royal Marines

John and I were mates for some time and we followed each other around from Band to Band. I shall miss him and my deepest regrets go to Wendy and the children

townsergeant

Just to inform you that the Funeral Service for Major John Kelly will be held at St Mary's Church, Walmer on the 6th August 2008 at 11.00am.

admin

Confirmed the above with Wendy and all details are correct.
From Wendy and the family NO FLOWERS AT ALL please, details of donations will follow as soon as they are confirmed by the family...

selwyn · john kelly

My heart goes out to Wendy and the family. My sincerest condolences to you all at this tragic time. Words may comfort, time may heal but memories ... all the good times, you have forever.

bootybandy

Well said Selwyn. That is one thing that will never be taken away. Memories are for ever.

admin

Further to the last from the family:
Serving personnel to wear uniform as detailed:
Officers: No1 Dress (Blues) Neg Swords, with gloves and medals, Mourning bands to be worn by all officers.
SNCOs: No1 Dress (Blues) Medals, gloves and white belts, Mourning bands worn by all SNCOs.
ORs: No1 Dress (Blues) Medals, gloves and white belts. ORs are also to cover the second button of their blues tunic with black cloth.
Civilian clothing: NO Black at all. Please wear cheerful ties and outfits (this is in celebration of John's life)
No flowers at all, only flowers will be from Wendy, Sam and Jade
Donations for RMBSAF Cheques made payable to "RM Band Service Amenities Fund" and sent to the Corps Bandmaster or Blue Band at Headquarters Band Service, HQBSRM, Eastney Block, HMS Nelson, Queen Street, Portsmouth, Hants. PO1 3HH.
There will also be a collection in the Kingsdown Golf Club on completion.

Everyone is welcome to attend:
1100hrs St Mary's Church Walmer, Deal
On completion Cremation at Barham Crematorium CT4 6QU
On completion Kingsdown Golf Club (The Leas Kingsdown CT14 8EP)
Wendy, Sam and Jade will be delighted to see everyone at all or any part of the celebration of the life of John at the Church, Crematorium or Golf Club

kingfisherman

Sorry to have heard the sad news of John leaving us so soon, I went through training with John and must say what a GENT, not a nicer man would you hope to meet.

R.I.P John

Condolences to you Wendy and the family.
Kevin (one of the twins)

admin

Major John Kelly was born in Luton on 13th August 1961. John began to learn the Piano Accordion at the age of 11 having been influenced by his brother and eventually took part in the ‘All England Piano Accordian Duet’ competition. He also played Baritone in Challney High School Band.
John decided to embark on a musical career with the Royal Marines Band Service and joined as a member of 1/79 troop at Deal in January, 1979 playing Cello and Euphonium.

On completion of his musical training, John was drafted to the Staff Band at the Royal Marines School of Music.

Although his instrumental instructors influenced his musical career, it was a PT instructor, (CSgt ‘Tansy’ Lee) who provided John with the greatest influence of his life - his daughter Wendy. Wendy met John whilst performing in a production of South Pacific in Deal’s Globe Theatre. Romance blossomed and they were married on 31st July 1982 in St Michael’s and All Angels Church, Deal.
John was a very accomplished musician and as a brass player he was regularly selected for Fanfare Teams at major events undertaken by the Deal Band in the 1980s including Royal Tournaments, a Royal Wedding and a three month tour of the USA.

His musical versatility was evident with his proficiency on the Piano Accordion, but the Cello was his favoured instrument and his playing was to flourish whilst performing with the orchestra at the numerous winter concerts in Deal. Although this was a particularly busy time for John especially with the arrival of his two children, Sam in ‘86 and Jade in ‘88, it was also a particularly happy time.

It was not only music at which John excelled; he was also a fine sportsman playing for RM Deal and on Sundays, the Deal RMA football teams. He was also an accomplished racquets player, representing RM Deal at tennis and squash. In the late 1990s John was introduced to golf and again excelled at a sport that he instantly enjoyed, achieving a very creditable handicap of seven and again playing representatively, resulting in the award of Corps Colours.

His enjoyment of amateur dramatics led him to taking principal roles in two hugely successful Sgts’ Mess Pantomimes in the Globe Theatre at Deal. He was a natural actor with the added bonus of perfect comic timing.

John completed his Junior Command Course in 1988, gaining the highest marks and coming top of the course and continued to consistently achieve high marks and passes on every course and interview board he undertook.

On completion of the Bandmasters’ Course he served as a Volunteer Band Instructor onboard HMS Invincible for a seven month tour of duty in the Adriatic, for which he was awarded the Bosnia medal.

In 1996 he was promoted to Warrant Officer Bandmaster and posted to RMSoM, initially as the Academic Instructor, Junior Training before becoming the Chief Instructor, Higher Training. After promotion to WO1 in 1998 John was appointed Bandmaster of the Band of HM Royal Marines Portsmouth until March 2000, during which time he took the Band on numerous high profile engagements including overseas visits to St Petersburg and Brisbane. Whilst in this post he was successful in passing the Admiralty Interview Board, resulting in a Commission with promotion to Lieutenant in April 2000. His initial Staff Officer Training provided another example of John’s ability to take on something new and immediately produce outstanding results, when the Admiralty Board awarded him the prestigious ‘Sword of Honour’ for meritorious results.

John went on to study under Patrick Bailey and Martin Ellerby at the London College of Music and Media where he graduated with a Fellowship in Conducting and a First Class Honours Degree in conducting and composition. On completion of his studies he was awarded the Silver Medal from the Worshipful Company of Musicians.

In 2002 John was appointed to the Band of HM Royal Marines Scotland where he proved to be a most popular and gifted Director of Music. His ability to raise and sustain high standards from his musicians and buglers is clearly displayed through the very successful recording that he directed and produced with them, entitled “Scottish Royals”.

John was drafted back to Portsmouth in 2004 to work within the Directorate Royal Marines as SO3 Band for one year and on completion of his Staff Course in 2005 was promoted to Major and became the Staff Officer Band Service. Both of these administratively intensive roles proved John’s natural abilities at dealing efficiently and effectively with time-consuming, complex and urgent issues concerning RMBS management, organisation and policy alongside Band Service issues in relation to the Corps, the Royal Navy and the other Services. He undertook everything with an intelligent and logical approach and in difficult situations John was completely ‘unflappable’, inspiring confidence in all who worked with him.

Despite holding these busy posts and commuting home to Deal every weekend that he could, he still managed to find time to include music in his life by generously volunteering to conduct and rehearse the Emsworth Band and later, the Hampshire Police Band. Rarely taking an afternoon off to play sport, he also still managed to play squash regularly and maintain his golf handicap.

In September 2007 he was appointed as Director of Music to the Band of HM Royal Marines CTCRM and in February 2008 brought them proudly to the Royal Albert Hall for the Mountbatten Festival of Music. As testament to his musicianship he not only concluded the first half of the concert, conducting the Massed Bands in a sparkling arrangement of the music from West Side Story, but also featured in Robin Dewhurst’s composition, Earth Rites playing his Piano Accordian.

John easily accomplished more in his 46 years than most could dream of attaining in a lifetime.
In April this year John began to show signs of the debilitating illness that was to claim his life. His personal fitness and strength, combined with his relatively young age enabled him incredibly, to survive for two months.

Despite the best possible medical care administered by some of the country’s leading consultants, doctors and staff in a leading London hospital, John finally succumbed to his illness on Monday 30th June 2008.

Typical of the fight and determination that he consistently showed throughout his life, John only conceded defeat once he had returned to the one place in the world where he was always at his happiest, the happy and relaxed surroundings of his own home in Deal.

His colleagues, neighbours and acquaintances have lost a good friend who was totally reliable and always good-humoured with a sharp, lightning-quick wit. Away from the confines of work where he was consistently the consummate professional, John has always enjoyed and was totally relaxed in the comfort of his own home. Anyone fortunate enough to have attended a party at “The Kellys'” (and there are many of us because there have been many parties), would have been privileged to have seen John ‘at home’. He genuinely relished hosting his guests and with tireless energy appeared to be everywhere at the same time, welcoming and introducing guests, ensuring glasses and plates were filled, inviting and encouraging others to join him in a dance and more recently, always being first in the hot-tub!

The RMBS has tragically lost not only a gifted and talented musician who for many years gave musical contributions of the highest quality, but also a first class officer who as a Director of Music ensured his bands flourished and enjoyed their work and as a Staff Officer had enhanced the life of everyone serving within the Band Service with selfless devotion to his role.

Our deepest condolences go to all of John’s family, especially Wendy, Sam and Jade who have lost a loving and devoted husband and father, also to his many friends and colleagues. He will be sorely missed by all.

bootybandy

A fitting tribute to one special person. The RMB will be a poorer place without him. RIP John.....

Major John Kelly BMus(Hons) FLCM LRSM Royal Marines

Maj. John Kelly Royal Marines

john kelly