Old drum solos

JazHaz · Old drum solos

In the 1980's I remember going to the School of Music in Deal with our Band on a day trip. Not sure of the year, but probably around 1983/1984!

We learned drill, and had instruction on our various instruments. I seem to remember learning a drum solo called Tarabewky. I'm not sure how that should be spelled, does anyone know?

Wee Mac

Tarabewky, was composed early in 1981 by the then Sgt Bugler Errol Flynn (with a little help of the Turtle Club, if you can get him to admit it) when he was i/c of the Cdo Forces Corps of Drums. It was used for the Massed Bands display at the Royal Tournament, that year.
If you want to know any more, ask Errol. (WALOS)

JazHaz

Thanks for that.

Incidentally we have recently used another RM drum solo, Loch Leven, in our competition routines for TYMBA contests (Traditional Youth Marching Band Association). I think its a really nice solo.

I think we won best drum section at the 2007 TYMBA South East of England Contest at Hornchurch, Essex, because of our use of the solo! Several of the RM judges commented positively on it!

Wee Mac

The Drum static "Walos", written about the same time as Tarabewky by Errol, again with Turtle club assistance. Apart from the Turtle Club, does anyone know what WALOS means. No help turtles please!.
And for those who don't know or haven't figured it out. Tarabewky was written as a tribute to the Corps Drum Major, Dave Buchanan.

General Melchett

I hope his "impending discharge" cleared up, sounds painful
What A Load Of........

Wee Mac

Sorry General, a bit more sentimental than that. Any more want to try?

bootybandy

Anything to do with Satchwell???

Wee Mac

MrJpig

We All Love Our Selves?

Wee Mac

MrJpig

Was DAN a member??

We All Live On Sausages

riknoc310

Was It "We All Love Our Sergeant"

Wee Mac

Wee Mac

admin

I thought it was 'What a load of $heets' Uncle Errol said it was anythehoobut

Wee Mac

Sorry MrJpig, forgot to answer your question. I served in the Cdo Forces Band for most of its existence. and Dan was never there. I don't know if he was there in the 60's. ?

Over to you Dan!

Dan A

I was in Commando Forces Band when it went to CTCRM...when I was at Stonehouse it was the Plymouth Group Band....
Dan

Wee Mac

Thought there was a chance, you might have Served In Guzz Dan. People tend to forget, or are not aware that there was a band in Stonehouse before the Commando Forces Band. I know that Errol and Dennis were there in the 60's. Would any more, like to admit to being a Stonehouse Bugler or Musician? A lot of well known names were in the Stonehouse Bands over the years.
DOM's, Drum and Bugle Majors

Pompey Rich

Did anyone record 'WALOS'?

Wee Mac

admin

WALOS wasn't, to my knowledge, recorded

Tanky

bootybandy

We want More....We want More.....

admin

You go for it Tanky... I bet it was more than nippy round the trossachs!

Wee Mac

I was told about the cricket, played in the long dorms before they were converted to smaller rooms. Also, .......at one time, the band lived in Plumer Barracks, Crownhill and had to travel in from there as well.

Hornblower

Keep 'em coming Tanky.

I'm (a lot) younger than you, but even I remember the H blocks with the big geared spinners in the hubs... (Yawn - lamp swings...)

Any dits about them? I remember losing quite a lot of money (nearly £10!!) in card games to the old sweats of Chatham band when we were billeted in them waiting for some ship or other - Albion I think?

Tanky

Our time spent in HMS Drake had to conform to the RN and there were lots of rounds even in a stone frigate. Evening, Commanders and Skippers so you can imagine we were glad to get out of there and being a young B3 bugler Drummie Jeff Knox had it in for us with KIT musters etc. and it didn't matter how good your kit was, drummie upended your bunk slating us all off in the process. The older members of the band (20 and over) were not entitled to grog either which did not go down too well when the band of HMS Drake itself had the pleasure. I can honestly say that the accomodation for the naval ratings were not very good at all and when I previously mentioned the cockroaches in the galley it was an achievement to find a table free of these awful pests. As a young sprog I was made to do lots of bringing and fetching for the older members, one of which was to collect the dobie from the laundry. I didn't mind but they played a huge joke on me by doctoring my bill. The sheets had an extra fee for scraping!! I went straight back to the laundry and queried this and was told that some strange marks (creamy in colour) had to be scraped off. I was furious and stormed back to our mess where the whole corps of drums were waiting. Yes, you guessed right, it was a set up and it took a long time to live that one down I can tell you.

Enough for now see you later.

Len

Oi Tanky,

Were you on the Victorious with me? And others of course!

Tanky

Errol

Very good thread this.

Ref WALOS.It was never recorded.When I took over as the SNCO from Jock McCartney the DoM asked me if we could play something other than 'Black Bear' as a static. hello !!!!!!! So I wrote WALOS and after its first playing,he asked me what it was called,I replied We All Love Our Sergeant.....but the lads knew it was really called What A Load Of S**t.

Ref Tany's yarn,We used to practice in an old 'bowling alley' in Stonehouse Bks.A lot of the windows were broken and some were missing. There was no heating so in the winter we played indoor cricket at times to keep warm.

The inlying Buglers accomodated in HMS Drake as Tanky states were double bunked in one large mess with a couple of grots at the end for the JNCO's Namely John Ginty.Phil and Dave Jones (Mr Head)There were about 28 of us in the mess !! Young and badgemen alike.Anyone recall Buzzer Bee,and Bungy Williams? In those days there was always lots of draughts available, so as people went, new faces came in and told us of the various Bands/Ships and'stone frigates the had returned from. From the mess we lived in you could see the Aircraft carriers and Cruisers etc in Devonport docks.Quite memorable times.

After having cleaned up for rounds and us 'sprogs' out of training had our gear inspected,the evenings were spent watching a television. (except when Kennedy was shot and the tele went off) and playing cards. John Tansy learning at a young age how to hustle.
I remember the laundry incident well..Christ, did Johnny Cox pi$$ off out the way fast.He valued his life I think Tanky.

After Drake they sent us inlying 'lepers'up to Crownhill to a crabby old ex army camp called Plummer barracks.They built a police station on the site later.

Oh the fond memories.

Errol

Tanky

Errol, in Stonehouse, remember seeing the old washing machine tubs that were worked manually? thank god we didn't have to use them. Also the various warship models? I bet they would be worth a fortune now.

Getting back to the move from Drake. I'm sure we moved into Stonehouse first before moving to Crownhill as I left to join the Victorious and on my return the band had moved into their newly renovated accommodation. I agree the Crownhill accommodation was crap as we had to clean it from top to bottom with Drummie Knox breathing down our throats. Bugle Major Cloke was a breath of fresh air though. At least you could talk to him.

There was one incident in Drake that I always remember and that was when John Ginty arrived with other senior members. The atmosphere came to a boiling point which resulted in a mighty punch up between two people. Weapons used included an iron and a kettle. Afterwards though life became more tollerable although bullying from the older members continued.

Wee Mac

Tanky, or Errol,
What you refer to as the bowling alley, did that become the indoor range?

I also seem to remember being told, that it was necessary for the band to commute between the two barracks for meals ?

Errol

It was down below the now SNCO's mess.behind the block where the Buglers grot was Mac.I think its a car park now.
Regarding meals. we had breakfast in HMS Drake,lunch at Stonehouse and evening meals back at Drake.Before I got down there, I know not what mate.

Errol

Your right Tanky, we did move back into Stonehouse when some of the refurbished blocks allowed some of 43 Cdo to move over to the modernised blocks.
There's a unit from the past 43 Cdo. We had to use the outside toilets down behind the block and Millbay Road.

That punch up occurred after Gints came back from doing his B1s at Deal. It was between him and a bugler called Jock Patterson. Jock used to wash his hair every day and wondered why he was going bald.
Other bugs there, were Pete Biggs. Jock McCartney, Ginge Holligdrake,Sunshine Gould,Taff Grimes, Brian England,'Your mate'Johnny Cox, John Tansey,Henry Hall and Al Sutciffe. I think Dave Hallett arrived only when we got to Plummer. Trouble with the amount of draughts going was that the faces kept changing,so to speak.Others,I can't at the moment recall.
Do you remember the morning it snowed so much that we had to help push the RN bus up the hill to the barracks.Oh what fun and frolics !!!

Errol

Wee Mac

Wee Mac

Correction. I think that Eric left in 1972?

Errol

I believe Alf was the last,pity he had no sense of musical phrasing.

Dan A

Alf was also a Kings badgeman....i was one of the faces that dropped in and out of Drake and Stonehouse in the mid sixties....I was on the Eagle with Keith Bounsall who was a Plimuff boy.....we were in the band block at Drake for a while...at that time they were accommodated in Anson block i think it was called down by the dockyard gate next to the wardroom well away from matelots......Gabby Greenaway was the Sgt with Pete Ogley, Smiler Marsden, Rupe Callow and Jackie Glanville...no one bothered us too much as we were waiting to go back on board after a mini refit..... it was about that time that Drake started issuing tots in the dining room...after the band had drawn the weekend tots for everyone and I think Neddy Gee and Dip Hillman drank the lot....

I recall Jeff Knox visiting to see Jo Fairclough...and picking me and Keith up for haircuts....so we moved back onboard to avoid him....LOL.
Great days...too much booze but lots of laughs....

townsergeant

Brilliant thread lads!

Good to see many familiar names that I can relate to and one or two not so familiar!

I look forward to reading some more.

Well done!

Errol

Ah Joe Fairclough commonly called 'floorcloth' by the lower deck.

He was Jeff Knox's shadow. If you ever seen Jeff ashore,rehearsing massed bands at Deal, there would be Joe asking " what do you want to drink Jeff".
Joe would ring up from Drake on a Monday and ask Jeff what he is doing that week ? Kit musters came the reply.
Guess what was in store for the band at Drake!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wee Mac

Pete Ogley was still Lurking about, when i arrived in Stonehouse, in 1972. Apparently, he was the only Bugler to have served on a Submarine?
When i was sent to FOP Band for an "Ag" show, Jack Glanville introduced me to the delights of the "Pernod Bus".

When Ernie passed away in 1981, i volunteered to play at his service, as we had already started our summer leave.
As i stood at the entrance to the Crem' chapel and family and friends filed by, it suddenly dawned on me , what i had let myself in for. So many ex Drum and Bugle Majors, Bandmasters etc.. It was ok though. The Royal Tournament had just finished and i had been under Tanky's " Guidence" for several weeks.
At the time of his passing, Ernie was Landlord of the Clarence on Albert Road. I got home about 0400, the next day. Kath, Ernie's widow, sent a huge bunch of flowers to my Misses for detaining me for so long.

Dan A

Mac....I am afraid you are wrong about Pete Ogley being the only Bugler to serve on a Submarine......and I am sure he will come back on a fill you in for forgetting...Tanky was also a sub bugler...he served in HMS Odin for some time, by request of the skipper......I recall him being sent from Deal on at least one occasion......I dont think he even had his own bunk...having to hot bunk...I recall a lot of his dits as it was so unusual....even the movie which apparently was one of only a few they had on board..MAJOR DUNDEE......where are you Arfur.....lets have some Odin dits.......by the way Tanky and me were married on the same day same time same year....NO not to each other you clowns!!!
Dan

Wee Mac

Errol

Surely the late George Coad must have done a submarine trip.

But George could have his own thread.

Wee Mac

The only one that i heard George tell about Subs, was when he was on an Aircraft Carrier, going thru the Suez Canal. Something about a dead sub being in the way and using one of the ships cranes to move it!!!!!!!!!!!

Errol

Obviously not the Aircraft carrier he apparently he foul hooked in Plymouth sound and swore he was reeling it in towards the not so big fishing boat.

Wee Mac

Not heard that one LOL.
I'm just off, to start a George Coad thread.

Errol

That will keep you busy.

Wee Mac

Wee Mac

Any old buglers ever play RMSM beatings? It was still part of the need to know stuff for B3's that we had to learn. I never got to play it after training.
All that arm swinging etc.

riknoc310

We tried it once as an idea for mess beatings, but never used it in anger.

Errol

We used to play it when I was young for mess beatings at Plymouth.!!!
That was before Black Bear went into the hit parade.

Wee Mac

Any idea who wrote it Errol?

Wee Mac

And did you do all the swinging of arms etc?

Errol

No. we had drums,so we played them.

Wee Mac

Errol

Mac, we are talking about a very technical era here mate.

Wee Mac

Errol

Know the name,but I do't think I ever serve with him.

Wee Mac

Before going to Stone house in 70/71, he was at at HMS Drake then went to FOSNI.
I believe he spent some time in Cdo Units. I am not sure but, he may of come from your native area?
Anyway,...not the sort of bloke to argue with, although he not a bad un.

admin

We did 1st and 2nd mess beatings in one of the Deal 'Epic' mess beatings... started off old and then moved forward through time to the really modern stuff. I'm sure it was a Tommy or Dave Kerr gig...

Dan A

I served with Stu in FOSNI and shared a cabin with him on the QE2....what do you want to know?

Wee Mac

Not me, i knew Stu in Guzz. I was saying in a previous thread, that when you are a 17 Bug II and some one like Stu tells you to stop making a racket with those "fkucing sticks", it was wise to comply. Would not happen to day, some people join up as 3 badgers and the attitude to go with it.

PS. Dan, did you meet the lovely Hazel?

Tanky