The Royal Marines Band Service On-line Community

sticky blue · Posted: Fri Sep 01, 2006 11:11 am Post subject:

F$&k me

- don't time fly - on the 5th. Sept. 39 years ago I joined up
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Malcolm (Tommo) Thomas ex sticky blue
An advantage of growing old is that flossing your tooth takes much less time

Mr Bass Trombone · Corporal Joined: 27 Jan 2006 Posts: 439 Location: Spain

Fred,
Sorry again as I said before Charlie Bowden not Colin Bowden(no relation) was the Drum Major at the RMSM in the late 50s and for many years after that.Just for the record Charlie was appointed as senior Drum Major to the Corps at the RMSM in 1952, Colin who at the time of his appointment was an acting Sgt Bugalar became Drum Major in 1958 with some divine intervention from Sir Viv.I am not sure that the late Geoff was ever Drum Major at Eastney I can only remember him at Plymouth,and I joined in Jan 1956.I know silly old B$£%*&*.
As for the pub sign it was Charlie not Colin who was the model for this. When this public house changed its name it was at that time run by an ex RM captain by the name of Tommy Lennon and his wife. Tommy in his day was a very good boxer and became an excellent coach to the Corps. He later became and a well respected one at that a Referee for the ABA. In the old days when dear old Auntie Beeb showed the ABA finals often Tommy would be seen taking charge in the ring.
Next month is bar leaning time looking forward to seeing some of you there till then.
Adios Mi Amigos.
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Mr bass trombone

Fred · Posted: Fri Sep 01, 2006 5:41 pm Post subject:

I didn't know there were two Drum Majors called Bowden!

Have Drum Majors always been Buglers before rising to the dizzy heights? I remember Sgt Lambing (Lamming?) who was a Drill Instructor at the Depot taking (Bootneck) Recruits through training. His ambition was to be a D.M. and he eventually made it in the late sixties. Whether he had been a Junior Bugler who turned over to the Bootnecks I don't know. Does anyone remember him?

By the way, our Kings Badgeman was an ex-Bugler; Ron Blemmings.

Fred

sticky blue · Posted: Fri Sep 01, 2006 7:04 pm Post subject:

Things have changed but back in the old days thing were different - Charlie Bowden was a D.I. before becoming a Drummie - Buglers served with Commando Units and were part of the GD branch, did the GD JCC & SCC's - when I joined up Buglers were issued an SLR as part of their kit, and Wednesdays (I think it was?) after stand easy did rifle drill and weapon training as part of the weekly program - ahhhhhhhh! long time ago
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Malcolm (Tommo) Thomas ex sticky blue
An advantage of growing old is that flossing your tooth takes much less time

townsergeant · Posted: Fri Sep 01, 2006 7:23 pm Post subject:

Fred · Posted: Fri Sep 01, 2006 7:23 pm Post subject:

Hence the thin red stripe (welt) on the trousers? Buglers went into battle with ordinary Marines in Crimea, etc, I believe.

Fred

Fred · Posted: Fri Sep 01, 2006 7:29 pm Post subject:

He went on to be a member of the Queen's Bodyguard...

Same as Roger Tyack (RSM).

Fred

sticky blue · Posted: Fri Sep 01, 2006 7:32 pm Post subject:

They very proberbly did Fred - you could say that Buglers were the radio operators of their day - telling the troops what to do via the bugle called played
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Malcolm (Tommo) Thomas ex sticky blue
An advantage of growing old is that flossing your tooth takes much less time

RAB · Posted: Fri Sep 01, 2006 7:42 pm Post subject:

sticky blue · Posted: Fri Sep 01, 2006 7:45 pm Post subject:

Tyack - seem to have a distant memory of that name ?
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Malcolm (Tommo) Thomas ex sticky blue
An advantage of growing old is that flossing your tooth takes much less time

RAB · Posted: Fri Sep 01, 2006 7:51 pm Post subject:

I think you're trying to blot out the memory Tommo..

He was RSM at our passing out parade.. And MacAvoy was the Sergeant Major who marched us on...

We'll have to ask Ffoggers or Hornblower if they can name the march...

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'Never moon a werewolf'.

sticky blue · Posted: Fri Sep 01, 2006 7:56 pm Post subject:

RAB · Posted: Fri Sep 01, 2006 8:00 pm Post subject:

..Mr Macavoy went on to own a pub near the railway station in Arbroath...I took great delight in ORDERING a pint from him...

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'Never moon a werewolf'.