18 NAVY NEWS, APRIL 2007
Band on the gun
Stockton
T
HE waves crashing
decontamination team.” “I’ve really enjoyed it. When I “Our secondary role is first aid
three
against the Cornish
Such duties means that the joined the Band there was a lot of – but there is much more to it than
shore provide a
musicians must be prepared for information about the operational that,” said Musn Linsey Carnegie,
the front line – hence the need for side of being a musician. Now I’ve normally a French horn player.
spectacular backdrop. front-line military training. done the training I feel ready to do “As of yet, I’ve never done it
are still
The crack-crack-crack of Sharpshooting is just one strand anything if I’m asked to.” for real, but it’s all part of the job.
SA80 rifles firing provide the of the training; there’s nuclear, bio-
soundtrack. logical and chemical warfare and
The fact is that the musi-
It’s actually nice to get away from
Kneeling, lying down or taking navigational training (sometimes
cians have been called
our instruments and do something
united
cover in foxholes, Royal Marines involving camping in the field over-
upon frequently in the past
different.”
in khaki take aim at targets 200 night) to contend with too.
quarter century: two bands
And, as far as their instructors
FROM nursery to nuclear, three
metres away on the slopes of the
went to the Falklands, and
are concerned, they do rather well
lads from Stockton-on-Tees
range at Tregantle Fort.
But does musicianship musicians served in both
when they ‘get away from their
have grown from boys to men
A fairly typical day’s work for
bring anything to the wars with Iraq.
instruments’.
with the Fates determined to
Royal, then. Except that the flash
battle? Apparently yes.
“They shoot a lot better than
matelots,” quipped the green beret keep the trio together.
on the shoulder doesn’t read “Standing still on parade, con- sergeant training the musicians (he Michael McDonald (aged
‘Royal Marines Commando’ but centrating, is what we do – so that decided anonymity was the better 23), Gary Hutcheon (aged 22)
‘Royal Marines Band Service’. does help us on the ranges,” part of valour). and Peter Lavin (aged 22) were
At this historic fortification, explained BC/Sgt Ingram. “Band training mimics a lot of toddlers together, went to
the musicians of the Band of HM Musn Iain Scullion, a the basic training at Lympstone for primary and secondary school
Royal Marines Plymouth – based cornet player and violin- the first 15 or so weeks. together, even to the same
a few miles down the road in HMS ist, added: “One of “That means that the bandies college – and now all three
Raleigh – are in the throes of their the fundamen- come from a much better starting are serving together in nuclear
annual military training. tal things about point than ordinary sailors.” submarine HMS Vengeance.
For two weeks each year, the performing is the Michael said: “It is funny the
musicians down instruments and ability to relax, to
Pictures: Dave Sherfield,
way things have worked out,
head to the ranges under the calm down – and
HMS Raleigh
but we have known each other
watchful eyes of green berets (the that counts for all our lives.
band has a team of commandos firing a weap- “And we had better be
whose sole task is to provide mili- on as well. best mates because there
tary training). is nowhere to hide on a
But why? We don’t put the
submarine – even one as big a
band in harm’s way. Or do
HMS Vengeance.”
we?
The three veterans of
Newtown Nursery, Newtown
It’s a misconception (shared by
Primary, Grangefield Secondary
the Navy News team, admittedly)
and Stockton and Billingham
that ‘all’ the RM Band does is
College, now work and live
strut around looking magnificent,
closely together within the
pumping out Rule Britannia and
confines of the 16,000-tonne
Heart of Oak, or carries casualties
nuclear boat.
in time of war.
“Everyone around Stockton-
And it’s a misconception the
on-Tees knows us and we’ve
musicians themselves are keen to
always been pals,” added
dispel.
Peter.
“The image of us might be as
“Life on a submarine can be
stretcher-bearers in war, but we
a bit funny, but it is good to
can turn our hand to everything,”
have your mates around you.
explained BC/Sgt ‘Taff’ Ingram.
“But then, on a submarine
“Thirty musicians went to
you are all mates. You have to
Kosovo to conduct patrols, drive
be.”
vehicles, carry out guard duties.
Gary said: “When we joined
● Musicians from the Band of HM Royal Marines Plymouth at the During Operation Telic there were
range at Tregantle Fort in Cornwall 26 of us dug in in the desert with a
WHILE S
the Navy it was natural that
we would all go our separate
ways but to find ourselves bac
together is amazing.
“I have known these guys
FINAL CLEARANCE
since before I can remember
knowing them.”
Royal Navy Stick Pin
Measures 4.5cm (1.8”)
WAS £4.99
NOW £2.49 UK
T
OCKS LAS
Royal Navy Baseball Cap
WAS £9.99
NOW £4.99 UK
Blazer Buttons
WAS £25.99
NOW £12.99 UK
Royal Navy Pin Badge
CESSORIES
Measures approx 2cm (0.8”) in height.
WAS £2.99
NOW £1.49 UK
● Roz Savage and Jason Lyons
C
Round and Oval Cuffl inks
ROUND WAS £18.99 NOW £9.50 UK
OVAL WAS £12.99 NOW £6.49 UK
A
For orders and enquiries please telephone 023 9282 6040 or write to:
The Business Manager, Navy News, HMS Nelson, Portsmouth PO1 3HH or visit our online store at
www.navynews.co.uk T
We accept the following Credit/Debit Cards
Cheques payable to Navy News to accompany orders. For orders outside the UK payment can be made by Cheque/International Money Order in £
NON UK/BFPO POSTAGE
Sterling and drawn on UK bank. Or for payment by Credit Card/Switch, UK & Abroad, please use the coupon on page 4.
© CROWN COPYRIGHT/MOD
UK POSTAGE FREE!!
Reproduced with the permission
EU Postage £5.00
Please note: items shown not actual size. Please allow up to 28 days for delivery. of the Controller HMSO Overseas Postage £8.00
018_NN_apr07.indd 1 21/3/07 10:39:16 019_NN_apr07.indd 1 21/3/07 11:41:26
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61