LEAD A MILITARY BAND

What it feels like to ...

TG R A H A M S T E V E N S O N , D R U M M A J O R O F T H E R OY A L MA R I N E S B A N D S C O T L A N D

HERE is no better feeling than marching out in front of a big audience. All the band members put so much work in and it’s great that people appreciate what we do. I live in Tillicoultry, Clarkmannanshire, with my wife Victoria and five-year-old son James, but I’m originally a Yorkshire lad. I’m a drummer and bugler and like most of those who join the Royal Marines Band Service (RMBS) I started playing in youth and cadet bands. I joined the RMBS from school in 1990, following in the footsteps of others from my youth band.

Being in the band provides balance – it’s not all about the music and it’s not all about the military. I’m biased but I think we are one of the best military bands in the world.

Throughout the year we’re primarily involved in music, supporting the Royal Navy on engagements, doing concerts for charity and military tattoos around the world. But we are also trained military personnel. We initially do 15 weeks of basic training, then we train with the Royal Marine Commandos. After that recruits go to Portsmouth for music training.

Members have to keep up their Royal Marine training and most are skilled for roles such as casualty handling, ambulance driving, working in the transport section or being a radio operator.

I’ve been deployed to Afghanistan and Sierra Leone, and on these occasions I was primarily involved in supporting military operations. Initially when the band get deployed on operations other Marines sometimes look at you a bit funny, but once they realise that you can do what is asked of you, they’re fine.

In Afghanistan we put together a rock band and entertained the guys. When you’re in such a full-on environment for months at a time it’s good for those at the front line to get a bit of down time.

My role as drum major is varied. As well as maintaining discipline and choreographing marching displays I make sure the standard of drill, dress and bearing are at the highest level at all times and ensure everything is on the ball performance-wise.

The Glasgow Tattoo at The Hydro is my first big event as band major and I’m really excited, particularly because the venue is so amazing.

Entertaining people is what it’s all about – you want every single member of the audience to enjoy