The Band of Her Majesty's Royal Marines

The Band of HM Royal Marines, Plymouth is based at the premier training establishment of the Royal Navy HMS Raleigh in Torpoint, Cornwall. The band undertakes a wide variety of ceremonial work of national and international importance, as well as fulfilling its main role of providing music for the ships and establishments.

A typical week's work may include a ceremonial parade for a visiting Head of State, several Beating Retreat displays for the general public, a fanfare for the opening of a new prestigious building, a concert, an evening dance and cabaret display as well as providing orchestral background music for naval dinners.

Such a varied musical output requires the musicians to be extremely versatile. Musicians in the Royal Marines Band Service play at least two instruments, giving the band the capability of also functioning as an orchestra and dance band. As professional musicians the band are expected to provide all kinds of musical ensembles and so they will also provide jazz groups, pop groups, small orchestral ensembles, Palm Court Orchestras and even a German style ‘Oompah Band’. Electric guitars, synthesizers, accordians and many other instruments not normally associated with military bands are regularly featured allowing the band to draw from a vast and very entertaining repertoire.

The Royal Marines Band Service is universally recognised as one of the finest musical bodies in the world and the Plymouth Band is no exception. Their unique musical blend of versatility, talent and tradition make them excellent ambassadors wherever they perform, either at home or abroad. Renowned for the precision of their marching and the quality of their music, the Plymouth Band has a distinguished history spanning many decades of music making.

In recent years the band has participated in many significant events including the presentation of the Queen's Colours to the Royal Marines on Plymouth Hoe, an international wind band festival in Switzerland and a visit to Russia to play for the St. Petersburg birthday celebrations, where they were the first British military band ever to perform at the prestigious Philharmonic Hall. As well as accompanying Her Majesty The Queen on a recent state visit to Estonia, they have also made regular appearances at FA Cup Finals and other sporting occasions.

During 2000/2001, the band was active in its secondary role, which included a six-month deployment to Kosovo as part of Medical Squadron, Commando Logistic Regiment. This was followed by a four-month deployment to the Middle East as a part of Exercise Saif Sareea. The band's military role encompasses a range of duties, which include ambulance driving, administering first-aid, casualty handling, security duties and administrative tasks. The band maintains the skills for its secondary role by completing regular military training and exercise operations such as their recent deployment on RFA ARGUS in 2006.