I really enjoyed Sam Strachan's account of The Band in 1961-62. I left at the end of the Christmas Term of 1960 to join my first BI ship so wasn't part of it but have happy memories of Band activities in 1958/1959 and during my final year at the NCP.
I certainly remember two Drum Majors - Ian McVittie (1958) and David Ryder (1957) - as being very impressive. As for The Band in 1960, our Drum Major was Jonathan Priest. I have a photo of that Band with most of the names written on the back. We all look pretty happy in lovely sunshine. I think that Royal Marine from Deal had got us into pretty good shape!!
Here are some of those names: Ali (Fife), Bailey (Bugle), Slater (Fife), Armstrong (Drum), Walker(Drum), Lllewellyn (Bugle), Priest (Drum Major), Howard? (Fife), Garrard (Bugle), Malcolm (Bugle), Humphries (Fife), Griffiths (Bugle), Strachan (Bugle), Gavin (Drum), Givan (Drum), Ramsden (Bass Drum), Powell Jones (Tenor Drum), Hall (Drum), Shanks (Fife), Heron Watson (Fife), Vaudrey (Fife?), Dick Scott Priestley, Asquith and Herbert.
I have a couple of special memories with respect to the 1960 Band.
The first is that having achieved the giddy heights of a Silver Bugler in 1960 my right front tooth was extracted sometime that year and I had a "plate" inserted meaning that I could not put pressure on the mouthpiece! Hence the end of my coveted status.
All was not lost, however, as for some reason at the same time the cymbals player spot became open and the powers-that-be moved me into that role in the band! Indeed, I remember clashing the cymbals enthusiastically during the Seafarers' Service parade in London in November - one of my last performances with that particular instrument.
The other memory is of doing double duty on visits to village fetes in the summer with the Band. We would march around and play a few tunes for the crowds who seemed to really appreciate these smart young men strutting their stuff.
The double duty was due to the fact that the College vaulting team, of which I was a member, also put on dispays at these fetes. So after blowing the bugle in No 1's I would hurriedly change into my shorts and singlet and join the vaulting and club swinging team for a different display. Phew! The audiences loved it and Tiger Knights would always make sure that we were on our best behaviour and keep us out of trouble.
One of the more challenging vaults was a free roll over the high horse which literally meant that you flew over the top of the box from the springboard, hands outstretched, and then landed on the mats, tucked in your head and rolled away. I remember a lady in the audience shouting "There goes the little one! Just watch him fly!" Even though it was potentially dangerous Tiger was always there for us. The worst injury I can recall was to Lennie Loennechen (57-60) who dislocated his shoulder. Tiger promptly put it back into place with a jerk on the spot!
So that's my Band and double duty "Happy Memories" !! It is wonderful reading all the different memories and perspectives that have been published recently. With best wishes to every OP from cold and wet Niagara on the lake!!