RM Band Plymouth

The Band of Her Majesty's Royal Marines Plymouth (previously Flag Officer, Plymouth and C-in-C Plymouth) is currently based at HMS Raleigh in Cornwall, and has been since January 1972 when it was moved across the river Tamar from its' former home at HMS Drake in the Devonport Naval Base.

The band complex at HMS Raleigh is the jewel in the crown of the RMBS, complete with a purpose built recording studio which is utilised on a regular basis to record CDs. The complex also boasts a conference room, orchestral rehearsal space and direct access to the West Drill Shed for rehearsing the numerous marching engagements the band undertakes throughout the year.

The main purpose of having a Royal Marines band at HMS Raleigh is to provide music for the weekly passing out parades held on Friday afternoons. This parade marks the end of the 9 week recruit training for all Naval ratings. RMB Plymouth also make regular trips to BRNC Dartmouth to pass out the Naval officers and in the absence of the CTC band will perform for Royal Marines and Royal Marines officers at their passing out parades also. In addition to providing musical support for the Naval Service, the Plymouth band also perform a number of concerts in the the West Country. This includes one concert every month at the Roebuck theatre on HMS Raleigh and frequent trips to Wales to perform on the concert platform. Looking further afield the band have recently visited Belfast, Modena in Italy and the Channel Islands. On parade you can see the Plymouth band at events such as the Royal Cornwall and Devon County shows and at freedom parades in cities as geographically diverse as Newcastle and London. The band also boasts a number of capable small ensembles and a symphony orchestra that has performed large orchestral works in recent years as well as accompanying Hayley Westenra at the Ardingley Tattoo in 2010. `

The band are physically active and are well represented at Band Service Rugby Competitions as well as having swimmers and runners competing for the Naval service, footballers representing the Royal Marines and its fair share of low handicapping golfers. In addition to this many band members undertake personal challenges to raise funds for charity. Such challenges have included climbing Mount Everest and the 'Ultimate 5' Challenge which requires participants to swim the English Channel, run the London marathon, climb the three peaks, cycle a stage of the Tour De France and walk from Lands End to John O Groats all in the confines of a local gymnasium.

The band also have a wealth of operational experience and when the full band is on parade, an educated eye will be able to spot medals awarded from the Falklands Campaign, Op. Herrick (Afghanistan) and every theatre of operation which has seen Band Service involvement in between.