The hills are alive… with the sound of Heart of Oak.
Royal Marines musicians brought seafaring tunes, Colonel Bogey and The Pink Panther theme, James Bond and Abba medleys plus Rule Britannia to the mountains of Bavaria as they thanked the local German populace for their ongoing support.
The Band of His Majesty’s Royal Marines Commando Training Centre RM staged a benefit concert in Bad Hindelang, a small community in the Allgäu region to mark a 20-year friendship.
For two decades the district, about 80 miles southwest of Munich, has hosted first Royal Marines adventurous training then, since 2009, the heavily-used Naval Outdoor Centre Germany.
The centre occupies a four-star hotel, from where instructors and staff have provided AT opportunities to thousands of Royal Navy personnel and their families: rock climbing, kayaking, mountain biking and klettersteiging in the summer, skiing in winter, for people of all abilities.
An audience some 500-strong packed into the Kurhaus community centre to hear 42 members of the CTCRM band, led by Major Ian Davis and Colour Sergeant Matt Green entertain them for over two hours with an eclectic mix of military, classical and pop music.
There’s nothing quite like the sound of the Royal Marines Band in the Alps – Allgäuers are more likely to listen to local brass bands.
"This concert was an excellent opportunity for the band members to perform to a new, very appreciative audience, and to support the defence engagement mission of the staff of the Naval Outdoor Centre Germany,” said Major Davis.
Although the event was free, guests were invited to make donations – split equally between the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity (£2,198) and good causes in the Allgäu.
What did Bavarians think of the performance?
“A gala concert with a unique atmosphere. Great! Thanks for coming. And please do it again,” one told the military musicians.
