Flight Sergeant Darren Carter ALCM, ALCM (TD)
Darren Carter joined the Royal Air Force Music Services in 1984 following musical studies at Huddersfield Technical College School of Music. Prior to enlistment he was principal clarinettist with the Huddersfield Senior Youth Orchestra and Kirklees Youth Orchestra. His jazz and big band experience started as lead alto saxophone with the Huddersfield Youth Jazz Orchestra and various other local function bands. Posted to the Band of the Royal Air Force College in 1984, he has remained with the band throughout his service career, apart from a three-year tour with the Band of the Royal Air Force Germany at RAF Rheindahlen.
Regularly featured as a soloist on clarinet, saxophone and vocals with the band, he was also a founder member of "The Sharp Edge", a highly successful 'Blues and Soul' group within the Band of the Royal Air Force College. As a Chief Technician Darren was appointed leader of Royal Air Force Swing Wing in 2004, a role in which he excelled for five years.
Darren has undertaken tours throughout the world with particular highlights being Hong Kong, Singapore and India. In 2007 he took part in Operation Longlook, a personnel exchange programme, and spent four months in Australia working with the Royal Australian Air Force Command and Central Bands.
In 2009 he was deployed to Incirlik Air Base in Turkey for six months as the RAF Liaison Officer for 99 Squadron operating Boeing C-17 Globemaster III transport aircraft in support of Operations Telic (Iraq) and HERRICK (Afghanistan). This vital role involved him organising fuel and accommodation for aircrews amongst other vital tasks.
Following his return to normal duties he was promoted to Flight Sergeant on 28 September 2009 and took the position of Band Sergeant for The Band of the Royal Air Force College for a few weeks before adopting the same role for the Band of the RAF Regiment. This busy appointment places him in charge of all the Bands logistics making him responsible for getting the Band to and from its engagements in good order making him the lynch pin of all the Bands activities.