Royal Air Force Music Services Association

President: Wg Cdr H B Hingley MBE BMus(Lond) LRAM ARCM RAF (Ret'd)

Vice President: Robin Shillitto

Chairman: Ben Tierney

Vice-Chairman: Fred Jameson

The Secretary: Norman Blow

Membership: John Dablin

Publicity Officer: Bob Wray

Welfare: Unity Slade

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The Royal Air Force Music Services Association was officially formed in 1987, although its origins go back to a dinner held to mark the retirement of Wing Commander Roy Davies in 1978.Originally it was held for members of the Central Band of the Royal Air Force but it was decided to open it up to ex-members. By all accounts it was a very successful evening and many people attending said that it should become an annual event. Over a period of time the numbers attending meant that it outgrew the venue and it was decided to hold an annual event at HQMS, RAF Uxbridge.

The then Warrant Officer Fred Thomson had the idea that we should form an official Association and approached the PDM, Wing Commander Eric Banks, who readily agreed. Permission was given by MOD to use the title Royal Air Force Music Services Association. This was launched on 26th January 1987 with a service at Westminster Abbey. It was decided that the Principal Director of Music would act as President and the Director of Music; HQMS would be Officer I/C. Air Chief Marshal Sir Thomas Kennedy graciously accepted the invitation to be the Patron. Serving members were required to hold positions on the committee as it was required to be run on service lines. Over the years, and because of the “down sizing” of the RAF Music Services, the committee became civilianised. The only serving members of the committee are the DOM HQMS, who acts as a liaison officer, and the band representatives.

The aim of the Association is to foster goodwill amongst everyone who enjoys military music and to keep alive the comradeship of the Royal Air Force Music Services.

Annual reunions are held at Royal Air Force Northolt, Middlesex; the home of RAF Music, although there have been three occasions when it has been held at other venues through out the Country. RAF Northolt is the most popular venue as it contains a vast amount of archive material such as photographs, going back to the 1920s and many items of memorabilia, from the early days right up to the Gulf War in 1991 in which most members of the RAF Music Services served.

The Blue and The Gold, the Association magazine, is produced twice a year and is full of accounts concerning the bands today as well as articles from ex serving members about their memories of times past.

The Association is open to all serving and ex serving members of Royal Air Force Established bands, serving and ex members of Royal Air Force Voluntary Bands and any person who has an interest in Military Music, especially that of the Royal Air Force. The membership covers all areas of the globe, from Australia in the South, Japan in the East, the US and Canada in the West and Scotland in the North. These are not all ex serving members but people who have heard Royal Air Force Bands wherever they have performed and have been so impressed that they wish to be associated with them.

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For further information please contact:
The Secretary:
Norman Blow

email: normanblow@hotmail.co.uk

For membership information please contact:
Mr John Dablin
10 Heath Close
Aylesbury HP21 9UA
Telephone 01296 433763