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ROYAL
MARINES BAND SERVICE MEMORIAL GARDEN |
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November 2020 - Update: Without parades and Services this year colleagues may like to see that COVID has not entirely taken over in this peaceful place near the sea where remembrance, for many, is a daily event.
September 22 - Update: The 30th anniversary memorial service. Over 100 ex colleagues and bereaved families attended this date.
By
clicking on the image below you will display a larger example which
will allow you to read the Band Service prayer.
Almighty and Eternal Lord God, in whose sight and love live our memories of many generations of those who have served You in the Band Service of the Royal Marines; we thank You for the rich heritage of music placed in our hands, and for the joy and inspiration which it brings to men; enable us with our whole hearts to serve You, that by Your grace and through our gift of music, we may continue to inspire, help and lead men; we ask these things in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Colleagues all, It
has long been recognised that the thing missing from the Memorial Garden
site of the 1989 RMSM bombing in Deal has been a record of the names
of those who lost their lives there. With the thirtieth anniversary
approaching it is entirely significant and appropriate that this oversight,
I learn, is to be remedied. I have written to Jonathan Ball, CEO of
the Royal Marines Charities, to thank him for his kindness in arranging
for a bronze plaque carrying the names to be in-situ by the 22nd September
this year. I have told him that his thoughtfulness can never be fully
repaid. I did however want him to be aware of the depth of positive
feeling that his action will generate as a further gesture of goodwill
from the Corps to this historic town wherein so much valued co-existence
still abounds. I sent him the sincere thanks and appreciation of all
Band Service colleagues, the bereaved and others for seeing a need and
acting upon it so satisfactorily. Further to Adrian Brett’s excellent appraisal of events in Deal to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the RMSM 1989 Bombing please allow me to make a personal comment. His words must not lead colleagues to incorrectly assume that I may be partly responsible for the new memorial plaque. David Yates is the person responsible for the design and implementation of the bronze plaque now in situ in the Memorial Garden. He has endured personal anguish over recent months as the 30th anniversary neared and promised deadlines were not being met by the manufacturers. It was he who, with a severe back problem, finally lifted and held his heavy plaque in position whist it was finally secured permanently to the wall. His, and future generations will always have David to thank for his foresight, determination to succeed and confidence in his original idea. He also obtained the necessary financial support for his venture from Corps Charities. He is to be heartily commended and I gladly lead the applause for his unstinting efforts that came to a wonderful climax on Sunday here at Deal as the plaque was Blessed by Bob Simmonds’ bereaved sister Jane who, as always, took the 8am Service. I was proud to be there and Adrian’s use of the word “imprimatur” surely indicates that the events of Sunday were to the approval of absolutely all of our band of brothers. We all now salute David Yates and what he has achieved. *************************************************************** Sept 13 - 2020 Throughout the year my wife Margaret does her best to keep the RMBS Garden in Deal clean, tidy and colourful so that visitors who come at any time witness the care the BandService takes of its own. Thirty-one years on from that dreadfully tragic day in 1989 this picture, taken this morning, will lift the spirits of many. The beautiful floral wreath has, I notice, been placed there by 3/80 Troop. Our sincere thanks go to them for this act of kindness, generosity and dedication to friends who were among those killed by the IRA bomb blast. Long may the memory of all be celebrated here in this special place by the sea. To all I say Stay safe, keep well and gladly live the lives so cruelly denied to our eleven stricken colleagues never to be forgotten. Graham Hoskins.
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