Major R C H Berry MBE, ARCM.

(The founder of the band and Director of Music).

  A chorister before joining the Lincolnshire Regimental Band in 1945 playing both the Trombone and Euphonium.  After graduating from the Royal Military School of Music in 1959 remained on the staff until appointed Bandmaster of the Durham Light Infantry in 1961.  Whilst at Kneller Hall played and toured to Italy with the BBC Symphony Orchestra and played and recorded with an early music group. With the DLI band recorded and broadcast extensively and then worked with Forces Radio in the Persian Gulf and in Cyprus. Since leaving the army, after 40 years service, conducted in the brass band field before forming the Hampshire Ex-Servicemens Concert Band. Has worked as a conductor and musical adviser in the United States and currently plays Trombone in a well known Southampton ‘Big-Band’ as well as writing and reviewing recordings for a specialist Military Band journal.