Ex-Royal Marines musician donates rare statue of drum major
A former Royal Marines bandsman - who played for sultans and royalty - has donated a rare statue of a drum major to the military school of music where his career began.George Latham, who grew up in Rugby, Warwickshire, and now lives in Liskeard, Cornwall, visited HMS Raleigh, near Plymouth, to donate the figure to the Royal Marines School of Music in Portsmouth.The 87-year-old enrolled as a Royal Marines musician in 1952, aged 14, and served for 34 years before retiring from the Royal Marines Band Plymouth in 1986.During his career, he played the cello and euphonium for the Sultan of Oman, at the funerals of the King of Norway and Winston Churchill, and at Prince Charles and Diana's wedding.
Speaking at HMS Raleigh, Mr Latham told BBC Radio Devon: "The Royal Marines Band Service has given me an introduction into music which I had never dreamed of. "I loved it, I really did. I was sorry to leave but I never let go of music, music is in me and I thank the Lord for that. "I enjoy music, in fact I love it, and my wife said if there was ever a fire the cello would come out first."
HMS Raleigh also has a personal importance to the bandsman because it was where he met his his wife Evelyn.The couple married in 1959 after only meeting 12 weeks prior and moved to Torpoint, Cornwall, shortly afterwards.
But his service was also more than music as he was also tasked as working as a stretcher bearer on board SS Canberra during the Falklands War.It was during the conflict that he was nominated for an award; during an air raid, he was the rope man that lowered a casualty down a ramp system.Several Argentinian Mirage jets had screamed over his ship, firing their cannons and dropping munitions. Everyone took cover except for Mr Latham who, as the rope brake man, felt compelled to stay at his post and not let the casualty drop.
Mr Latham's daughter, Claire Keeley, was there to join him at the HMS Raleigh event. Discussing the day, she said: "It was amazing, they treated us like royalty. I'm so proud to be here and to be able to do this wonderful thing for dad."Part of our dad will be at the Royal Marines School of Music, where his career began."And we know he will always be there, and he knows he will always be there."
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