Director of Music

Major Douglas Robertson joined the Army in September 1972 as a trombonist in the Argll & Sutherland Highlanders. After basic training at the Scottish Infantry Depot, Aberdeen, he spent a further 3 years at the Scots Division Junior School of Music in Edinburgh. In October 1976 having completed a one year course of studies at the Royal Military School of Music (RMSM), Kneller Hall, he joined his Regiment in Osnabruck in Germany.  Having served in Germany, UK and Cyprus with his Band, Major Robertson was posted from Cyprus to the Scots Division Junior School of Music, Aberdeen in 1983 as an Instructor. It was during his time here that he was selected to attend the 3 year Student Bandmasters' Course at RMSM in January 1985.

Appointed Bandmaster of the King's Regiment in August 1988 he joined the Band in Spandau, Berlin, serving throughout the demise of the Berlin Wall.  While with the Band Major Robertson toured Northern Ireland, Canada and the Falkland Islands. In 1994 he saw through the demise of the King's Regimental Band and the setting up of the new King's Division Waterloo Band. Later that year he was commissioned and appointed Director of Music Gurkha Band in Church Crookham. In his time there he toured Australia, Europe for 6 months, Hong Kong, to close the Gurkha lines in the New Territories and Gibraltar. Prior to handing over after 2½ years Major Robertson trekked for a month in East and West Nepal and in the foothills of the Himalayas.

In May 1997 came the appointment as Director of Music Royal Tank Regiment Band based in Fallingbostel. As one of only 3 bands serving the whole of Germany, the Band travelled extensively throughout Europe from Calais in the west, to the Polish border and from Kiel in the north, to the Low Countries.

In January 1999 Maj Robertson was appointed Director of Music the Band of the Blues and Royals Regiment in Windsor. He commenced the B3 Mounted Dutymans' Equitation Course in Windsor with the Household Cavalry Training Wing and completed the 'Kit Ride' phase of the course in late March in Knightsbridge, London.

During his 7½ years with the Band he took part in the Capital's state Ceremonial events, namely The Queen's Birthday Parade, Mounted Beating of The Retreats on Horse Guards, Mounted Lord Mayor's Parades, All The Queen's Horses at Home Park, Windsor Castle, The Queen Mother's 100th Birthday Parade on Horse Guards and the Queen's Golden Jubilee Procession.

In June 2006 after his last Queen's Birthday Parade, Major Robertson took up his new position as Director of Music, British Forces Germany based in the Joint HQ, Rheindahlen.

Bandmaster

Warrant Officer Class 1 Wayne Fitzpatrick enlisted into the Army on the 20th March 1987 and began training at the Depot Queens Division Bassingbourn. In June he was posted to the Band of the Second Battalion, the Royal Anglian Regiment, in Celle, West Germany. During his time with the Poachers he toured much of Western Europe as well as Barbados and the divided City of Berlin. December 1990 he fulfilled a medical role during the Gulf War with Dressing Station 5 Alpha.

In April 1994 he moved to Colchester and for 4 months was attached to the 1st Battalion performing at the 50th Anniversary of D Day on the beach at Arromanches. The Minden Band of the Queens Division was formed in August of 1994 where he served for 18 months. The highlight of this time was 6 weeks in Hong Kong in 1995 for the 50th Anniversary of VJ Day.

In January 1996 he was posted to the Band of The Dragoon Guards in Paderborn, Germany and continued touring Europe. The year 2000 brought about Student Bandmaster selection, and he was chosen for the class starting at the Royal Military School of Music in September of that year. During the 3 years at Kneller Hall he performed with the Kneller Hall Fanfare Team and received both the Golden Jubilee and Long Service and Good Conduct medals. He has also represented the school at football and hockey.

In September of 2003 he was appointed as Bandmaster of the Royal Tank Regiment Cambrai Band in Bad Fallingbostel, Germany. Initially he was sent as part of a 4 man short term training team to Pakistan, where he assisted in making recommendations for enhancing the musical training of the Pakistan Army. On his return to the Cambrai Band he performed across Europe including the IMP to Lourdes. Unfortunately he was responsible for the drawdown of the Royal Tank Regiment Cambrai Band due to a defence review.

July 2006 saw him posted to Headquarters Directorate of the Corps of Army Music as the Training and Development Team Projects Warrant Officer.

In June 2007 he was very proud to be appointed as bandmaster of the Scots Guards Band, and is looking forward to the challenges that will be presented to him over the next few years.