From July-August 2021 Courier

BRIAN OATES, who died on May 29 aged 83, was an outstanding musician, a Royal Marine Warrant Officer and bandmaster, tutor, and a former secretary and Musical Director of Rame Peninsula Male Voice Choir. He was an absolute stalwart of the choir which could have folded but for his taking over as MD in 2005. Service beyond his profession embraced the Methodist Church, Boys´ Brigade, Special Constable, National Coast Watch, and National Trust. He gained an honours degree in music in his mid-50s, and was a Licentiate of the Royal Academy of Music. As a bandsman he was a solo flautist and played piccolo, but also wielded the tambourine to virtuoso effect whenever percussion was appropriate. His flute lent haunting accompaniment to songs such as Titanic and Pride of Cawsand which former MD Jonathan Delbridge composed explicitly to showcase his talents. At Deal in the ´70s, Brian played in the pit orchestra for musicals like Oklahoma and South Pacific. He had no experience of the saxophone, but when asked to instruct it, simply learned to play it. He had a splendid tenor voice, but missed singing so much that he quit as MD and reverted to tenor, though he continued to serve as deputy MD, taking over regularly from Jonathan Lewsey who greatly valued his talents.

Brian was born on October 6, 1937, at St Just-in-Penwith, Cornwall, to Ellen Cordelia Oates (nee Grenfell) and Norman Oates. He was just five years old when his father died during World War II, as a result of a recoil accident involving an anti-aircraft gun. Brian and his mum moved to Penzance until he was 10, when his mother remarried. They moved to Caerau in Wales where Brian went to Maesteg Grammar School and began learning the flute. Lessons cost half a crown (12.5p in today´s money) which included the cost of his tea! He played in the school orchestra, the Mid-Glamorgan and Glamorgan Youth Orchestras.

He was around 14 when the family returned to the St Just area, with Brian attending his old school, Penzance Grammar. On his 15th birthday Brian auditioned for the Royal Marines Band Service (RMBS). He joined up in October 1952, and the following year was selected to represent the RMBS at the coronation - an enduring memory.

After completing ´Boys Time´ Brian was drafted to the East Indies Station and on his 18th birthday he landed with the band in Colombo, Ceylon, now Sri Lanka. His inaugural 10-month posting included visits to Madras, Calcutta, Karachi and the Persian Gulf. Life was not all music; afternoons included swimming and a bit of sailing.

Brian´s step-father died while he was abroad, but he was not allowed home. He finally got home leave on his return before being posted to the Royal Marines School of Music (RMSM) at Deal, Kent. There he continued his association with West Street Methodist Church and was introduced to the Boys´ Brigade. At this little chapel in Finglesham, Kent, he met Eve and started seeing her at Youth Club events. He was apparently more interested in her than she in him, but perseverance paid off. Brian was drafted to HMS Drake, in Plymouth, where a couple of years later he passed the audition for the Plymouth Group Band of the Royal Marines.

Brian and Eve were married on December 20, 1958, at Havelock Hall Methodist Church, Deal, and started married life in Plymstock. By then Brian was a Boys´ Brigade warrant officer, and subsequently became lieutenant in the 11th Plymouth Company at Crownhill Methodist Church.

Their first son, Gerald, was born in December 1960, and in 1961 the family moved back to Deal where Brian had been promoted to Corporal and appointed flute instructor at the RMSM. The couple became involved in the life of West Street Methodist Church and Brian became an officer in the 2nd Deal Company Boys´ Brigade, later serving as Company Captain. Shortly after Nigel´s birth in April 1964, Brian was drafted to Plymouth-based aircraft carrier HMS Eagle. He saw service mainly east of Suez including the Beira Patrols, enforcing Rhodesian oil sanctions as the Eagle spent 72 continuous days at sea. Visits included Hong Kong, Singapore, and Mombasa. After some 30 months on the Eagle, the band was drafted back to Deal. Brian worked there for the Training Office (Music), completed the Bandmasters´ Course, did another instructing stint (as Sergeant) and spent some time in the Central Music Library. Following promotion to Colour Sergeant, Brian was drafted in 1971 to HMS Pembroke at Chatham where he became Warrant Officer Class 2 Bandmaster in 1972, visiting many parts of Europe.

In 1976 he returned to Deal, becoming Assistant Supply Officer (Music) until retirement from the Royal Marine Band Service (RMBS) in July 1977. He immediately became Volunteer Band Civilian Instructor at HMS Fisgard, Torpoint, where he greatly enjoyed training artificers in the band. The family moved from Deal in November 1977. Brian joined the Special Constabulary in 1979, serving for 13 years and becoming Section Officer. When Fisgard closed in 1984 Brian transferred to the Royal Naval Engineering College at Manadon, where he and Eve enjoyed the full Wardroom calendar. When RNEC closed in 1994 Brian moved to Devonport Naval Base to form their Volunteer Band. He finally took early retirement in October 1996.

He was secretary at Cornerstone Church, Torpoint, for some three years, served as a Worship Leader and a Steward, then resuming as Church Secretary in a job-share, also becoming editor of the church´s monthly newsletter. He became deputy MD of Rame choir in 2001, deputy conductor of Torpoint Lady Singers, helped Torpoint Silver Band, and volunteered at Antony House. He was among Rame choir members honoured with the Queen´s Award for Voluntary Service, for charity work.
Brian´s funeral took place on June 22 at Bodmin after which a memorial service was held at Cornerstone Church, Torpoint. He is survived by his wife, Eve sons Gerald and Nigel and six grandchildren and nine great grandchildren.