A BELOVED army band is set to have its numbers nearly halved after it was confirmed members “will be rationalised across the Royal Corps of Army Music.”
The British Army Band Colchester is now one of 15 bands in the British Army.
It has been confirmed members are expected to be nearly halved from 44 to 23 members by the end of this year.
Fears were raised last month that member numbers in the band would be cut, but the Army was unable to confirm if this was true.
The number of British Army bands has reduced dramatically in recent years.
MP Andrew Murrison, the secretary of state at the Ministry of Defence confirmed there were 30 bands in the British Army in December 1999, 23 bands in December 2009 and 15 bands in both December 2019 and December 2023.
In a recent parliamentary question, Mr Murrison was asked how many people were members of the British Army Band Colchester on December 31, 2023, and how many he predicts there will be on December 31, 2024.
Mr Murrison said: “There were 44 band members in British Army Band Colchester on December 31, 2023.
“It is estimated that there will be 23 members on December 31, 2024.
"The wider workforce will be rationalised across the Royal Corps of Army Music to maximise resources for State Ceremonial outputs and operational priorities.
“British Army Band Colchester will focus primarily on delivering Defence Engagement activity and providing smaller, more agile ensembles.”
Colchester’s former MP, Sir Bob Russell, who served on the defence select committee, said: “It is disappointing that successive governments have reduced the number of army bands.
“I can remember when every regiment had its own band, which meant that at any one time we had several bands at Colchester Garrison.
“For Colchester not to have even one full-sized Army band is ridiculous.
“We are one of the nation’s premier garrisons, but it seems we are being reduced in numbers to fill gaps in bands which primarily do ceremonial duties because recruitment of musicians is increasingly difficult as a direct result of music not being taught in schools to the extent it once was.”
An Army spokesman said: “The Royal Corps of Army Music (RCAM) is adapting to the needs of a modern British Army, of which music is an important component of influence.
“RCAM is prioritising available trained personnel for a whole spectrum of Defence objectives, such as specialist, agile ensembles that work with our allies and partners, as well as engagement in the UK.
"This is balanced against the need to resource ceremonial operations, which deliver strategic effect at home and overseas.
“Band Colchester will continue to be a vital component of Army Music capability and the Colchester Garrison will continue to be supported by Army Bands.”
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