Hi,
A bit on the band from the "The News" a Portsmouth paper. If you search the site a few more bits come up.
Regards
Danny
Published on Monday 27 February 2006 13:33
For more than a quarter of a century he has watched proudly as youngsters marched and played with Gosport's Royal Marines cadet band.
But today is a sad day for Reg Coates as he prepares to wind down the band and auction off the musical instruments he spent years helping his members play.
Mr Coates founded the Royal Marines Light Infantry Cadet Marching Band in 1979 and inspired hundreds of young people.
But interest has waned in recent years, and problems with finding a venue in which to practise proved to be the final nail in the coffin.
The band was unable to find another base after deciding to move from its headquarters at Priddy's Hard. The building is in an isolated location with no transport links, but is also worth millions to Gosport council as a prime site for future development.
Mr Coates, 80, said: 'We have tried to entice the kids but they don't want to come to this particular place.
'We were using the rooms for instructors and eight children and it wasn't fair to the ratepayers in Gosport. When you are talking about a complete military band you are talking about a lot of space.'
The band's equipment – including instruments and uniforms – will be sold off next Sunday.
The auction will take place at the Shed Building, off the Explosion! Museum car park, Priddy's Hard, from 10am.
The money raised will be donated to charity
http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/news/loc...band_1_1222554