Bertram John Medcalf

I am sad to tell you that my father Bertram John Medcalf passed away in the early hours of Saturday 4th September aged 89. He was in the Royal Marine Band from 1935 to 1959 with tours of duty on, amongst others, HMS Hermione in WW2 and HMS Triumph in Korea. He joined at 14, the best way of getting a musical education in those days, playing flute, saxophone and piano, based in Deal. He met my mother, Betty, when based at the Grand Hotel in Scarborough and their first married quarters were at Burford, later being stationed in Malta until the breakout of hostilities in Korea. We had a 3 year stint in New Zealand from 1954 to 1957 with Dad taking the band there on the 5 week voyage on the Tamaroa and back on the Southern Cross. He had many memories of his days in the Marines and those he knew; keeping in touch through the Globe and Laurel lodge. My mother survives as does a musical tradition in his children and grandchildren that owes much to his love of music, his encouragement and the training he received at the RM School of Music in Deal.

A more formal obituary will be sent to the Blue Band eventually.

Regards

Eric Medcalf