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John Stone
Director of Music
John Stone has led a distinguished and fascinating musical career. At the age of 11 he joined the Sea Cadets along with his brothers then, at 14, after hearing a lecture that caught his interest about the Royal Naval School of Music in Burford, Oxfordshire, he promptly applied to join. Once accepted, he was given a hearing test and on discovering that he had an excellent ‘ear for music’, John was subsequently chosen to play the French Horn. For the next 4 years he spent all day, every day in training, learning to play the horn and initially earning just 10 shillings and sixpence weekly (about 52p in 2009) as a professional bandsman in the junior band. After qualifying as a musician, aged 18, he was now a member of the Royal Marine Band in Deal, Kent; the junior Naval band had now become the Royal Marine Band, and training was
moved to Walmer Barracks in Deal. In 1950, John was drafted to Malta to join HMS Glasgow, the flagship of Lord Louis Mountbatten, Commander-in-Chief of the Mediterranean Fleet where he soon became Principal Horn under the direction of his Band Officer Lieutenant, Ernie Ogh. A few months after being drafted to Malta John met Mauveen, who became his wife in February 1953. They lived there until 1956 when they returned to the UK with two small children.
Joining the Royal Marine Deal Band once again, now in his twenties, John was promoted to Principal Horn under the musical directorship of Sir (Francis) Vivian Dunn, Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal Marine School of Music. However, as a new member of the senior band, he felt uncomfortable in the role as he was now placed above longer serving members; consequently he asked to be moved from 1 st Horn. He remained with the Royal Marine Band for the next 3½ years. During this time he was asked to take on the role of Horn Teacher and jumped at the chance. Although John was a hard taskmaster, some of his former pupils are still in contact with him today and remain great friends. While teaching, John put in for the Band Sergeant’s course but was informed that he was to be presented to Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, who was to visit the School in the near future; this would prevent him from being released for study. John then approached Sir Vivian Dunn and requested that he be given permission to sit the exam without the studying. Although this was previously unheard of he was granted permission. So, in the evenings, he took private tuition with a couple of the School’s civilian professors and subsequently passed the exam. He was then promoted to Sergeant and sent to the RM Band at HMS Ganges.
In Essex, 18 months later, John was drafted to Scotland to take over a Royal Naval Volunteer Band, where once again he was required to teach music and the playing of various instruments to non-professional players. Volunteer bands then became the next stage in his career for the next couple of years.
Returning to Deal in 1962, John then studied his Band Master’s course for 12 months and sat the exam, unfortunately failing in History of Music. Now with 5 children and with family in tow, they went once again to Malta. He re-sat his Band Master’s exam and this time passed. In 1966, he returned home to the UK, where he joined the Royal Marine Band at HMS Excellent in Portsmouth and once again took over as Principal Horn. He also conducted the Band on many of their engagements. In 1968 John was made Band Master and was sent to Rosyth in Scotland to take over another Royal Navy Volunteer Band. He worked his band very hard and put on many concerts for the public. The Band went on to win trophies, etc in naval competitions between the many shore and ships’ naval bands.
Joining the Royal Marine Deal Band once again, now in his twenties, John was promoted to Principal Horn under the musical directorship of Sir (Francis) Vivian Dunn, Colonel-
In Essex, 18 months later, John was drafted to Scotland to take over a Royal Naval Volunteer Band, where once again he was required to teach music and the playing of various instruments to non-
Returning to Deal in 1962, John then studied his Band Master’s course for 12 months and sat the exam, unfortunately failing in History of Music. Now with 5 children and with family in tow, they went once again to Malta. He re-
