The Railway Swing Band consists of a mixture of Professional musicians, serious amateur musicians and players living with a 20 mile radius of Deal. Their ages range from 16 to 80+.They are proud to have built up a local reputation by raising money for local charities which, they feel is a constructive result of their music making. Many local charities have benefited from the proceeds of their concerts.

The band’s first rehearsal was on Wednesday night, 26th August 1992 in the back room of the Railway Public House, Walmer (whence their name originates.)

Jon Yates (then Principle cornet of the Royal Marines School of Music, Deal. Now retired from the service and Professor of Cornet at RMSM Portsmouth) was asked to take charge of a rehearsal band in the hope of fulfilling a few local musicians longing to play Big Band music. The music played at the first practice was Elmer’s Tune, A Little Street in Singapore and A String of Pearls. The overall sound and balance of the band was excellent and has remained so ever since.

Because of work commitments, Jon asked Dave White (a former member of the Royal Marines Band Service and long-time friend) to take over the running of the band and he has been in ‘semi-control’ of this unruly bunch of musicians ever since.

The band still rehearses on Wednesday evenings but now at Pfizer’s Social Club.

The band plays a mixture of most of the great Swing ere – Ellington, Goodman, Basie, Miller, Kenton, Herman etc with a few more modern compositions thrown in.

A standard Big band consists of 17 players, the RSB have 17 Saxophones, 8 Trumpets, 8 Trombones, Drums, Bass, Piano and 2 Guitars, plus up to 3 vocalists. A Big Big Band in every sense of the word and East Kent is extremely fortunate to have them performing for local charities.

www.railwayswingband.co.uk

www.ekubs.org.uk

www.pilgrimshospice.org