A Musical Life in The Royal Marines: The Memoirs of Major John Perkins

I am revisiting the very roots of my musical journey, courtesy of Major John Perkins (who was my House Section Commander at the Royal Marines School of Music in Deal, Kent - where I boarded and studied for three wonderful years, age 15-18). This is an amazing book, bringing to life my mid-to-late teens (during the 1960's) and then for a further seven years serving and performing across the Globe with the finest Military Band in the World. It is only as you get older that you can look back and thank God for such a destiny. I highly recommend this book to you, whatever your background. You will get inside exactly what it is like to become a part of the Band of Her Majesty's Royal Marines.

I am something of a glutton for music autobiographies so when I saw that John Perkins (Ashokan Farwell on Classic FM fame) had written a book about his life as a musician in the military arena, I was keen to compare his experiences to that of mine in 'civvies' orchestras. A splendid read, full of colourful anecdote and 'well, I didn't know that' moments. Highly recommended

What a true story, it's a book you just cannot put down - a real page turner.A boy from Deal joins the Marines as a musician aged 14, at 17 he is traveling the world for 7 years on the Royal Yacht Britannia as leader of the the renowned Marines band - 1989 finds him Officer in Charge of the Marines School of Music in Deal as the IRA blow up the barracks killing 11 bandsmen - arranges, conducts and plays the violin solo on The Ashokan Farewell which for the last 20 years has enjoyed an unbeaten run in the Classic fm Hall of Fame.In these troubling times if you are going to read one book this year - then I recommend this to you.

This book is a real insight into the life of a service musician. The book leads the reader through John’s career demonstrate the diversity that he enjoyed from joining as a musician through to reaching the rank of Major Royal Marines. Funny, personal and, at times, sad, particularly when remembering the harrowing details of the 1989 Deal Bombing, this is a book that anyone with an interest in military music will throughly enjoy.

I bought the book because I wanted to read about John's great career as a musician in the Royal Marines. If, like me you particularly like the Ashokan Farewell that gets played constantly on Classic FM then this is the performer responsible. I can thoroughly recommend the book, some great stories which gives an insight in to life in the Royal Marines Band Service and the Royal Yacht Britannia.

These are the memoirs of John Perkins, going from a very young recruit to the top rung of command in the Royal Marines Band Service. Covering his years on the Royal Yacht Britannia and his rise up through the ranks, a fascinating insight into the bygone lifestyle of a military bandsman, and the characters and camaraderie he encountered on the journey. Highly recommended.

This is a great story of how someone can rise to the top of their profession through sheer hard work and application and no little amount of talent Sometimes against the odds,through triumphs and tragedies he has faced them all with stoicism and humility A great credit to the band service He must be a great bloke to know

Thought this was a good book well written. Being an ex Wren who served in Deal while theSchool of Music was there, I also knew some of the people mentioned.