At the outbreak of the Second World War Dick Bouchard was a member of the Essex Army Cadet Force,he then volunteered to join the Royal Navy and was awarded the Burma Star. After being demobbed in 1946 he rejoined the Army Cadet Force and upon his resignation in 1950 held the Kings Commission as Captain in the TARO.

In 1950 along with the late Peter Richardson he founded the Romford Royal British Legion Boys Band and when they decided to take different directions in 1957 he founded the Romford Drum and Trumpet Corps.

Dick was also a founder member of the Havering Bands Association which promotes music for youth in the borough and until recent years he directed the Annual Havering Bands Tattoo.

He was a founder member of TYMBA the Traditional Youth Marching Band Association and many youth marching bands in the UK have benefited from his advice and assistance.

This was recognised in the 1999 Queens New Years Honours list when he was awarded the MBE for his services to music for youth. Over the years he has received many awards and diplomas in recognition of his effort and enthusiasm.

In his advancing years he has taken more of a back seat in training but is always supportive and available to advise and discuss the bands future. The current band members are always aware of his "presence" and aim to maintain the very high standards he set over the years.

President - James Marshall

James is a former member of the band playing Tuba and French Horn during the 1980's . He left the band to join the Army as a musicain and was posted to the Band of the Royal Regiment of Fusilers. Following army band amalgamations he was posted to the Minden Band of the Queens Division. He then left this band to complete a 3 year course at Kneller Hall gaining a BA(hons) and was promoted to the rank of Warrent Officer Class 1. He took up his new appointment as the Bandmaster of the Prince of Wales Divisional Band. In 2005 he was posted to his current position of Bandmaster of the Band of the Blues & Royals. Being posted back in London has allowed James to take a more influential role and to date he has assisted the Romford Drum & Trumpet Corps on numerous occasions. His progression through the ranks of the Army Corps of Music is to be admired making him an ideal role model for the current band members, showing what can be achieved.

Bandmaster- Paul Binder

Paul Binder joined the Romford Drum & Trumpet Corps in 1981 at the age of 11. For the first three years he played the side drum. In November 1985 he was promoted to the rank of Drum Major. In this role he won 17 of the 19 competitions he entered including winning the title of National Youth Marching Champion Drum Major for four consecutive years from 1986-89. In 1988 he received the Mayor’s Civic award from the Mayor of Havering Cllr Robin Adaire for services to Havering.

In 1989 he left the band to advance his skills as a Drum Major and competed in the Adult section of the Scottish Pipe Band Association. In his first year he won the English Championships, All England Masters Title and reached the top 6 at the World Drum Major Championships.

For the next few years he coached several other local youth bands and played Tuba with the Tilbury Brass Band. He was invited back to the Romford Drum & Trumpet Corps in 1998, in the role of Bandmaster.

In this role, he undertook a series of changes at the band and introduced a team of qualified music instructors. In a desire to improve the professionalism of the band he arranged regular projects to give the band members the opportunity of performing with professional and high quality ensemble musicians. To date the band has now worked with numerous professional military and civilian bands. These changes have seen a marked improvement in the band and after an absence from the competition field, he returned the band to competing in 2003 and have been undefeated in 8 successive contests picking up the Supreme Champions Award at the National Youth Marching Band Championships for the last two years.

In March 2004 he arranged the bands first ever trip to the United States, where the band had the honour of being the first English band to take part in the prestigious St Patrick’s Day Parade in Chicago.

In May 2004, he received the Mayor’s Civic Award for the second time, for Services to youth in the London Borough of Havering

For all current matters and enquiries relating to the band please contact
Paul on bandmaster@rdtc.org

Assistant Bandmaster - Lee Fearon

Lee joined the band at the age of 8 and played in the band for 17 years and still remains the longest serving member throughout the bands history. Lee worked his way through the ranks and reached the position of Bandmaster before leaving in 1985. Since leaving the band Lee went on to play Eb and Bb Tuba with the Romford Silver Band and latterly the Tilbury Band where he recently held the position of Chairman.

Lee has helped with the band on regular occasions and when his daughter followed in his foot steps and joined the band, Lee’s vast experience ensured he was welcomed back into the Band staff and plays a vital role in the current set up of the band. Lee also sits on the bands Executive Committee.

WO2 Steve Patterson

Stephen joined the band in Jan 1991 aged 9, he started on the Trumpet then after a few months he went onto the Baritone after two years he requested a move onto Clarinet and has remained there since.

In 1995 Stephen participated in the VE Day parade down the Mall at Buckingham Palace in front of royalty. In 1995 Stephen was promoted to LCPL , year later to CPL, 1999 to SGT and in 2002 to WO2. In 2005 Stephen participated in his 14th Lord Mayors Show parade.

Stephen has helped organise recruitment within the Band, he has visited schools to recruit new members, Stephen has also trained new members to march.

Stephen has toured across the UK and Europe within the band, he was part of the band that took part in the St Patrick’s Day parades in Chicago 2004,

Stephen enjoys the Marching competition performances, Stephen has competed at Aldershot 1995/96, Kingston 1996 - 1st place Royal Albert Hall 1996 - 2nd place, six qualifying competitions 2003/2004 all 1st place, BYBA Concert Contest 2001/20052006 - 2nd Place and National Champion Winners & Supreme League Winners 2003/2004.

Stephen is a retail store Manager and is very ambitious within his career and always has goals to reach.

In February 2006, Steve joined one of only a few members throughout the history of the band to receive the 15 years Service award.

B/Sgt Kirsty Evans

Kirsty joined the band in 1993 following in her elder sister’s footsteps. She started on the cornet like many others with no prior experience before undertaking music lessons and gradually passing her grades.

In 1998 Kirsty was appointed the position of principal cornet in the band which concentrated her efforts further with this more challenging role. Kirsty has represented the band in numerous solo contests and has for three years been the Solo Bugler National Champion. She is proud of this individual award, but regards being part of the band during its two year unbeaten run of Traditional Youth Marching Band National Champions as a greater achievement.

Kirsty has also won awards within the band and was awarded the Bands Person of the Year in 2004. She has also found time to play with Tilbury Band on occasions and appeared with them at the Brass Band National Championships.

She has made many friends as a result of being in the band and is grateful to have had the opportunity to travel with the band throughout many parts of the world. She hopes to stay part of the band for as long as she can.

Sgt Julie Wilson

Julie joined the band in Jan 1995 aged 13 and had already been playing the clarinet for three years. Within two weeks of joining Julie received her uniform and went on her first show and started rehearsing with the band for a marching contest in Aldershot, four months after she joined.

In 1995 Julie participated in the VE Day parade down the Mall at Buckingham Palace in front of royalty, her first of many performances in the presence of the Royal Family.

Within two years of joining Julie was promoted to LCPL age 15, around this time Julie transferred onto alto saxophone and remained there until 2003 where she returned to Solo Clarinet. In 2003 Julie was promoted and jumped ranks to SGT.

Julie organises recruitment within the Band, she has made many recruitment videos and has presented at local schools to recruit new members. She has also assisted with the training of new members to march and play clarinet and sax.

Julie has toured across the UK and Europe with the band and was part of the band that took part in the St Patrick’s Day Parades in Chicago 2004. She particularly enjoy's concert performances playing a varied selection of Music but thrives on Marching competition performances.

Julie has competed in many contests, Aldershot 1995/96, Kingston 1996 - 1st place Royal Albert Hall 1996 - 2nd place, six qualifying competitions 2003/2004 all 1st place, BYBA Concert Contest 2001/2005/2006 - 2nd Place and National Champion Winners & Supreme League Winners 2003/2004.

Julie studied Photography for many years and now runs and owns her own successful Mini Lab & Photographic Studio that has been established for 10 years. Julie is very ambitious, and always has new projects and goals to reach.

Her most embarrassing moment was with Stephen Patterson, Kirsty Evans and Keiran Kavanagh when they made there debut appearance on US TV, an interview on NBC Chicago News, and were asked to sing as part of the recording.

Sgt Lisa Saunders

Lisa Saunders joined the band in September 1995 and choose to play the Baritone along with her best friend Jennifer, they both decided to play the biggest instrument they could carry. As years went by she decided to go on to the Euphonium.

She had music lessons in school and achieved grades 1-4, then when she left secondary school choose to have private music lessons and in this time I passed her grade 5.

After being in the band for 5 years she became an NCO and received her first stripe, she progressed further becoming a sergeant in 2004. Being a sergeant increases her responsibilities further as the senior rank in the lower brass section. She has also taken an active role in the training and development of new recruits.

She has achieved success within the band winning Best new recruit, 5 year award, 10 year award & Bandsman of the Year 2005. She is extremely proud to have been voted bandsman of the year as it shows an appreciation for what she does.

Lisa has travelled to many different countries as result of her time in the band including, Germany, France, Belgium & USA.

Lisa states “Being in the band has taught me to work as part of a team and act responsibly as a senior band member”

Sgt Sarah Twinn

Sarah joined the band in October 1998 at the age of 13 after seeing the band play at the May Day Fayre a few months earlier. She was already learning to play the trumpet at school so decided to carry on learning this instrument.

Whilst being in the band she has travelled to France, Germany and America, all places she would never have been to, if the band hadn’t given her the opportunity. A highlight for Sarah was the Chicago trip, taking part in the St Patrick’s Day Parades and sightseeing is something that she will never forget.

As well as competing abroad, Sarah has competed in competitions nationally, the most memorable being the Nationals which we entered in 2003. Sarah has competed in the National Championships solo bugler Category and has achieved Runner up on two occasions. In March 2004, Sarah won the TYMBA open soloist competition at the National Championships playing an Air.

At the bands annual award ceremonies Sarah has consistently featured in the prizes, in 2000 I was awarded most improved in the wind section, Band Personality in 2001.

She was promoted to Sergeant in 2005 and still continues to make the commitment to being part of the band, despite studying and living at University in West London