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 - Captain James Marshall

James is a former member of the band playing Tuba and French Horn during the 1980's

Captain Marshall began his interest in music as a former member of the Romford Drum & Trumpet Corps during the 1980's as french horn and tuba player. 

He joined the Army in September 1988 at the Junior Leaders Regiment, Army Junior School of Music, in Bovington, Dorset.  On completion of his basic training he was posted to the Duke of Kent's Band, the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers (RRF), stationed with the 3rd Battalion in Hemer, near Dortmund, Germany.

From December 1990 to March 1991 he served as a part of Op GRANBY in the Persian Gulf, serving as a member of the Regimental Aid Post for the 3rdBattalion, Royal Regiment of Fusiliers (RRF).  In February 1992 he was promoted to Lance Corporal before being posted to Warminster, Wiltshire, in August of the same year.
As a result of Options for Change and the formation of the Minden Band of the Queen's Division in 1994, a posting to Colchester ensued.  In April 1996 he was then posted to Oakington Barracks, Cambridgeshire and then onto Bassingbourn Barracks, Hertfordshire, in 1998.

In September 2000 Captain Marshall was selected to attend the three year Student Bandmasters course at the Royal Military School of Music, Kneller Hall.  On completion of this course, he was appointed as Bandmaster to the now disbanded Clive Band of The Prince of Wales's Division based in Tern Hill, Shropshire.  A few years later, having completed the demanding Mounted Dutyman's equitation course, he was appointed Bandmaster of the Band of the Blues and Royals.  During this tenure he was delighted to be picked for a Short Term Training Team, spending two weeks in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, delivering musical and military training to the Ethiopian National Defence Force Band. 

In March 2009, he was posted to the Royal Military School of Music, as the Courses Warrant Officer, responsible for the delivery and development of career courses for all musicians across the Corps of Army Music.

He was commissioned in September 2010 and is honoured to be the Director of Music to the Band of the King's Division based at Weeton Barracks, Preston.
Throughout his career he has had the pleasure of travelling the world and working with some outstanding musicians. He is a keen sportsman and has represented the Junior Army, his Regiments he has served with and Bands at both Football and Rugby.

Captain Marshall is married to Meryl and is the proud father of three children, Rebekah, Thea and Ethan. 
 
In 2006 James accepted the Position of President to the Romford Drum & Trumpet Corps, where he continues to support the band in a number of ways ensuring the next generation of young people get the same support and opportunities he got from being a member of the band. 

Band Director- 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

In 2009 the band gave Paul the new title and role as Band Director.

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.

Steve Patterson - Band Staff

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.

WO2 Kirsty Evans-Social Event Organiser

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 retained the title of National Champion at the TYMBA solo Bugle Championships for 5 years.

Kirsty has also won awards within the band and was voted the Band Person of the Year in 2004. In 2007 she was awarded with the Mayors Civic Award for her contribution and achievement with the band. 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 throughout many parts of the world. Her proudest moment was in 2006 at the European Championships, where the band was awarded the highest mark in the History of the Contest.

In 2008 Kirsty was promoted to the rank of Warrant Officer Class 2 which she was honoured to receive. Kirsty strives to continuously improve the standard of the band and enjoys seeing her peers attain their goals. She hopes to stay a member of the band for as long as she can.

Julie Patterson - Band Staff

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 Tom Evans

Tom is Green and Gold throughout and has known and been part of the band for as long as he can remember. From a young age he was taken by his parents to see the band at every practice, performance and contest to support the band. Finally, in 1994 at the tender age of 6 Tom was allowed to follow in the footsteps of his sisters Kerrie and Kirsty. He started playing the Cornet but was used more as a mascot figure as he wore the smallest uniform ever made!

From joining the band at such a young age Tom has competed in many competitions which he always enjoys. He has also performed for the Royal Family during the VJ Day parade, Her Majesty the Queen’s visit to Romford and played in the grounds at Buckingham Palace. In 2008 Tom marched his 14th Lord Mayors Show. He also has travelled to France, Germany and the USA whilst in the ranks.

Tom took a great interest in music at school and achieved grades 3 on cornet and also played in the school band. Tom has also won awards within the band obtaining the Attendance Award in 2003, and Band Personality of the Year in 2004.

In 2004 Tom moved sections to play the Tenor Horn. In the same year he was elected as Deputy Drum Major. Tom has gradually progressed through the ranks of the band and is currently a Sergeant. As a long serving and experienced band member, Tom passes his knowledge onto younger members of the band and helps teach recruits how to march which he enjoys.

Away from band, Tom currently works in London as an Accounts Assistant. Being in the band has given Tom good discipline and taught him how to be a great team member and leader.

Sgt Mark Newman - PR Officer of the band

Mark joined the corps in February 2002, and is one of a handful of members that had a musical background prior to joining the band. He began music lessons through school at the age of 10 and progressed to pass Grade 5 on Trumpet when he was 13. Prior to joining the band, Mark was part of the Havering Music School Junior and Youth Brass Bands before eventually joining the band at the age of 15.

Mark began his unformed days on Cornet before transferring to a Tenor Horn in late 2002. He has competed in various competitions with the band both in the UK and overseas and holds the band’s triumph at the European Championships as his greatest contest memory.

He has travelled performed in France, Belgium, Germany and Gibraltar with the band. His best memory of all the overseas trips was in a High School Gymnasium in Chicago, USA. The corps played a Medley of American pieces, and the 1500 strong crowd of teenage Americans burst into chorus as the band played the “Star Spangled Banner”.

Mark has received the Best Newcomer, Band Person of the Year, Best Attendance and Band Personality of the Year awards at the bands Annual Presentation evenings during his time in uniform. He has gradually progresses through the ranks achieving his first stripe in 2004 and more recently being promoted to Sergeant in early 2008, when he also traded his Tenor Horn for a Trombone.

He is also on the Executive committee as a band representative and assists in the upkeep of the band website and quarterly magazine, and often prepares programmes for the band’s larger, self promoted shows as well as recruiting leaflets.

Mark is probably the sportiest band member and outside of band he can usually be found on a Football or Rugby pitch. He currently works in Ilford and is training to be a Chartered Accountant.

Sgt James Ainsworth - Band Librarian

James joined the band during the summer of 1999.  Like most members, he joined with no musical background and has built up his musical knowledge whilst in the ranks. James started banding life on a valved Trombone before progressing onto the slide version. He had a brief spell on the drums before returning back to Trombone where he has remained ever since. James’ lengthy spell on the Trombone now sees him head the section and on occasions deputises for Drum Major.

James has taken part in many contests whilst sporting the Green and Gold uniform. He was part of the two time National Championship and League winning band in 2003 and 2004, and the European championship winning band in 2006.  He has travelled to Germany 3 times to compete with the band, bringing back 4 Gold medals, 4 Silver Medals and 1 bronze.  James also travelled to Chicago in 2004 with the corps, and holds this as his favourite trip, closely followed by the bands tour to Gibraltar in 2007.

James has made many friends within the band and is proud to be recognised as a senior member.  He has helped many members progress through the ranks and is the band’s music librarian, these efforts culminated in a promotion to the rank of Sergeant in April 2008.