Captain
David Cole of the Central Band of the Royal British Legion
David was director of music of the Royal Marines Band Service for 32
years from 1967. He studied conducting at the Royal Academy of Music and
was awarded the Silver Medal of the Worshipful Company of Musicians. His
career in the Royal Marines culminated in September 1992 when he was
appointed Director of Music to the Band of HM Royal Marines Portsmouth
and Her Majesty's Yacht Britannia. An appointment he held to December
1997 when the Royal Yacht was decommissioned in Portsmouth. The Queen
honoured him by awarding him membership of the Royal Victorian Order
(MVO).
Following his long and distinguished career in the Royal Marines he
spent the next few years in teaching as the Head of Music at Wellesley
House, a top Independent Preparatory School in Broadstairs, Kent where
he also continued his life-long love of sport and athletics.
David was appointed Director of Music to the Royal British Legion in
2006 and as such, directs the Central Band. He is also the Assistant
Producer of the annual Festival of Remembrance, a major national event
broadcast on BBC television and radio.