The Royal Hospital Chelsea Band was reformed back in 1983, mainly by the efforts and expertise of Mr B A Hughes, an ex-bandmaster, who was at that time employed by the Hospital as the Office Keeper. The idea behind the band's creation was to provide pensioners with the facilities and opportunities to pursue their musical interests and to enable them to socialise with like minded musicians in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.
However the biggest obstacle to the success of the band has always been a lack of musicians and the difference in instrumentalists needed to produce a full wind band. This problem is still an issue today but with a great deal of hard work and with the occasional outside assistance, the band has been able to flourish over the years and perform limited and small scale concerts.
The band remains a valuable asset for many pensioners and under our current Director of Music, Colonel Duncan Beat, ex-Director of The Scots Guards and Senior Director of Music of the British Army, continues to perform at various functions and concerts.