// This Months Feature Band Member

Flight Sergeant Barry Hunt -
Photographer: Cpl Rachel Eastley,
RAF/MOD. Crown Copyright 2009.

F/S Hunt is a Senior non Commissioned Officer from the Royal Air Force Regiment Band based at Cranwell, UK.  He is a tuba and electric bass player and has also served as the Drum Major of the Regiment Band.

Barry has spent the last three months with the RNZAF music services as part of a military exchange between RNZAF, RAAF and RAF personnel called Long Look. His musical talents were well utilised on his visit to New Zealand, playing in concerts with all three service bands, the Central Band of the RNZAF, the NZ Army Band based at Burnham and the Royal New Zealand Navy Band based at Philomel in Auckland.

The RAF music services consist of four full time military bands. Two are based at RAF Uxbridge (on the outskirts of London) and are called the Central Band A or B band. There is also two bands based at the RAF training Base Cranwell; the Regiment Band and the College Band. All bands carry out a range of ceremonial duties as well as public relations and community activities. The bands do share players, particularly for concerts or ceremonies where larger bands are required.

F/S Hunt's next major event on his return to the UK is to prepare his band for their part in this year's performance of the Edinburgh Tattoo. The Tattoo has a lead service which generally rotates annually and this year the RAF provide the principle band which open and close the Tattoo. All RAF bands will form a combined Massed RAF band for the tattoo in 2009. Find out more about the Royal Air Force Regiment Band.