RAF Voluntary Bands

RAF Voluntary Bands Association

Numerous bands were founded at the formation of the RAF on 1 April 1918. Several can trace their roots to Royal Naval Air Service and Royal Flying Corps volunteer musicians. The bands are centrally administered through the RAF Voluntary Band Association which, co-ordinates policy and activities and represents its members on those occasions when they are called upon to participate in major public events.

• RAF Akrotiri (Cyprus)
• RAF Brize Norton (Oxfordshire)
• RAF Cosford (Midlands)
• RAF Halton (London)
• RAF Honington (East Anglia)
• RAF Lossiemouth (Scotland)
• RAF St Athan (Wales)
• RAF Waddington Voluntary Band (Central England)
• RAF Wyton Area Voluntary Band (Eastern England)

To celebrate the 90th Anniversary of the RAF in 2008, a massed band event featuring members from all bands was held at Symphony Hall, Birmingham.

RAF Pipe Bands Association

There are five voluntary RAF pipe bands spread across the UK: three in Scotland and two in England. These are administered through the RAF Pipe Bands Association These are currently located at:

• RAF Halton
• RAF Kinloss
• RAF Leuchars
• RAF Lossiemouth
• RAF Waddington

The pipe bands compete in several contests, and the Pipe Band Association holds its own annual contest for members which includes solo events as well as band contests.

References

References

1. [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-13048552 RAF personnel march through Huntingdon], BBC News, 12 April 2011
2. [http://www.rafvoluntarybands.co.uk/ RAF Voluntary Bands Association], Retrieved 8 November 2010.
3. [http://www.birmingham-townhall.com/view/raf-massed-voluntary-bands RAF Massed Voluntary Bands concert] {{webarchive. link. (18 January 2013 , Retrieved 8 November 2010.)
4. Each of the current nine voluntary bands in the RAF are located on a geographical basis at stations throughout the United Kingdom and Cyprus:[http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafvoluntarybands/bands/ List of bands], RAF VBA, Retrieved 8 November 2010.
5. [http://www.rafpba.com/ RAF Pipe Bands Association], Retrieved 8 November 2010.
6. [https://web.archive.org/web/20120314193600/http://www.pether.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/RAFPBA/pages/locations.htm Pipe Band locations], Retrieved 8 November 2010.
7. [http://www.pether.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/RAFPBA/pages/contests06.htm Pipe Band contests] {{webarchive. link. (13 September 2012 , Retrieved 8 November 2010.)