Former Enderby Cornet Player Joins Marines

27 Jan 2016

Former Youth Band and Senior Band principal cornet, Thomas Lane-Spouge, to join The Band of the Royal Marines.

Thomas Lane-Spouge has recently completed his initial military training at The Royal Marines Commando Training Centre in Lympstone, Devon and has now started his music training at the Royal Marines School of Music in Portsmouth.

It all started way back in 2014 when Thomas applied to join after completing his AS exams. It took almost a year to get through the rounds of tests, fitness trials and medical examinations (whilst he also studied for his A levels) but he was finally called for an audition (itself a week long exercise!) in April 2015. He was formally accepted and began his initial military training on 7 September.

All musicians and buglars (28 initial starters in Tom’s troop) had to undergo 15 weeks of initial military training, including field craft, map reading, tactical manoeuvres and weapons training. There was also frequent parade training with drill instruction, physical training, swimming, gym sessions, running and field fitness and the famous ‘mud run’ being the final challenge at the end of the course.

The day to day pace was relentless and many fell by the wayside as the training progressed and by the end of the 15 weeks the troop numbers were down from 28 to just 18! Training was completed and the troop passed out on 9 December with an official cap ceremony and parade.

We wish Tom well as his career progresses and look forward to hearing all about his adventures when he is next back home in Leicester.