A rare statue of a Royal Marines drum major has been donated to the Royal Marines Band by George Latham, a former musician whose four-decade career included performances for royalty and world leaders.
Now in his mid-80s and battling terminal cancer, Latham made a special trip from his home in Liskeard to HMS Raleigh in Torpoint—his final posting before retiring in 1986—to formally present the statue.
The piece, which accompanied him through 12 relocations during his service with the Royal Marines Band, will now be displayed at the Royal Marines School of Music in Portsmouth.
“I never expected all this—I thought I’d just receive a letter thanking me for my gift to the Royal Marines School of Music,” Latham said. “This has been tremendous, totally unexpected—it’s been a fantastic day.”
Throughout his four-decade career, Latham performed for monarchs, presidents, and dignitaries at major events, including the USA’s bicentennial, the funeral of Sir Winston Churchill, and the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana in 1981.
His service extended beyond music. He was commended for bravery as a stretcher bearer in the Falklands War, assisted as a firefighter during the 1970s strike in Glasgow, and even delivered his younger daughter Claire when a midwife was unavailable.
Born one of 13 siblings in Warwickshire, Latham’s musical journey began with the Salvation Army Band, where he played the tenor horn. He joined the Royal Marines Band Service at just 14 in 1952 and trained at the School of Music in Deal.
His career took him across the seas and onto prestigious stages—aboard aircraft carrier HMS Ocean, the former Royal Yacht Britannia, and in performances across Europe, the Indo-Pacific, and beyond.
He played for Queen Elizabeth II, the monarchs of Norway and Oman, and packed crowds at Earl’s Court for five Royal Tournaments. In 1976, he toured the USA for its bicentennial celebrations.
While stationed at HMS Raleigh in the late 1950s, he met his wife, Evelyn, with whom he has now shared 66 years of marriage.
During the Falklands conflict, Latham played a crucial role as a musician-stretcher bearer. He was particularly noted for bravery when, acting as a ‘rope man,’ he lowered a casualty down a ramp aboard a troopship during an air raid—even as Argentinian Mirage jets fired cannons and rockets overhead.
With this meaningful donation, Latham ensures that a piece of Royal Marines Band history is preserved for future generations.
“The statue is particularly impressive. Often, military statues have small inaccuracies, but we can’t find anything out of place—the uniform and details are absolutely perfect,” said Major Ian Davis, Director of Music RM Band Plymouth.
“It’s going to have a prominent position at the Royal Marines School of Music in Portsmouth.”
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