View source for Band of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox military unit
| unit_name                     = Band of the 43rd Royal Tank Regiment<br />Fusilier Volunteers Band<br />Northumbrian Band<br />Band of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers
| image                         = Royal Fusiliers Regiment.svg
| image_size                    = 160px
| caption                       = [[Cap badge]] of the [[Royal Regiment of Fusiliers]]
| dates                         = 1951–Present
| country                       = {{flag|United Kingdom}}
| branch                        = {{army|United Kingdom}}
| type                          = [[Military Band]]
| size                          =
| command_structure             =
| garrison                      = Saint George's Army Reserve Centre, [[Newcastle upon Tyne]]<ref name="apply.army.mod.uk">{{Cite web|title=Army Reserve Centre, St George's Barracks, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 1DF|url=https://apply.army.mod.uk/what-we-offer/army-reserve-centres/north-east/newcastle-upon-tyne-st-george-s-barracks|access-date=23 March 2021|website=Army Careers}}</ref>
}}
The '''Band of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers''' is an [[Army Reserve (United Kingdom)|Army Reserve]] [[military band]] part of the [[5th Battalion, Royal Regiment of Fusiliers|5th Battalion]], [[Royal Regiment of Fusiliers]].
== History ==
In 1951 the '''Band of the 43rd (6th (City) Battalion, The Royal Northumberland Fusiliers) Royal Tank Regiment''', or simply the ''Band of the [[43rd Royal Tank Regiment]]'' was formed in [[Newcastle upon Tyne]].  In 1956 as part of the reductions of the [[Royal Armoured Corps]], the 43rdRTR was redesignated as the 6th (City) Btn, RNF.  In 1967, after the reductions of the [[Territorial Army (UK)|Territorial Army (TA)]] after the [[1966 Defence White Paper]], the battalion was disbanded and concurrent amalgamated with the 4th/5th Battalion, Royal Northumberland Fusiliers to form A (Royal Northumberland Fusiliers) Coy in the Fusilier Volunteers.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2007-10-20|title=6th Battalion, The Royal Northumberland Fusiliers [UK]|url=http://www.regiments.org/regiments/uk/volmil-england/vinf-no/nd-6.htm|access-date=2021-03-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071020113422/http://www.regiments.org/regiments/uk/volmil-england/vinf-no/nd-6.htm|archive-date=2007-10-20}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|date=2008-10-14|title=The Band of The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers|url=http://www2.army.mod.uk/tynetees/band/fusiliers_band.htm|access-date=2021-03-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081014070751/http://www2.army.mod.uk/tynetees/band/fusiliers_band.htm|archive-date=2008-10-14}}</ref>  The band followed suite, joining the Fus Volunteers, becoming the '''Band of the Fusilier Volunteers'''.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web|date=2007-10-21|title=5th Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers [UK]|url=http://www.regiments.org/regiments/uk/volmil-england/vinf-mi/67RRF-5.htm|access-date=2021-03-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071021105539/http://www.regiments.org/regiments/uk/volmil-england/vinf-mi/67RRF-5.htm|archive-date=2007-10-21}}</ref>
Though the Fusilier Volunteers sat under the TAVR IIA category (meaning it could deploy as a battalion if mobilised), the band was placed under the TAVR IV category (UOTC and bands).<ref>Frederick, p. 326.</ref>
Following the formation of the 6th (Volunteer) Battalion, Royal Regiment of Fusiliers in 1975, the band transferred to the new unit and was redesignated as the '''Northumbrian Band of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers'''.<ref name="regiments.org">{{Cite web|date=2007-10-17|title=6th Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers [UK]|url=http://regiments.org/regiments/uk/volmil-england/vinf-no/67RRF-6.htm|access-date=2021-03-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071017084539/http://regiments.org/regiments/uk/volmil-england/vinf-no/67RRF-6.htm|archive-date=2007-10-17}}</ref>  Following another reduction of the TA in 1999, the band dropped the RRS suffix, while joining the new [[Tyne-Tees Regiment]].<ref name=":0" />
Following the disbandment of the later regiment, the band became the '''Band of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers''' on 1 April 2006, and joined the reformed 5th (Volunteer) Battalion, Royal Regiment of Fusiliers.<ref name=":0" /><ref name="regiments.org"/>
The band is currently based at St George's Barracks in [[Newcastle upon Tyne]].<ref name="apply.army.mod.uk">{{Cite web|title=Army Reserve Centre, St George's Barracks, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 1DF|url=https://apply.army.mod.uk/what-we-offer/army-reserve-centres/north-east/newcastle-upon-tyne-st-george-s-barracks|access-date=23 March 2021|website=Army Careers}}</ref>
== Organisation ==
The current band is separated into three 'ensembles':<ref name=":0" />
* Marching Band — performs at numerous Royal, Civic, Public, and Private Engagements
* Fanfare Trumpeters — provides a Regal opening for that more prestigious Occasion
* Brass Quintet — provides a wide selection of music for the more subdued event
== Notable performances ==
In December 2013 the band, joined by members of the Northern Band of the [[Royal Corps of Signals]], Heavy Cavalry and Cambrai Band, Band of the [[Duke of Lancaster's Regiment]] to perform at [[Gateshead]] Metrocentre.  Their performance included jazz and Christmas tunes.<ref>{{Citation|title=Flashmob of British Army musicians surprises Christmas shoppers in Gateshead's Metrocentre|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2GMP08Ulqk|language=en|access-date=2021-03-31}}</ref>
In April 2017, the band lead the [[5 Military Intelligence Battalion|5th Military Intelligence Battalion]] during a home coming parade in [[Berwick-upon-Tweed]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=3 April 2017|title=Did you know the FUSILIERS had a Regimental Band?|url=https://www.facebook.com/TheFusiliers/posts/865382816935593?__cft__[0]=AZUC_7I-swIWAPQfkaIO2PX4PMOku6EYCnODqgJioEClByVzJD9hGCKV9atG8nT9_hB7W45g5d6u3XE1KuFd7hrw7w0JCYJdfFsaKogIjicAjVVMpa4fykH3JrIQtbdRamekfSAYHg8e-tn0gawJyif7M6JfVtuH8fFuPVFFaLZpLQ&__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R|access-date=30 March 2021|website=First Fusiliers – Facebook}}</ref>  Later in June the band performed at the Newcastle Military Show, showing off their musical talents by playing the "[[British Grenadiers]]" and "[[Blaydon Races]]" while on a carousel.<ref>{{Cite web|date=18 June 2017|title=You might have missed the FIFTH FUSILIERS Band on the carousel yesterday, but today is your last chance to see the mighty FIRST FUSILIERS WARRIOR IFV at the Newcastle Military Show - why don't you take your Dad for Father's Day!?|url=https://www.facebook.com/TheFusiliers/posts/909909345816273?__cft__[0]=AZVwUnTDKtZmyi7EfnkdfJSDKSinW3YqBSLAOADLgZlCcdHFricjozL8QB0yXMVZQ6ylKQay2nuIdFxmWc30uHB19bfevtQ8fzespJovm5tlX5pmyXafW_p2bm7mcwuPYlWqx6bzmxJjy7GjjUa_16VLaVIL-UG9riSCo_C5v0VGxw&__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R|access-date=30 March 2021|website=First Fusiliers – Facebook}}</ref>  In June 2018 they returned performing the same tunes on a [[ferris wheel]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=24 June 2018|title=The Fusilier Band demonstrating what adaptable military musicians they are!|url=https://www.facebook.com/TheFusiliers/posts/1115562778584261?__cft__[0]=AZXHBaRT3n2vbEhKTet_tyi6sRdGnquOdw6fYqkPGtUx27mM86wMRMobeJVZGhfG4duw307aF8m1aYCCHNzJ-Uwe1YsHjHeb8imVH5FV2-_3g3JWXmyVltv2ivx-WI074NY0Jxc_UOj_Fw4Xa-rnF7yIL-96i9uRkuGQ2PB207oOOw&__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R|access-date=30 March 2021|website=First Fusiliers – Facebook}}</ref>
== Footnotes ==
<references />
== References ==
* {{cite book|last=Frederick|first=J. B. M.|title=Lineage book of British land forces 1660-1978 : biographical outlines of cavalry, yeomanry, armour, artillery, infantry, marines and air force land troops of regular and reserve forces (Volume I)|publisher=Microform Academic|year=1984|isbn=978-1-85117-007-4|publication-place=Wakefield|oclc=18072764}}
[[Category:Military units and formations established in 1951]]
[[Category:Royal Corps of Army Music]]
[[Category:Military units and formations in Newcastle upon Tyne]]
[[Category:Royal Regiment of Fusiliers]]
[[Category:British military bands]]