Purpose-built facility for army musicians hits the right note

A new band facility on the Sandhurst Estate, Surrey has been formally opened by Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Edinburgh, as colonel-in-chief of the Royal Corps of Army Music (RCAM).

The purpose-built facility – named The Duchess of Edinburgh Hall – houses both the Band of the Coldstream Guards and, as a separate unit, the Army Engagement Ensemble.

The facility was delivered by the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) contracting to Willmott Dixon, Pick Everard and HLM Architects and was funded under the DEO Army Programme.

Historic stables dating from the 1800s have been transformed into modern changing facilities including the refurbished ‘Sullivan Block’, named after Thomas Sullivan who served as bandmaster at The Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst from 1845 to 1857 and was the father of Sir Arthur Seymour Sullivan of Gilbert and Sullivan fame.

Major general Richard Clements CBE, director of basing and infrastructure, said, “The new band facility at Sandhurst will enable army musicians to carry out their supporting state and ceremonial duties and national and international engagement for defence, both today and into the future. It is a fantastic example of the significant investment we are making to deliver benefits for our people, support military training and capability, and build a more sustainable estate.”