John Juby completed an apprenticeship as a cabinet maker before he was called up as a National Serviceman at 20, serving as a corporal in the Royal Norfolk Regiment in Korea. After initial training, he was sent to Korea, celebrating his 21st birthday en route. His journey to Korea included a stop in Hong Kong, where he had a chance encounter with his uncle, a Royal Navy officer. In Korea, he was part of the pioneer platoon and looked after the Korean porters who introduced him to local food, often lacking in hygiene. During his time in Korea, John Juby had various experiences that left a lasting impact. One of the most harrowing aspects of his service was dealing with the casualties, including his school friend, Roy MacDonald, who was killed by a mortar round. He also experienced the stress of friendly fire incidents and the harsh realities of war. Despite these hardships, he maintained a sense of duty and camaraderie with his fellow soldiers.

With a childhood love of music and a military family background, a career in an army band was a natural choice for Fiona Shakspeare. After completing basic training she went to Kneller Hall, and she shares memories of her days as a student, including time spent perfecting her skills as a bassoonist and enduring her much-hated signing lessons. After Kneller Hall, Fiona’s first posting was to the Hussars and Light Dragoons, and her subsequent career took her to Kosovo, Germany and Iraq. She talks about the dual role of musician and soldier, describing what it was like to serve in a conflict zone, what her duties entailed, and why music still has its place in war. After her time abroad, Fiona was posted first to the Prince of Wales Division Band and then the Grenadier Guards. She talks about two of the greatest highlights of her career: playing in the Falkland Islands for the 25th anniversary of the conflict, and Trooping the Colour. At the time of her interview, Fiona was serving the final 12 months of her military career as Assistant Corp Secretary at Kneller Hall, and it’s easy to believe her when she says joining the army as a musician was the best decision she’s ever made.