In this film, Len Tyler tells us how, as a musician in the Army, he fell in love with the tuba, having flirted with the trombone, how he kept quiet at Pirbright, how the ‘Golden Eight’ became the ‘Golden Nine’ and of the time he smuggled a sousaphone.
OTHER VETERANS
See all stories
Vikki Foley
Vikki Foley’s husband Christopher served with 3rd Battalion the Rifles. His Regiment were hit hard in Afghanistan and he lost a friend. His PTSD diagnosis led to his medical discharge, and ultim...
Dee Palmer
After her military career, Dee Palmer found fame with the band, Jethro Tull. But fame and fortune doesn’t necessarily bring you happiness as Dee reveals in this fascinating interview.
Maisie Lee
Maisie Lee was a trumpet player in the band of the Parachute Regiment. She had a stint in Iraq and was present for the official handover of power.
The Bugle Calls
Listen to a collection of 90 high-quality recordings of Field Calls for Mounted Corps and Infantry in camp and quarters.
Paul Wilman
Paul Wilman joined the military to become a musician. But in 1984, music played second fiddle to an emergency.
Tom Griffiths
Tom Griffiths started his military career as a boy bandsman in the Royal Lincolnshire Regiment and retired as Major, Director of Music, at the Grenadier Guards.
Stuart Marsh
Stuart Marsh was a WO1 in the Corp of Army Music. He played the drums for the Blues and Royals for many years and was often on the Drum Horse.
Harry Hawkesworth
Harry is one of the Glosters that was captured at the Battle of the Imjin. Despite his charming demeanour, 65 years later, the memories still cause...
John Pritchard
In Korea, John Pritchard was a craftsman with the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers [REME].
MOST WATCHED
See other popular videos 
Brian Bird
One of the few surviving WWII pilots to have flown both the Hurricane and the Spitfire. Brian has all his faculties and his memories of specific bombing raids and life as a Spit pilot in Italy are abs...
Colin Parker
Colin used to love watching the trooping of the colour but coming from Hull had assumed a life on the docks was his lot. That all changed when he went into the army. He found a regiment he loved but i...
Eric Downing
Eric Downing provides a rare and often times emotional insight into the role of a Gunner on a Flail tank during the Second World War.
Sidney Mitchell
"Sidney was one of the first veterans we ever interviewed. His memories of the Battle of Crete shocked me at the time."
Albert Kingham
Albert Kingham gives a humorous account of his life as a young man in the ATC. Stationed at RAF Oakington he was involved in the Berlin Airlift.
Ralph Brill
Ralph Brill is a serving WO Class2 Band Sergeant Major of the Irish Guards.
Sister Veronica
Sister Veronica provides a fabulous interview full of fun and detail. She served with the Women’s Royal Naval Service as an Air Mechanic – ‘Engines’ and was attached to the Fle...
Chase Bridge School
A short film to celebrate the visit to Kneller Hall by the superbly well behaved pupils [and teachers] from Chase Bridge primary school. Thanks very much to the volunteers and veterans [Len Tyler, R
Graeme Golightly
Graeme Golightly was an eighteen year old Royal marine Commando when the Falklands Conflict started.
Douglas Hassall
Another Chelsea pensioner and a very different experience of the war to George Bayliss. We pick up the story en route to Singapore.
