Major J A Kelly
BMus(Hons)
FLCM LRSM Royal Marines
Major John Kelly was born in Luton on 13th August 1961. John began to learn the Piano Accordion at the age of 11 having been influenced by his brother and eventually took part in the 'All England Piano Accordian Duet' competition. He also played Baritone in Challney High School Band.
John decided to embark on a musical career with the Royal Marines Band Service and joined as a member of 1/79 troop at Deal in January, 1979 playing Cello and Euphonium.
On completion of his musical training, John was drafted to the Staff Band at the Royal Marines School of Music.
Although his instrumental instructors influenced his musical career, it was a PT instructor, (CSgt 'Tansy¹ Lee) who provided John with the greatest influence of his life - his daughter Wendy. Wendy met John whilst performing in a production of South Pacific in Deal¹s Globe Theatre. Romance blossomed and they were married on 31st July 1982 in St Michael¹s and All Angels Church, Deal.
John was a very accomplished musician and as a brass player he was regularly selected for Fanfare Teams at major events undertaken by the Deal Band in the 1980s including Royal Tournaments, a Royal Wedding and a three month tour of the USA.
His musical versatility was evident with his proficiency on the Piano Accordion, but the Cello was his favoured instrument and his playing was to flourish whilst performing with the orchestra at the numerous winter concerts in Deal. Although this was a particularly busy time for John especially with the arrival of his two children, Sam in '86 and Jade in '88, it was also a particularly happy time.
It was not only music at which John excelled; he was also a fine sportsman playing for RM Deal and on Sundays, the Deal RMA football teams. He was also an accomplished racquets player, representing RM Deal at tennis and squash.
In the late 1990s John was introduced to golf and again excelled at a sport that he instantly enjoyed, achieving a very creditable handicap of seven and again playing representatively, resulting in the award of Corps Colours.
His enjoyment of amateur dramatics led him to taking principal roles in two hugely successful Sgts¹ Mess Pantomimes in the Globe Theatre at Deal. He was a natural actor with the added bonus of perfect comic timing.
John completed his Junior Command Course in 1988, gaining the highest marks and coming top of the course and continued to consistently achieve high marks and passes on every course and interview board he undertook.
On completion of the Bandmasters¹ Course he served as a Volunteer Band Instructor onboard HMS Invincible for a seven month tour of duty in the Adriatic, for which he was awarded the Bosnia medal.
In 1996 he was promoted to Warrant Officer Bandmaster and posted to RMSoM, initially as the Academic Instructor, Junior Training before becoming the Chief Instructor, Higher Training. After promotion to WO1 in 1998 John was appointed Bandmaster of the Band of HM Royal Marines Portsmouth until March 2000, during which time he took the Band on numerous high profile engagements including overseas visits to St Petersburg and Brisbane. Whilst in this post he was successful in passing the Admiralty Interview Board, resulting in a Commission with promotion to Lieutenant in April 2000. His initial Staff Officer Training provided another example of John¹s ability to take on something new and immediately produce outstanding results, when the Admiralty Board awarded him the prestigious 'Sword of Honour' for meritorious results.
John went on to study under Patrick Bailey and Martin Ellerby at the London College of Music and Media where he graduated with a Fellowship in Conducting and a First Class Honours Degree in conducting and composition.
On completion of his studies he was awarded the Silver Medal from the Worshipful Company of Musicians.
In 2002 John was appointed to the Band of HM Royal Marines Scotland where he proved to be a most popular and gifted Director of Music. His ability to raise and sustain high standards from his musicians and buglers is clearly displayed through the very successful recording that he directed and produced with them, entitled "Scottish Royals".
John was drafted back to Portsmouth in 2004 to work within the Directorate Royal Marines as SO3 Band for one year and on completion of his Staff Course in 2005 was promoted to Major and became the Staff Officer Band Service.
Both of these administratively intensive roles proved John¹s natural abilities at dealing efficiently and effectively with time-consuming, complex and urgent issues concerning RMBS management, organisation and policy alongside Band Service issues in relation to the Corps, the Royal Navy and the other Services. He undertook everything with an intelligent and logical approach and in difficult situations John was completely 'unflappable¹, inspiring confidence in all who worked with him.
Despite holding these busy posts and commuting home to Deal every weekend that he could, he still managed to find time to include music in his life by generously volunteering to conduct and rehearse the Emsworth Band and later, the Hampshire Police Band. Rarely taking an afternoon off to play sport, he also still managed to play squash regularly and maintain his golf handicap.
In September 2007 he was appointed as Director of Music to the Band of HM Royal Marines CTCRM and in February 2008 brought them proudly to the Royal Albert Hall for the Mountbatten Festival of Music. As testament to his musicianship he not only concluded the first half of the concert, conducting the Massed Bands in a sparkling arrangement of the music from West Side Story, but also featured in Robin Dewhurst¹s composition, Earth Rites playing his Piano Accordian.
John easily accomplished more in his 46 years than most could dream of attaining in a lifetime.
In April this year John began to show signs of the debilitating illness that was to claim his life. His personal fitness and strength, combined with his relatively young age enabled him incredibly, to survive for two months.
Despite the best possible medical care administered by some of the country¹s leading consultants, doctors and staff in a leading London hospital, John finally succumbed to his illness on Monday 30th June 2008.
Typical of the fight and determination that he consistently showed throughout his life, John only conceded defeat once he had returned to the one place in the world where he was always at his happiest, the happy and relaxed surroundings of his own home in Deal.
His colleagues, neighbours and acquaintances have lost a good friend who was totally reliable and always good-humoured with a sharp, lightning-quick wit.
Away from the confines of work where he was consistently the consummate professional, John has always enjoyed and was totally relaxed in the comfort of his own home. Anyone fortunate enough to have attended a party at "The Kellys'" (and there are many of us because there have been many parties), would have been privileged to have seen John 'at home'. He genuinely relished hosting his guests and with tireless energy appeared to be everywhere at the same time, welcoming and introducing guests, ensuring glasses and plates were filled, inviting and encouraging others to join him in a dance and more recently, always being first in the hot-tub!
The RMBS has tragically lost not only a gifted and talented musician who for many years gave musical contributions of the highest quality, but also a first class officer who as a Director of Music ensured his bands flourished and enjoyed their work and as a Staff Officer had enhanced the life of everyone serving within the Band Service with selfless devotion to his role.
Our deepest condolences go to all of John¹s family, especially Wendy, Sam and Jade who have lost a loving and devoted husband and father, also to his many friends and colleagues. He will be sorely missed by all.