About Us
The Kingston and Malden Scout and Guide Band was formed in 1950 and is based in the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames in Surrey. Its members come from Scout Groups and Guide units across the local area.
The Band was awarded Kingston’s Borough Colours in 1997 in recognition for the work the Band does to “fly the flag” for its home town and holds the highest Scout Association A grading.
Since it’s earliest days as a drum and bugle band, Kingston and Malden has progressed as an engaging activity for young musicians decade by decade. There have been five consecutive performances within the City of London’s Lord Mayor’s Show in recent years and three summer expeditions to Guernsey, taking part in the Battle of Flowers festivities. More recently the band has had the chance to play at the House of Commons, a Buckingham Palace Garden Party, the National Scout St George’s Parade at Windsor Castle and the London 2012 Olympic road cycle race. A constantly evolving musical repertoire means that the band often now plays in a concert formation as well as the more traditional marching band style.
The Band strikes a balance in what it does and what is expected from its young people. At present, over 60 members are on the books and these range from Brownies and Cub Scouts aged 8, to Scouts, Guides, Rangers, Explorer Scouts and young leaders within both associations.
Membership of the band is a parallel activity to regular Scouting and Guiding activities so members have to spread their time accordingly, but it is policy for the youngest or newest recruit to be fully included in all engagements and activities as soon as possible and this has proven to be a winning formula for the Band.
Many of the Band’s members progress into leadership roles. Older members also take time to teach music to their younger colleagues. For a nominal monthly subscription, members of the Band get this tuition, a uniform and the loan of an instrument.
The last few years have witnessed the Band developing a great, all round sound, with an even greater array of instrumentation. The Band’s repertoire is extensive and suits all tastes. Music from the world of stage and screen and the movies sits alongside arrangements of well known pop hits from past and present. And, as a marching band, there are naturally a good number of march pieces available! Some examples include:
• Frank Sinatra’s My Way
• It Don’t Mean a Thing if you Ain’t Got That Swing
• All I Ask of You – from Phantom of the Opera
• Children of Sanchez – by Chuck Mangione
• 633 Squadron
• Royal Air Force March Past
• The Incredibles – soundtrack to the Disney Pixar animation film
• Can’t Take My Eyes off You – sung by Andy Williams
• Favourite Things – from the Sound of Music
• The Great Escape