A ROYAL Marines musician from South East Cornwall has been voted the winner of an award by his fellow members of the band service.

Musician David Gallie, from Torpoint, was presented with the honour by Eric Greenleaf, the sponsor of the annual award, during a ceremony at HMS Raleigh.

Eric, 97, is a former Royal Marines musician who served throughout the Second World War and was a veteran of the Atlantic Convoys.

Musician Gallie, 35, said: ‘Receiving this award was a complete surprise. I never imagined I’d actually be in the running for it, but it’s a good feeling knowing that the people who sit around me when I play do think of me in that way.’

Having joined the Royal Navy in 2007 as an Air Engineer Technician, Musician Gallie transferred to the band service four years ago. He joined the Band of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines Plymouth last year, straight from his initial training.

He said: ‘Music has always been part of my life.

‘I played the euphonium before I joined up and I was also a bag-piper. I’ve always been involved in military bands, including HMS Seahawk’s Volunteer Band when I was at Culdrose.

‘The current Bandmaster here, Warrant Officer Jules Cook, was the Volunteer Band Instructor and he inspired me to give it a try and transfer. Being in the band is everything I imagined it to be.’

WI Cook said: ‘Musician Gallie was really keen on music when he was at Culdrose and I told him that he could have a career in the band service. He went back to the euphonium and had to learn how to play the cello. He’s worked very hard.’

Eric Greenleaf, who was born, bred and still lives on the Barbican in Plymouth, has become a great friend to the Band of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines Plymouth. He donated the prize to the Band around four years ago.

Eric overcame significant challenges in his early career as he learnt to play his instruments and become a fully-fledged member of the band service. He was keen that the recipient of his award should be someone who had shown similar hard work and determination and that the winner should be chosen by members of the Plymouth band.