David A. Ruel

David has been Musical Director of The Cobham Band since January 2004.  Previously he had a long and successful association both as conductor and compére of The Friary Guildford Brass Band.

David started his playing days on the bugle with the local Boys’ Brigade company in Yiewsley and was taught trumpet at school by Stan Tamplin, the then brass instructor at the RAF School of Music, Uxbridge.  From playing the bugle he went on to teaching both Boys’ and Girls’ Brigades’ Drum and Bugle Bands, and to adjudicating at competitions throughout London and the South of England.

David attended the same school as Ian Carter, the current scaba (Southern Counties Amateur Bands Association) Secretary, and it was Ian who introduced him to the Yiewsley and West Drayton Band, which he joined on solo cornet.  After moving on to the then Hillingdon Borough Band as player / bandmaster and, following a house move, the Camberley Band, David returned to the Yiewsley and West Drayton Band as conductor in 1981.

In 1983 David went to work overseas in Singapore where he formed a brass band in conjunction with the Singapore St. John Ambulance Brigade.  The main event of the year was the Annual Parade which was a very impressive occasion in the presence of the President and Prime Minister of Singapore – the band could hardly be conducted by a private, so David was promoted to the rank of Major overnight!

On returning to the UK in late 1985 David rejoined the Camberley Band and, when the opportunity arose, moved on to Friary Guildford Band (Friary Meux as the band was then known) as player / bandmaster.  David has many happy memories of conducting the band at Ascot Races, on board the QE 2, at the Inn on the Park in St. Helier, Jersey and of course at many of the then Friary Meux public houses throughout the South of England.

In addition, David is the National Secretary of the National Association of Brass Band Conductors (NABBC) and Chairman of the No.1 Area (London & Southern Counties). Furthermore, David is an Executive Committee Member of scaba.

Few will contest the progress that The Cobham Band has made under his baton.