The Deal Memorial Bandstand

After the Provisional IRA bombing of the Royal Marines Barracks on 22nd September 1989, Deal Round Table asked for ideas on how to remember the 11 musicians who had died. In a letter to the East Kent Mercury Dennis Atkinson suggested a Memorial Bandstand.

The Chairman of Deal Round Table, Neil Curwin, brought the local council and Royal Marines together for talks about the plan. With the support of Betteshanger Band, their former bandmaster David Burridge agreed to be Chairman of an organising Committee and the first of the Memorial Concerts was held in June 1991.

The 1992 Season started in May and Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Graham Hoskins OBE, MVO, RM, a former Principal Director of Music Royal Marines, offered his help and became Chairman of the Bandstand Trust in July 1992. On 18th August 1992, work started on the Bandstand. The opening concert that was held on 2nd May 1993 included a fanfare played by the Trumpeters of HM Royal Marines.

You can access an excellent oral history project on the Deal Bombing at the Dover Museum website.