Band Colour Sergeant Dave Matthews joined the Royal Marines Band Service in September 1981 at the Royal Marines School of Music in Deal, Kent. He trained on clarinet and violin for two years eight months before joining his first band, The Royal Marines Band Portsmouth (The Royal Band). After spending a brief period with the Portsmouth Band he found himself off to sea with a Royal Marines Band that was under the command of The Flag officer Third Flotilla. This Band travelled performing all over the world in some of the most exotic locations such as The Caribbean and numeras visits to The United States. It was then back to the Portsmouth Band before a promotion to Band CPL and another move, this time to The Royal Marines School of Music as the Clarinet and Violin instructor.

On completion of an instructional post Dave returned once again to the Portsmouth Band and a chance to serve onboard Her Majesty’s Royal Yacht Britannia, a position he held over an eight year period, again travelling the world. During his service aboard The Royal Yacht he was lucky enough to take part in many state functions in many different countries. One of the highlights of his time aboard HMY Britannia was Handover of Hong Kong to China in 1997 during the Farewell Tour, a voyage lasting over seven months. In the summer of 1997, HMY Britannia was decommissioned, a sad day for many serving and ex-serving ‘Royal Yachtsmen’. So it was once again back to the Portsmouth Band. During 1999, thinking that his time at sea had finished he then received a draft as The Volunteer Band Instructor onboard HMS Invincible and was promoted to Band Colour Sergeant. Dave has also served in The Royal Marines Band Plymouth and The Royal Marines Band Scotland.

During his service Dave has been fortunate to travel the world including The Far East, a State visit to India with Her Majesty the Queen, America on numerous occasions, The Caribbean (seven visits), Europe, The Middle east and Australia. He has been involved in a number of high profile engagements including the Queen Mother’s Funeral and the Queen’s Golden Jubilee.

Dave took up his present appointment with the Northwood Volunteer Band in May 2007. He lives in Portchester, Hampshire with his wife Lisa and three children Bethany, Sophie and Katie.