The Squadronaires facts for kids

The Squadronaires was a super popular band from the Royal Air Force (RAF). They played amazing music in Britain during and after World War II. Even though their official name was 'The Royal Air Force Dance Orchestra', everyone knew them as "The Squadronaires".

The Squadronaires: A History of Music

How the Band Started

In 1939, the Royal Air Force had a great idea. They wanted to cheer up and entertain their soldiers during wartime. So, they created bands, and The Squadronaires was one of them! The band quickly became famous. It featured some of the best musicians around.

Wartime Hits and Performances

The Squadronaires became a top jazz band. Many people thought they were the best military dance band in Britain. They had popular songs like "There's Something in the Air." They also played "South Rampart Street Parade."

The band performed at dances and concerts for soldiers. They also played on the BBC radio. Plus, they recorded music with Decca. Their first radio show was in January 1941.

After the War: A New Chapter

After D-Day, The Squadronaires went to entertain soldiers in Northwest Europe. But they had to return to Britain because of military operations. Once the war ended, the band members formed a new civilian band. They kept the same name, The Squadronaires.

Ronnie Aldrich was their arranger and piano player. In 1951, he became the new bandleader. The band was then called Ronnie Aldrich and The Squadronaires. Syd Dale took over as the pianist. He also helped with the music arrangements.

Busy Tours and Island Fun

The year 1951 was super busy for the band. They toured a lot! In 1952, The Squadronaires started playing every summer. They performed at The Palace Ballroom in Douglas, Isle of Man. This continued all the way until 1963.

They played in the Ballroom every night. On Sundays, they played concerts at the Palace Theatre. A smaller version of the band, called The Squadronetes, also performed. They played in the Palace Gardens from 1960 to 1962. The Squadronaires continued playing with Ronnie Aldrich until 1964.

Meet the Musicians: The Squadronaires Members

Many band members used to play in Bert Ambrose's band. Here are some of the musicians who played during the war:

• Leader: Jimmy Miller
• Manager: Arthur Maden
• Trumpet: Tommy McQuater, Archie Craig, Clinton French
• Trombone: George Chisholm, Eric Breeze
• Saxophones: Tommy Bradbury, Harry Lewis, Jimmy Durrant, Andy McDevitt, Cliff Townshend, Maurice Stokes
• Piano: Ronnie Aldrich
• Guitar: Sid Colin
• Bass: Arthur Maden
• Drums: Jock Cummings
• Vocals: Jimmy Miller, Joan Regan, Billy Nicholls SNR, Suzy Miller, Jackie Lee, Joan Baxter, Peter Morton, Ken Kirkham, Beryl Davis.

After the war, some members changed. Jimmy Watson joined on trumpet. Monty Levy replaced Harry Lewis on alto sax.

The Squadronaires: A Comeback Story

The Royal Air Force Squadronaires Return

In 1985, a new big band was formed. It was called "The Royal Air Force Squadronaires." They found many of the original band members. Several of them were there for the new band's launch. This happened on January 8, 1987, at RAF Uxbridge. The original band leader, Jimmy Miller, even conducted their theme song, "There's Something in the Air."

New Music and Big Performances

Since their return, the band has recorded new albums. These include Big Band Spectacular and Swing Squadron. In 1993, they made Squads Away. This celebrated the RAF's 75th anniversary. In January 2002, they recorded Flying Home. You can also find old recordings from the original band.

Under their leader, Sgt. Jamie Deighton, the band has played in famous places. They performed at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club in London. They also played for the Prince of Wales at Highgrove House. They even backed Pop Idol winner, Will Young. In 2004, they played at the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance. Again, they supported Will Young there.

Charity Concerts and Festivals

In August 2004, the band performed at the Edinburgh International Jazz and Blues Festival. They also appeared on TV as part of the Edinburgh Military Tattoo. The band often plays concerts for charity. In 2004, they toured to raise money for The Royal Air Forces Association.

The Civilian Squadronaires: A Lasting Legacy

Reforming the Band

After Ronnie Aldrich decided to stop the original band in 1964, things were quiet. Later, bandleader Harry Bence asked Aldrich if he could restart the orchestra. Bence then formed the 'New' Squadronaires. He ran this band until he passed away in 1997.

After Bence's death, the future of the civilian band was uncertain. A musician named Greg Francis then spoke to Ronnie's widow, Mary Aldrich. He asked for her permission to restart the 'New Squadronaires'. He wanted to honor the original wartime band. He planned to have young players in RAF uniforms. Most importantly, they would play the music from that era. Mary Aldrich was very happy to support this idea.

New Beginnings and Famous Venues

So, the civilian 'New Squadronaires Orchestra' was reformed in September 1997. Their first concert was on the Isle of Man. This is where the original band played for 11 years! The old venues were gone, so they played at the Villa Marina.

The New Squadronaires Orchestra has played at many events since then. They perform at military and non-military shows. This includes many RAF stations in the UK. They have played at the RAF Museum in Hendon. They also performed at Duxford and other airshows. You can also see them at the Imperial War Museum in London.

Supporting the RAF and Recording Music

The New Squadronaires also help with RAF recruitment. In 2002, they played in Blackpool. It was raining, just like it might have during the war! They played alongside an RAF recruitment exhibition. This was the same town where the original Squadronaires played their first show in 1940. The orchestra was a regular band at the Blackpool Tower Ballroom for two years (2001 and 2002). They are still very popular with big band fans and tourists.

In 1997, a new CD was released. It featured music from the original Squadronaires. The original music sheets were destroyed in 1964. So, Greg Francis had to recreate many songs from old recordings. Francis owns the registered name "The New Squadronaires Orchestra." The CD features amazing musicians. These include Norman Brown and Andy Taylor, who played saxophones for Syd Lawrence. Francis also plays the trumpet on the CD.