The Royal Corps of Army Music Trust
The Royal Corps of Army Music Trust
Lt Col Stuart Watts OBE is appointed as the very first President of the AMA. On appointment in June 2025, Chairman, John Huggins noted that, “we are delighted that Lt Col Watts agreed to preside over the association and that we are able to call upon his vast experience and knowledge of Army music and of course its Musicians. Having the guidance of such a high-calibre Army musician at the forefront of the association is so very important to us moving on to the next stage of the association’s development into the future. I welcome his support to me personally and to all AMA members going forward.”
Lt Col Watts enlisted as a 15-year-old Band Boy in 1960 into the Royal Horse Guards. Initial training commenced at the Junior Leaders Regt RAC (Bovington) 1960-61. He attended the Pupils’ Course at the Royal Military School of Music (RMSM) Kneller Hall, studying cornet and piano 1961-63 and was one of the Trumpeters at Princess Alexandra’s Wedding. Lt Col Watts undertook the Household Cavalry Regiment’s equitation course in Knightsbridge 1963-64 before serving in the band as a Musician over the period 1963-71, during which time he was promoted to Lance Corporal – his first foot on the management ladder.
During 1971-73, Lt Col Watts was posted to the RMSM, Kneller Hall on the Student BM course, joining the Rodney Bashford Class, during which time he performed as lead the trumpeter at HRH Princess Anne’s Wedding. He was appointed Warrant Officer Class 1 Bandmaster (BM) during the period 1974 to 1980 serving in the 3rd Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment, in Germany (BAOR), UK, Cyprus and Northern Ireland. In 1980 he was posted as Bandmaster to The Queen’s Division Junior School of Music in Bassingbourn.
His career then took the following path:
Lt Col Watts has the Advance Certificate of Music of the RMSM (psm), and is Licentiate of the Royal Academy of Music. He was appointed an OBE in 2000 and wears the General Service Medal (clasp NI), Queen Elizabeth II Golden, Diamond and Platinum Jubilee Medals, Charles III Coronation Medal and Long Service & Good Conduct Medal.
Lt Col Watts is wont to quote something he came across many years ago and shared with people he worked with at the time. It is a statement from the late Dame Margot Fonteyn: I cannot imagine feeling lackadaisical about a performance, I treat each encounter as a matter of life and death. The important thing I have learned over the years is the difference between taking one’s work seriously and taking oneself seriously. The first is imperative and the second is disastrous.
