The Royal Corps of Army Music Trust
The Royal Corps of Army Music Trust
Military Career
Major Bennett joined the Army in Aug 1985 aged just 16. Graduated from RMSM Kneller Hall in December 1987 winning the Denis Brady Award for Best Percussionist. Guy was assigned to The Band of the Royal Artillery, Woolwich in Jan 1988 as a percussionist and harpist, during his early years he travelled the World extensively with the RA Band deploying to the Middle East in the Gulf War and as an Ambulance Driver ion the streets of London during the Ambulance Dispute. He performed the winning composition for the Evelyn Glennie Percussion Awards alongside a fellow percussionist and two sopranos from the English National Opera in 1994.
Guy remained with the RA Band rising through the ranks to become the Band Sergeant Major in 2004. Promoted to Warrant Officer Class One in Feb 2008, he was appointed as the School Band Sergeant Major at RMSM Kneller Hall. He was appointed as the inaugural Corps Sergeant Major in 2012, Army Music’s Senior Soldier and was subsequently Commissioned in 2013 appointed as SO3 Band Tasking at Regional Command in Aldershot. In 2017 he moved to APC Glasgow as SO2 Sldrs for CAMUS on promotion to Major.
Guy was appointed Second in Command HQ Regional Bands, in Horse Guards, London in Sep 2019. In Jul 2021 he moved to HQ RCAM as SO2 Pers Ops. He retired from Regular Service 39 years’ service in Nov 2024 and is delighted to continue service to Army musicians as The RCAM Corps Secretary.
Outside of the Army
Outside of the Army Guy has always been a keen offshore sailor and is a Commercially Endorsed Yachtmaster Offshore and RYA Cruising Instructor. He is an active member and Skipper for the Civil Service Sailing Club, and skippers’ yachts extensively thought the Solent and Europe including the 35ft Yacht he owns a share of.
He is also a keen runner, walker and mountain biker having completed the Vitality Half Marathon in 2020 and Trailwalker, 100k non-stop walk across the South Downs in 2023.Guy has over 25 years’ experience leading wind bands and was the Musical Director of the Belvedere Concert Band for 18 years before relocating his family to West Sussex in 2013. Under his enthusiastic leadership the band became one of the South East’s Premier Wind Bands. He remains the Band President to this day and takes a keen interest in the band’s progress.
On relocation to Sussex, he took up the baton with Emsworth Concert Band. During his 4 years he built up a significant following for the band and transformed their repertoire. The band now regularly perform ‘sold out’ concerts to its loyal following.
On moving to Glasgow for work in 2018 he relinquished his position but remains in contact with the band, regularly performing with them on percussion for concerts. He was appointed as the Musical Director of Linden Wind Orchestra in March 2020, and he continues to lead them from strength to strength.
Little Known Fact
Guy started his musical career as a singer in Kingston Parish Church and enjoyed singing in school musicals. He auditioned for Evita in the West End at just 10 years of age and completed almost three years in this musical alongside, Elaine Page, Stephanie Lawrence and David Essex.
